Page:Jewish Fairy Book (Gerald Friedlander).djvu/21

Rh traveled all the morning together and at noon they came to a market town. They resolved to buy something with their money and on the morrow they would part and each one try his luck. David invested his money in a large stock of silk. &quot;I will,&quot; said he to himself, &quot;be able to sell this at a good profit and I will buy a further supply, and by the time the year is round I shall have put by a good sum.&quot; Jacob bought a number of jewels which he put in his pocket. They had agreed to spend the night together at the inn in the market-town. David had his bales of silk brought into the inn and carried into their bedroom. After they had enjoyed a good supper they retired to their room, both very tired after their day's tramp.

Unknown to themselves they had been watched by a gang of thieves, who broke into the inn in the middle of the night. They found their way to the bedroom where the cousins were fast asleep. The thieves emptied the pockets of both men, and glad in having secured the precious jewels they hastened away. They did not remove the bales of silk, for this might have attracted attention in the streets. With the break of dawn the two cousins arose and said their morning prayers, asking Heaven to prosper them on their way. Whilst David was arranging with the host for the removal of the bales of silk, Jacob cried aloud,—

&quot;Cousin David! I have been robbed. I showed