"What is it?" I inquired, with some trepidation.

Suddenly he levelled his spear, darted forward, and, with a yell
that nearly froze the blood in my veins, stabbed the old sow to the
heart. Nay, so vigorously was it done that the spear went in at
one side and came out at the other!

"Oh, Peterkin!" said I, going up to him, "what have you done?"

"Done? I've killed their great-great-grandmother, that's all,"
said he, looking with a somewhat awe-struck expression at the
transfixed animal.

"Hallo! what's this?" said Jack, as he came up. "Why, Peterkin,
you must be fond of a tough chop. If you mean to eat this old hog,
she'll try your jaws, I warrant. What possessed you to stick HER,
Peterkin?"

"Why, the fact is I want a pair of shoes."

"What have your shoes to do with the old hog?' said I, smiling.

"My present shoes have certainly nothing to do with her," replied
Peterkin; "nevertheless she will have a good deal to do with my
future shoes. The fact is, when I saw you floor that pig so
neatly, Ralph, it struck me that there was little use in killing
another. Then I remembered all at once that I had long wanted some
leather or tough substance to make shoes of, and this old
grandmother seemed so tough that I just made up my mind to stick