At¡¡last¡¡he¡¡flung¡¡him¡¡into¡¡the¡¡Governor's¡¡goose¡house£»¡¡and¡¡the
geese¡¡began¡¡to¡¡hiss¡¡and¡¡peck¡¡at¡¡him£»¡¡till¡¡he¡¡felt¡¡more¡¡dead¡¡than
alive¡£
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¡®Now¡¡you¡¡are¡¡in¡¡Purgatory£»'¡¡said¡¡the¡¡Master¡¡Thief£»¡¡and¡¡off¡¡he
went¡¡and¡¡took¡¡the¡¡gold¡¡and¡¡the¡¡silver¡¡and¡¡all¡¡the¡¡precious¡¡things
which¡¡the¡¡Priest¡¡had¡¡laid¡¡together¡¡in¡¡his¡¡best¡¡parlour¡£
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heard¡¡the¡¡Priest¡¡bemoaning¡¡himself¡¡as¡¡he¡¡lay¡¡in¡¡the¡¡sack¡¡in¡¡the
goose¡house¡£
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me¡¡out¡¡and¡¡let¡¡me¡¡go¡¡back¡¡to¡¡earth¡¡again£»¡¡for¡¡no¡¡place¡¡was¡¡ever¡¡so
bad¡¡as¡¡thisthe¡¡little¡¡fiends¡¡nip¡¡me¡¡so¡¡with¡¡their¡¡tongs¡£'
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sack¡£¡¡¡®I¡¡only¡¡look¡¡after¡¡the¡¡Governor's¡¡geese£»¡¡that's¡¡what¡¡I¡¡do£»
and¡¡they¡¡are¡¡the¡¡little¡¡fiends¡¡which¡¡have¡¡pinched¡¡your¡¡reverence¡£'
¡®This¡¡is¡¡the¡¡Master¡¡Thief's¡¡doing£¡¡¡Oh£»¡¡my¡¡gold¡¡and¡¡my¡¡silver
and¡¡my¡¡best¡¡clothes£¡'¡¡shrieked¡¡the¡¡Priest£»¡¡and£»¡¡wild¡¡with¡¡rage£»¡¡he
ran¡¡home¡¡so¡¡fast¡¡that¡¡the¡¡goose¡girl¡¡thought¡¡he¡¡had¡¡suddenly¡¡gone
mad¡£
When¡¡the¡¡Governor¡¡learnt¡¡what¡¡had¡¡happened¡¡to¡¡the¡¡Priest¡¡he
laughed¡¡till¡¡he¡¡nearly¡¡killed¡¡himself£»¡¡but¡¡when¡¡the¡¡Master¡¡Thief
came¡¡and¡¡wanted¡¡to¡¡have¡¡his¡¡daughter¡¡according¡¡to¡¡promise£»¡¡he
once¡¡more¡¡gave¡¡him¡¡nothing¡¡but¡¡fine¡¡words£»¡¡and¡¡said£»¡¡¡®You¡¡must
give¡¡me¡¡one¡¡more¡¡proof¡¡of¡¡your¡¡skill£»¡¡so¡¡that¡¡I¡¡can¡¡really¡¡judge
of¡¡your¡¡worth¡£¡¡I¡¡have¡¡twelve¡¡horses¡¡in¡¡my¡¡stable£»¡¡and¡¡I¡¡will¡¡put
twelve¡¡stable¡¡boys¡¡in¡¡it£»¡¡one¡¡on¡¡each¡¡horse¡£¡¡If¡¡you¡¡are¡¡clever
enough¡¡to¡¡steal¡¡the¡¡horses¡¡from¡¡under¡¡them£»¡¡I¡¡will¡¡see¡¡what¡¡I¡¡can
do¡¡for¡¡you¡£'
