Page:Tales and Legends from the Land of the Tzar.djvu/212

196 "What splendid lads!" exclaimed the peasant. "How well they have worked in that short week. I should never have thought it of them."

Next day the peasant went again to have a look at the hay-ricks, but this time one was missing. When he saw this he at once bent his steps homewards, greatly distressed at the loss.

"My dear children," he cried, "one of the hay-ricks is missing!"

"Never mind, father," said Starveling, "we shall soon catch the thief. Give me a hundred pounds, and I will manage the whole thing for you."

The peasant gave him the money, and Starveling went to a blacksmith, and said,—

"Can you make me a thick iron chain which, when thrown at a man, would wind itself round him from head to foot, and would not break however much the man struggled?"

The blacksmith set to work.

"See that you make it very strong," Starveling said. "If it does not break I will give you a hundred pounds; but if it breaks, then your labour is lost."

The blacksmith soon finished the chain and gave it to Starveling, who immediately began to wind it round himself as tightly as he possibly could; but when he struggled a little it gave way. The blacksmith then set to work and made it twice as thick and as strong as before. This time it was all right.

Starveling took the chain, gave the hundred pounds, and went to watch the hay. He seated himself under a hay-rick and waited.

Suddenly, at about midnight, the weather, which