When local animals are subject to extortion, Freddy and his friends test their bravery confronting the unknown.

Freddy’s imagination turns a sighting of the rooster into a creature with a long snout and tail feathers.

At the farm, the practical cow, Mrs. Wiggins modestly questions why such a terrible Ignormus would not confront Freddy.

(p. 130) The Bean farm is robbed, and missing items are found in Freddy’s pigpen.

Jinx the cat is unimpressed with the pig’s deductions: Suspiciously, walking the Big Woods road, seeking the letter writer, they once again meet Simon.

Returning to the Grimsby house, the missing shotgun is pointed at Freddy and Theodore from a window.

Retreating to the bridge where the animals are leaving goods extorted from them, they encounter Charles talking with the Ignormus’ small henchman.

Hidden, Freddy mimics the henchman’s voice, insulting the rooster and sending him into a fighting fury.

Frightened animals are starting to leave the farm when Freddy gives a speech pointing out that they are "deserting under fire".

Old Whibley the owl reveals the final mystery, dropping on Freddy the weighted bedsheet used to allow the "Ignormus" to drift through air.

Each book in the series received moderately positive to strongly positive critical review in sources such as the Times Literary Supplement, and Hornbook, The New York Times, and Kirkus Reviews Library Journal (September 1, 1941) "The children who have eagerly followed the adventures of Farmer Bean's talking animals since the first story, To and Again, was published will hail with delight this new story of Freddy, the poetic pig...Kurt Wiese's humorous illustrations well portray the events in the solving of this rollicking animal mystery story."

"[1] An early review is September 1, 1941, placing the writing several months before the attack at Pearl Harbor, while war was gathering.