¡®What¡¡you¡¡set¡¡me¡¡to¡¡do¡¡can¡¡be¡¡done£»'¡¡said¡¡the¡¡Master¡¡Thief£»¡¡¡®but
am¡¡I¡¡certain¡¡to¡¡get¡¡your¡¡daughter¡¡when¡¡it¡¡is£¿'
¡®Yes£»¡¡if¡¡you¡¡can¡¡do¡¡that¡¡I¡¡will¡¡do¡¡my¡¡best¡¡for¡¡you£»'¡¡said¡¡the
Governor¡£
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to¡¡fill¡¡two¡¡pocket¡¡flasks£»¡¡and¡¡he¡¡put¡¡a¡¡sleeping¡¡drink¡¡into¡¡one¡¡of
these£»¡¡but¡¡into¡¡the¡¡other¡¡he¡¡poured¡¡brandy¡¡only¡£¡¡Then¡¡he¡¡engaged
eleven¡¡men¡¡to¡¡lie¡¡that¡¡night¡¡in¡¡hiding¡¡behind¡¡the¡¡Governor's
stable¡£¡¡After¡¡this£»¡¡by¡¡fair¡¡words¡¡and¡¡good¡¡payment£»¡¡he¡¡borrowed¡¡a
ragged¡¡gown¡¡and¡¡a¡¡jerkin¡¡from¡¡an¡¡aged¡¡woman£»¡¡and¡¡then£»¡¡with¡¡a
staff¡¡in¡¡his¡¡hand¡¡and¡¡a¡¡poke¡¡on¡¡his¡¡back£»¡¡he¡¡hobbled¡¡off¡¡as¡¡evening
came¡¡on¡¡towards¡¡the¡¡Governor's¡¡stable¡£¡¡The¡¡stable¡¡boys¡¡were¡¡just
watering¡¡the¡¡horses¡¡for¡¡the¡¡night£»¡¡and¡¡it¡¡was¡¡quite¡¡as¡¡much¡¡as¡¡they
could¡¡do¡¡to¡¡attend¡¡to¡¡that¡£
¡®What¡¡on¡¡earth¡¡do¡¡you¡¡want¡¡here£¿'¡¡said¡¡one¡¡of¡¡them¡¡to¡¡the
old¡¡woman¡£
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shivering¡¡with¡¡cold¡£¡¡¡®Oh¡¡dear£¡¡¡oh¡¡dear£¡¡¡it's¡¡cold¡¡enough¡¡to¡¡freeze
a¡¡poor¡¡old¡¡body¡¡to¡¡death£¡'¡¡and¡¡she¡¡shivered¡¡and¡¡shook¡¡again£»¡¡and
said£»¡¡¡®For¡¡heaven's¡¡sake¡¡give¡¡me¡¡leave¡¡to¡¡stay¡¡here¡¡and¡¡sit¡¡just
inside¡¡the¡¡stable¡¡door¡£'
¡®You¡¡will¡¡get¡¡nothing¡¡of¡¡the¡¡kind£¡¡¡Be¡¡off¡¡this¡¡moment£¡¡¡If¡¡the
Governor¡¡were¡¡to¡¡catch¡¡sight¡¡of¡¡you¡¡here£»¡¡he¡¡would¡¡lead¡¡us¡¡a¡¡pretty
dance£»'¡¡said¡¡one¡£
¡®Oh£¡¡¡what¡¡a¡¡poor¡¡helpless¡¡old¡¡creature£¡'¡¡said¡¡another£»¡¡who¡¡felt
sorry¡¡for¡¡her¡£¡¡¡®That¡¡poor¡¡old¡¡woman¡¡can¡¡do¡¡no¡¡harm¡¡to¡¡anyone¡£
She¡¡may¡¡sit¡¡there¡¡and¡¡welcome¡£'
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they¡¡were¡¡disputing¡¡about¡¡this¡¡and¡¡looking¡¡after¡¡the¡¡horses£»¡¡she
