第29章 THE MASTER THIEF(5)

So the Master Thief immediately got hold of an old worn-out mare, and set himself to work to make a collar for it of green withies and branches of broom; bought a shabby old cart and a great cask, and then he told a poor old beggar woman that he would give her ten dollars if she would get into the cask and keep her mouth wide-open beneath the tap-hole, into which he was going to stick his finger.No harm should happen to her, he said; she should only be driven about a little, and if he took his finger out more than once, she should have ten dollars more.Then he dressed himself in rags, dyed himself with soot, and put on a wig and a great beard of goat's hair, so that it was impossible to recognise him, and went to the parade ground, where the Governor had already been riding about a long time.

When the Master Thief got there the mare went along so slowly and quietly that the cart hardly seemed to move from the spot.

The mare pulled it a little forward, and then a little back, and then it stopped quite short.Then the mare pulled a little forward again, and it moved with such difficulty that the Governor had not the least idea that this was the Master Thief.He rode straight up to him, and asked if he had seen anyone hiding anywhere about in a wood that was close by.

`No,' said the man, `that have I not.'

`Hark you,' said the Governor.`If you will ride into that wood, and search it carefully to see if you can light upon a fellow who is hiding in there, you shall have the loan of my horse and a good present of money for your trouble.'

`I am not sure that I can do it,' said the man, `for I have to go to a wedding with this cask of mead which I have been to fetch, and the tap has fallen out on the way, so now I have to keep my finger in the tap-hole as I drive.'

`Oh, just ride off,' said the Governor, `and I will look after the cask and the horse too.'

So the man said that if he would do that he would go, but he begged the Governor to be very careful to put his finger into the tap-hole the moment he took his out.

So the Governor said that he would do his very best, and the Master Thief got on the Governor's horse.

But time passed, and it grew later and later, and still the man did not come back, and at last the Governor grew so weary of keeping his finger in the tap-hole that he took it out.

`Now I shall have ten dollars more!' cried the old woman inside the cask; so he soon saw what kind of mead it was, and set out homewards.When he had gone a very little way he met his servant bringing him the horse, for the Master Thief had already taken it home.

The following day he went to the Governor and wanted to have his daughter according to promise.But the Governor again put him off with fine words, and only gave him three hundred dollars, saying that he must do one more masterpiece of skill, and if he were but able to do that he should have her.

Well, the Master Thief thought he might if he could hear what it was.

`Do you think you can steal the sheet off our bed, and my wife's night-gown?' said the Governor.

`That is by no means impossible,' said the Master Thief.`Ionly wish I could get your daughter as easily.'

So late at night the Master Thief went and cut down a thief who was hanging on the gallows, laid him on his own shoulders, and took him away with him.Then he got hold of a long ladder, set it up against the Governor's bedroom window, and climbed up and moved the dead man's head up and down, just as if he were some one who was standing outside and peeping in.

`There's the Master Thief, mother!' said the Governor, nudging his wife.`Now I'll just shoot him, that I will!'

So he took up a rifle which he had laid at his bedside.

`Oh no, you must not do that,' said his wife; `you yourself arranged that he was to come here.'

`Yes, mother, I will shoot him,' said he, and lay there aiming, and then aiming again, for no sooner was the head up and he caught sight of it than it was gone again.At last he got a chance and fired, and the dead body fell with a loud thud to the ground, and down went the Master Thief too, as fast as he could.

`Well,' said the Governor, `I certainly am the chief man about here, but people soon begin to talk, and it would be very unpleasant if they were to see this dead body; the best thing that I can do is to go out and bury him.'

`Just do what you think best, father,' said his wife.

So the Governor got up and went downstairs, and as soon as he had gone out through the door, the Master Thief stole in and went straight upstairs to the woman.

`Well, father dear,' said she, for she thought it was her husband.

`Have you got done already?'

`Oh yes, I only put him into a hole,' said he, `and raked a little earth over him; that's all I have been able to do to-night, for it is fearful weather outside.I will bury him better afterwards, but just let me have the sheet to wipe myself with, for he was bleeding, and I have got covered with blood with carrying him.'

So she gave him the sheet.

`You will have to let me have your night-gown too,' he said, `for I begin to see that the sheet won't be enough.'

Then she gave him her night-gown, but just then it came into his head that he had forgotten to lock the door, and he was forced to go downstairs and do it before he could lie down in bed again.

So off he went with the sheet, and the night-gown too.

An hour later the real Governor returned.

`Well, what a time it has taken to lock the house door, father!'

said his wife, `and what have you done with the sheet and the night-gown?'

`What do you mean?' asked the Governor.

`Oh, I am asking you what you have done with the night-gown and sheet that you got to wipe the blood off yourself with,' said she.

`Good heavens!' said the Governor, `has he actually got the better of me again?'

When day came the Master Thief came too, and wanted to have the Governor's daughter as had been promised, and the Governor dared do no otherwise than give her to him, and much money besides, for he feared that if he did not the Master Thief might steal the very eyes out of his head, and that he himself would be ill spoken of by all men.The Master Thief lived well and happily from that time forth, and whether he ever stole any more or not Icannot tell you, but if he did it was but for pastime.

[5] From P.C.Asbjornsen.