pened to come down from the mountain
to-night he'd treat himself to a feast. That runt would make a nice,
tender meal."

Mrs. Pig must certainly have heard--and understood--Farmer Green's
remark. For she gave a loud squeal of alarm.

"Hurry!" she begged him. "Please, Mr. Green, do find Grunty before
dark!"

VI

MR. CROW HELPS

It was a wonder that Johnnie Green and his father ever found Grunty Pig.

Soon after Henrietta Hen left him, Grunty crept out of the lane and
wandered into the cornfield. He had an idea that Henrietta might go and
tell his mother that she had seen him wallowing in the mud behind the
barn. And he did not want to be dragged back to the pigpen.

Grunty had no way of knowing that Henrietta Hen forgot all about him
before she had crossed the farmyard. She fell into a loud dispute with a
neighbor. And she never thought of Grunty again.

Grunty Pig enjoyed his ramble into the field of waving corn. The corn
was sweet; and the dirt was loose--just the finest sort to root in that
a body could possibly want. He had the place all to himself until at
last a black gentleman came flying up in a great hurry and ordered him
in a hoarse voice to "get out of the corn--and be quick about it!"

On him Grunty Pig tried the same trick that he had used on Henrietta
Hen. He looked up with a stupid stare at the newcomer and said never a
word.

Old Mr. Crow--for it was he that had commanded Grunty to leave--old Mr.
Crow abused him roundly. Mr. Crow was not empty-headed, like Henrietta
Hen. He was not to be deceived so easily.

"Why don't you answer me?" he bawled. "You make noise enough when you're
at home. I've heard you often, way across the cornfield." Mr. Crow
cawed so angrily that a dozen of his cronies flew over from the woods to
see what was going on. And the whole thirteen made such an uproar that
Farmer Green couldn't help noticing them. He and Johnnie were in the
orchard, hunting for Grunty Pig.

"Those crows are up to some mischief," Farmer Green declared. "You don't
suppose--do you?--that they're teasing that pig?"

Well, Johnnie Green was willing to go and find out. And sure enough! he
found Grunty in the cornfield.

Johnnie Green picked him up, tucked him under his arm--plastered with
dried mud as he was--and brought him in triumph to the barn.

Farmer Green laughed when he saw Grunty Pig.

"He looks as if he had been enjoying himself," he remarked as he
dropped Grunty into the pen