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the¡¡door£»¡¡and¡¡when¡¡once¡¡she¡¡was¡¡inside¡¡no¡¡one¡¡took¡¡any¡¡more¡¡notice
of¡¡her¡£
As¡¡the¡¡night¡¡wore¡¡on¡¡the¡¡stable¡¡boys¡¡found¡¡it¡¡rather¡¡cold¡¡work
to¡¡sit¡¡still¡¡on¡¡horseback¡£
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¡®Yes£»¡¡I¡¡am¡¡so¡¡cold¡¡that¡¡my¡¡teeth¡¡are¡¡chattering£»'¡¡said¡¡another¡£
¡®If¡¡one¡¡had¡¡but¡¡a¡¡little¡¡tobacco£»'¡¡said¡¡a¡¡third¡£
Well£»¡¡one¡¡of¡¡them¡¡had¡¡a¡¡little£»¡¡so¡¡they¡¡shared¡¡it¡¡among¡¡them£»
though¡¡there¡¡was¡¡very¡¡little¡¡for¡¡each¡¡man£»¡¡but¡¡they¡¡chewed¡¡it¡£¡¡This
was¡¡some¡¡help¡¡to¡¡them£»¡¡but¡¡very¡¡soon¡¡they¡¡were¡¡just¡¡as¡¡cold¡¡as¡¡before¡£
¡®Hutetu£¡'¡¡said¡¡one¡¡of¡¡them£»¡¡shivering¡¡again¡£
¡®Hutetu£¡'¡¡said¡¡the¡¡old¡¡woman£»¡¡gnashing¡¡her¡¡teeth¡¡together¡¡till
they¡¡chattered¡¡inside¡¡her¡¡mouth£»¡¡and¡¡then¡¡she¡¡got¡¡out¡¡the¡¡flask
which¡¡contained¡¡nothing¡¡but¡¡brandy£»¡¡and¡¡her¡¡hands¡¡trembled¡¡so
that¡¡she¡¡shook¡¡the¡¡bottle¡¡about£»¡¡and¡¡when¡¡she¡¡drank¡¡it¡¡made¡¡a¡¡great
gulp¡¡in¡¡her¡¡throat¡£
¡®What¡¡is¡¡that¡¡you¡¡have¡¡in¡¡your¡¡flask£»¡¡old¡¡woman£¿'¡¡asked¡¡one
of¡¡the¡¡stable¡¡boys¡£
¡®Oh£»¡¡it's¡¡only¡¡a¡¡little¡¡drop¡¡of¡¡brandy£»¡¡your¡¡honour£»'¡¡she¡¡said¡£
¡®Brandy£¡¡¡What£¡¡¡Let¡¡me¡¡have¡¡a¡¡drop£¡¡¡Let¡¡me¡¡have¡¡a¡¡drop£¡'
screamed¡¡all¡¡the¡¡twelve¡¡at¡¡once¡£
¡®Oh£»¡¡but¡¡what¡¡I¡¡have¡¡is¡¡so¡¡little£»'¡¡whimpered¡¡the¡¡old¡¡woman¡£
¡®It¡¡will¡¡not¡¡even¡¡wet¡¡your¡¡mouths¡£'
But¡¡they¡¡were¡¡determined¡¡to¡¡have¡¡it£»¡¡and¡¡there¡¡was¡¡nothing¡¡to
be¡¡done¡¡but¡¡give¡¡it£»¡¡so¡¡she¡¡took¡¡out¡¡the¡¡flask¡¡with¡¡the¡¡sleeping¡¡drink
and¡¡put¡¡it¡¡to¡¡the¡¡lips¡¡of¡¡the¡¡first¡¡of¡¡them£»¡¡and¡¡now¡¡she¡¡shook¡¡no
more£»¡¡but¡¡guided¡¡the¡¡flask¡¡so¡¡that¡¡each¡¡of¡¡them¡¡got¡¡just¡¡as¡¡much¡¡as
he¡¡ought£»¡¡and¡¡the¡¡twelfth¡¡had¡¡not¡¡done¡¡drinking¡¡before¡¡the¡¡first
was¡¡already¡¡sitting¡¡snoring¡£¡¡Then¡¡the¡¡Master¡¡Thief¡¡flung¡¡off¡¡his
