A horse came rattling down the hill and across the mill bridge near the harness-shop. It was driven by Norris Wood, who had been out among the farms buying cattle for his meat market. He drove up to the harness-shop and hitched his horse. Three or four hogs stood in the way, but it seemed a very easy thing for Norris to set his great boots against them and send them sprawling along the ground. He looked so big and strong that Mr. Hemenway dismounted from the wooden horse.
"Well, Heman, what have you got here?" said Norris, widening his bushy whiskers with a beaming smile.
"Norris," said Mr. Hemenway, solemnly, "the village is overrun with hogs from a wrecked train, and I rely on you to drive 'em out. I give you full authority to do or take anything you want to."
"They've got pretty well started," said Norris, "but if I had a few good helpers I guess we could master them. Hi!" he continued, "here come the academy boys."
There were about twenty of them coming across the mill bridge. They were Riverdale Academy boys just out of school. They were on the double-quick, for they had seen the hogs, and felt sure there was fun ahead.
"'Arma virumque cano!' Come here, every one of you!" cried Norris, who was an old academy boy himself.
The boys immediately gathered around him, some of them, and Harry Burton in particular, inventing a great terror of the sniffing hogs.
"Norris! Oh, Norris!" he cried, "protect us from these wild beasts of the desert. Let me ride in safety upon your broad shoulders," and he made as if he would suit the action to the word.
"Quit your fooling," said Norris, sternly. "I want volunteers to drive these hogs out of the village. Every one who is willing to help, step out."
With a hilarious cheer the whole company stepped forward.