The station agent looked at the goats, who were now grazing peacefully, attended by Kathleen and Louise, and then, a little thoughtfully, at Mademoiselle.  “It is indeed better that a man should take these risks,” he said, throwing out his chest.  “And there are still the pigs!  I doubt not they are as full of demons as the Gadarene Swine themselves!”

“What should we do without your help?” said Mademoiselle.  “The pigs cannot be roped!”

“No,” said the agent sadly, “they cannot.”  He considered a moment.  Then he motioned to Pierre and Pierrette, who were standing with Mary and Martha at a respectful distance.  “Come here, all of you,” he said, addressing them from the top of the gang-plank; “pigs must be taken by strategy.  I am an old soldier.  I will engineer an encircling movement.  Mademoiselle; will you stand here at the left, and, Madame la Docteur, will you station yourself at my right?  The rest of you arrange yourselves in a curved line extending westward from Madame.  Then I will release the pigs, and you, watching their movements, will head them off if they start in the wrong direction.  Voila!  We will now commence.”

He went back into the car, and in another moment the pigs, squealing vociferously, thundered down the gang-plank, gave one look at the “encircling movement,” and, wheeling about, instantly dashed under the car and out on the other side into an open field.  It was not until they had made a complete tour of the village, pursued by the entire personnel of the “encircling movement” that they were at last turned into the Fontanelle road.

“This isn’t—­the way—­this parade—­was advertised!” gasped Kathleen, as she struggled with her goat in an effort to take her appointed place in the caravan.  “The—­cows—­were to—­go—­first!”

“Never mind,” answered Louise cheerfully, as she pulled her goat into the road.  “A little informality will be overlooked, I’m sure.”

Mother Meraut followed them with the cows, and last of all Mademoiselle and the Doctor climbed into the truck and brought up the rear of the procession, with all the roosters crowing at the top of their lungs.

There is not time to tell of all the adventures that befell them on the eventful journey back to Fontanelle.  One can merely guess that it must have been full of excitement, since the Reception Committee did not reach the village with their charges until some time after dark.  Mother Meraut was worried because she was not home in time to get a hot supper for the tired girls, but when they arrived they found that Grand’mere had stepped into the breach, and had made steaming hot soup for every one.  Grandpere and Father Meraut took charge of the live-stock, and Mother Corbeille milked the cows.

As they dragged themselves wearily to bed that night, Kathleen decorated Mademoiselle with a huge cross,—­cut out of paper,—­ which she pinned upon her nightgown.  “For extreme gallantry,” she explained, “in leading your forces into action in face of a fierce charge by two goats, and for taking prisoner two rebellious pigs!” Then she saluted ceremoniously and tumbled into bed.