beggar's¡¡rags£»¡¡and¡¡took¡¡one¡¡stable¡¡boy¡¡after¡¡the¡¡other¡¡and¡¡gently
set¡¡him¡¡astride¡¡on¡¡the¡¡partitions¡¡which¡¡divided¡¡the¡¡stalls£»¡¡and¡¡then
he¡¡called¡¡his¡¡eleven¡¡men¡¡who¡¡were¡¡waiting¡¡outside£»¡¡and¡¡they¡¡rode
off¡¡with¡¡the¡¡Governor's¡¡horses¡£
In¡¡the¡¡morning¡¡when¡¡the¡¡Governor¡¡came¡¡to¡¡look¡¡after¡¡his¡¡stable
boys¡¡they¡¡were¡¡just¡¡beginning¡¡to¡¡come¡¡to¡¡again¡£¡¡They¡¡were¡¡driving
their¡¡spurs¡¡into¡¡the¡¡partition¡¡till¡¡the¡¡splinters¡¡flew¡¡about£»¡¡and
some¡¡of¡¡the¡¡boys¡¡fell¡¡off£»¡¡and¡¡some¡¡still¡¡hung¡¡on¡¡and¡¡sat¡¡looking¡¡like
fools¡£¡¡¡®Ah£»¡¡well£»'¡¡said¡¡the¡¡Governor£»¡¡¡®it¡¡is¡¡easy¡¡to¡¡see¡¡who¡¡has¡¡been
here£»¡¡but¡¡what¡¡a¡¡worthless¡¡set¡¡of¡¡fellows¡¡you¡¡must¡¡be¡¡to¡¡sit¡¡here¡¡and
let¡¡the¡¡Master¡¡Thief¡¡steal¡¡the¡¡horses¡¡from¡¡under¡¡you£¡'¡¡And¡¡they
all¡¡got¡¡a¡¡beating¡¡for¡¡not¡¡having¡¡kept¡¡watch¡¡better¡£
Later¡¡in¡¡the¡¡day¡¡the¡¡Master¡¡Thief¡¡came¡¡and¡¡related¡¡what¡¡he¡¡had
done£»¡¡and¡¡wanted¡¡to¡¡have¡¡the¡¡Governor's¡¡daughter¡¡as¡¡had¡¡been
promised¡£¡¡But¡¡the¡¡Governor¡¡gave¡¡him¡¡a¡¡hundred¡¡dollars£»¡¡and¡¡said¡¡that
he¡¡must¡¡do¡¡something¡¡that¡¡was¡¡better¡¡still¡£
¡®Do¡¡you¡¡think¡¡you¡¡can¡¡steal¡¡my¡¡horse¡¡from¡¡under¡¡me¡¡when¡¡I¡¡am
out¡¡riding¡¡on¡¡it£¿'¡¡said¡¡he¡£
¡®Well£»¡¡it¡¡might¡¡be¡¡done£»'¡¡said¡¡the¡¡Master¡¡Thief£»¡¡¡®if¡¡I¡¡were
absolutely¡¡certain¡¡that¡¡I¡¡should¡¡get¡¡your¡¡daughter¡£'
So¡¡the¡¡Governor¡¡said¡¡that¡¡he¡¡would¡¡see¡¡what¡¡he¡¡could¡¡do£»¡¡and
then¡¡he¡¡said¡¡that¡¡on¡¡a¡¡certain¡¡day¡¡he¡¡would¡¡ride¡¡out¡¡to¡¡a¡¡great
common¡¡where¡¡they¡¡drilled¡¡the¡¡soldiers¡£
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¡£'
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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¡¡dol
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