But they could not take time to retaliate; the escaped fugitive was
going down the road at a commendable pace had he been going to school,
and Achilles was again Franz, his father's son, and the pig must be
brought back and with no help but that of Fritz, for he scorned to ask
the grinning Trojans to join in the chase, nor would it have been of any
use to ask, for they preferred to remain at the gate and watch the race,
which they enjoyed to the limit. The pig had a good start and was a
brisk runner, but after many twistings and turnings, sprints and
boltings, it allowed itself to be driven into a fence corner just at the
moment that Paul appeared upon the scene.

A short discussion followed this happy meeting, which resulted in Franz
grasping one ear of the recreant pig and Fritz the other, while Paul
took charge of the tail, to pull or push as the necessities of the case
demanded. The pig was finally made to back out and face about, and their
homeward journey was commenced.

It was well for them that the waiting Trojans had caught a glimpse of a
teacher coming through the gate of the school yard, or they would have
had trouble getting their captive through the gateway into the barnyard.
As it was, the coast was clear, and the pig, in spite of his squealings
and gruntings, was back in his cell, the door shut and the bolt pushed
into its socket.

Then the three heroes with beads of perspiration rolling from their
foreheads sat down under the shade of an apple tree to discuss the
situation. Since their armory was demeaned into a pig-pen, it was
necessary to remove their weapons and put them in a secure place; but
where? That was the question.