Page:Tales from the Fjeld.djvu/225

Rh bear always comes worst off," he said; "and so it's best to help one's self to what is right, and a little share is better than a long lawsuit. But, bitter death! if I haven't forgotten my gloves; if they find them at the farm, they'll soon find out who has inherited their porker." And as he said this he bolted back after his gloves.

The two who were in the barn lay and listened to all this.

"He who lays traps for others, comes into the trap himself," said one.

"There's no sin in stealing from a thief," said the other; "and no one is hanged save those who can't steal right. It would be fine fun to get rid of our clerk in an easy way, and get a fat pig instead. I think, old chap, we had better make a swap."

The other burst out laughing at this, and so they tumbled the pig out of the sack and tossed in our clerk, head foremost, hat and all, and tied up the mouth of the sack as tight as they could.

Just as they had done, back came the thief flying with his gloves, snatched up the sack, and strode off home. There he cast the sack down on the floor at his goody's feet.

"Here's what I call a porker, old lass," he said.

"How grand!" said the goody. "Nothing is all very fine to the eye, but not to the mouth. One can't get on without meat, for meat is man's strength. Thank Heaven we have now a bit of meat in the house, and shall be able to live well awhile."

"I took the biggest I could," said the man, who sat down in his armchair, and puffed and wiped the sweat