bris Downs.

Here, where the two roads branch off, the one to Sancreed and the other to
Penzance, Tom caught hold of the rope again, and tried once more to lead
her to market, but the moment she came to the cross-roads, the sow started
off at full speed again, jerking the rope out of Tom's hand, and careering
away by herself until she got under Tregenebris Bridge. Here, though, she
was forced to stop, for she stuck fast, and could not move backwards or
forwards, for Tregenebris Bridge was a queer, old-fashioned construction,
more like a big drain-pipe than anything, except that it was smaller in
the middle than at the ends. Consequently, as she could not go through it
and come out the other side, and she would not come back, she had to stay
where she was.

Tom did not know what to do. He could not reach her to pull her out, and
all his holloaing and shouting was so much waste of breath. He pelted her
with stones and lumps of turf, first her head and then her tail, until he
was tired, but he might just as well have left her, for all the good it
did. She only grunted, and planted her feet more obstinately.

At last Tom, being quite worn out, sat down to rest, and waited to see
what she would do if left to herself, but though he waited and waited till
evening, the pig never budged. Tom, though, grew so hungry that he hardly
knew how to bear with himself. He had had nothing to eat or drink since
five in the morning, and he had tramped miles upon miles since that time.

"There don't seem much chance of the contrairy old thing's coming out, so
I may as well go home to get some supper," he said at last. "If anybody
finds her they'll know she's mine, for there isn't such another poor
miserable creature in the parish. So here goes." But no sooner had he
made a start than whom should he see coming towards him but Madge Figgy.

Madge was smiling to herself as she walked along, as though she were very
well pleased about something. "Hulloa, Tom Trenoweth!" she cried,
pretending to be surprised. "What are you doing here?"

"Well," said Tom, "that's more than I can tell you, but I ain't here for
my own pleasure, I can assure you of that, and if you want to know more
you can look under the bridge and find out for yourself."

"What's that grunting in there? Surely never your old sow! Well, she
can't have fattened much if she's got in there! Are you in the mind to
part with her now, Tom? What will you let me have her