“George went in, and when ’e came out agin he said William Hall was to go inside. He ’eld the dog while William went by, and as soon as Foxy ’eard wot ’e wanted ’e asked ’im to wait till ’e’d finished ’is dinner, and then he’d go out and ’ave a look at ’em.
“‘I was wantin’ some pigs bad,’ he ses, ‘and the worst of it is I can’t get out to buy any as things are.’
“‘That’s wot I thought,’ ses William Hall; ‘that’s why I brought ’em to you.’
“‘You deserve to get on, William,’ ses Foxy. ‘George,’ he ses, turning to ’im.
“‘Yes,’ ses George.
“‘Do you know much about pigs?’
“‘I know a pig when I see one,’ ses George.
“‘That’s all I want,’ ses Foxy; ‘go and ’ave a look at ’em.’
“William Hall gave a start as George walked out, and a minute afterwards both of ’em ’eard an awful noise, and George came back rubbing ’is ’ead and saying that when ’e lifted up the cloth one o’ the pigs was William Hall’s sister and the others was ’er nephews. William said it was a joke, but Foxy said he didn’t like jokes, and if William thought that ’e or George was going to walk with ’im past the dog ’e was mistook.
“Two days arter that, Foxy, ’appening to look out of ’is bedroom window, saw one o’ the Claybury boys racing ’is cows all up and down the meadow. He came down quietly and took up a stick, and then ’e set out to race that boy up and down. He’d always been a good runner, and the boy was ’alf-blown like. ’E gave a yell as ’e saw Foxy coming arter ’im, and left the cow ’e was chasin’ and ran straight for the ’edge, with Foxy close behind ’im.