five o'clock
Come on , boys , an ' mum 's the word , '' and he proceeded to drive the pig further along the village , followed by a few enthusiastic backers . They drove it into Granny Fleming 's hen-house in the middle of the square , put out the hens , who protested loudly against this rude and incomprehensible interruption of their slumbers , and then they proceeded to slaughter the pig . It was a horrible orgy , and the pig made a valiant protest , but encountered by hammers and picks , knives and such-like weapons , the poor animal was soon vanquished , and the men proceeded to cut up its carcass . It was a long and trying ordeal for men who had no experience of the work ; yet they made up in enthusiasm what they lacked in science , and by five o'clock the pig was cut up and distributed through a score of homes . Every trace of the slaughter was removed , and the refuse buried in the village midden , and pork was the principal article on the breakfast table that morning in Lowwood . `` I hear that auld Hairyfithill has offered five pound reward for information about his pig , '' said Tam Donaldson a few mornings later . `` Ay , an ' it 's a gran ' price for onybody wha kens aboot it , '' said auld Jamie Lauder .