They had not long been gone when I was alarmed by a most terrible
noise accompanied by the furious barking of the dog and shouts from
Jack and Ernest. Thinking that the boys had been attacked by some wild
beast, I ran to their assistance.
A most ludicrous scene awaited me when I reached the spot. They were
dancing and shouting round and round a grassy glade, and I as nearly as
possible followed their example, for in the centre, surrounded by a
promising litter, lay our old sow, whose squeals, previously so
alarming, were now subsiding into comfortable grunts of recognition.
I did not join my boys in their triumphal dance, but I was
nevertheless very much pleased at the sight of the flourishing family,
and immediately returned to the cart to obtain biscuits and potatoes
for the benefit of the happy mother. Jack and Ernest meanwhile pushed
further on, and brought back the sack of candleberries and the
caoutchouc, and as we could not then take the sow with us, we left her
alone with her family and proceeded to Falconhurst.
The animals were delighted to see us back again, and received us with
manifestations of joy, but looked askance at the new pets.
The eagle especially came in for shy glances, and promised to be no
favourite. Fritz, however, determined that his pet should at present do
no harm, secured him by the leg to a root of the fig-tree and uncovered
his eyes.
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