"Get out, there, you lazy beast," exclaimed Dick.

The pig, as was perhaps only natural under the circumstances,
seemed reluctant to get up, and was by no means backward in
grunting his discontent. Dick was earnestly engaged in overcoming
his repugnance to locomotion, when he was startled by hearing the
door of the building, which he had carefully closed, open slowly.
Looking up hastily, the hoe still in his hand, his dismayed
glance fell upon Frank Frost, entering with a lantern.

A half-exclamation of surprise and dismay escaped him. This
called the attention of Frank, who till that moment was
unsuspicious of Dick's presence.

"Dick Bumstead!" he exclaimed, as soon as he recognized the
intruder. "What brings you here at this time of night?"

"A mean errand, Frank," returned Dick, with a wholesome feeling
of shame. He had made up his mind to a confession.

"You didn't come here to--to----" Here Frank stopped short.

"No, not to steal. I ain't quite so mean as that comes to. I come
to let out your pigs, so that in the morning you would have a
long chase after them."

"But what could put such a thing into your head, Dick?" asked
Frank, in great surprise.