n Tom was feeding the
animal.

"No, and I wouldn't sell her to you for her weight in gold," cried Tom,
too desperate now to care whether he offended the woman or not.
"So get home to your own house, you ill-wishing cross-grained old witch!"

Madge Figgy only smiled. "Don't lose your temper, Tom, my dear," she said
sweetly, "'tis for me to do that. Just wait a bit, and I'll be bound that
before another week is out you'll be glad to get rid of her, even to me!"
and away trotted the mischievous old creature, cackling to herself, and
rubbing her hands with glee.

"I'll fatten the pig up somehow," cried Tom desperately, and he began
giving her more than double her usual quantity of food at each meal.
He gave her enough, indeed, to fatten two pigs, and nearly ruined himself
to do it; but the more she ate the thinner she grew, and before the week
was out she was merely skin and bone. "I can't afford to spend no more on
'ee," said Tom sorrowfully, and he made up his mind to take her to market
the very next day before she got any worse.

So, early the following morning they started off to walk to the market.
Tom tied a string around the sow's leg to prevent her running away, but
there was little enough fear of her doing that, for the poor thing could
scarcely stand for weakness. In fact, she kept on falling down from sheer
inability to support herself, and Tom had to pick her up and put her on
her feet again, for she had not got the strength to get up by herself.

After a long time, for they only went at a snail's pace, they came to the
high road. "I believe I'll have to take and carry her on my back," said
Tom dolefully, "or we shan't get to market till night." But hardly had he
spoken the words when the sow took to her heels, and ran as if she had
been a stag with the hounds after her!

Poor Tom was nearly shaken to bits, and his arms were pretty nearly
dragged from his body, for over hedges and ditches she went, and over
everything else that came in her way, dragging Tom after her, until at
last he had to drop the rope and let her take her chance, for his strength
was all gone, and he had no breath left.

As soon, though, as Tom let go his hold of the rope, the creature stopped
her mad race, and walked along as quietly and soberly as the best-behaved
pig that ever breathed. She went, though, every way but the right one,
and this she did for mile upon mile, taking Tom after her, until at last
they came to Tregene