Page:The Strand Magazine (Volume 4).djvu/531

 "How stupid you are!" said the other.

"How can a man be hanged in two places at the same time? It is another thief, that is all."

"I tell you it is the same," replied the first shepherd; "I recognise his coat and his grin."

"I bet you," answered the second, who was of an independent turn of mind, "that it is a different man."

The wager was accepted. The two men fastened the King's bull to a tree, and ran back to the first oak. But while they were running the little grey man jumped down from his gibbet, and quietly led the bull to the peasant's house. There was great rejoicing, and the animal was put into the stable until it should be sold. When the two herdsmen returned to the the palace in evening, they hung their heads and looked so dejected that the King saw at once he had been duped. He sent for the little grey man, who appeared with all the serenity of a great mind.

"You have stolen my bull!" said the King.

"Your Majesty," replied the little man, "I have only obeyed your orders."

"Very well," said the King; "here are ten gold crowns to pay for my bull; but if within two days you do not manage to steal the sheets off my bed while I am in it, you shall be hanged."

"Your Majesty," said the little man, "pray do not ask me to do any such thing. You are so well guarded that a poor man like me could never even approach the palace."

"Unless you do it," answered the King, "I shall have the pleasure of seeing you hanged."

That night the little grey man, who had returned to the cottage, provided himself with a long rope and a basket. In this basket, lined with moss, he placed a cat and her kittens, and then he went out. Gliding noiselessly through the darkness he reached the palace, and climbed upon the roof without being perceived by anyone. To enter a garret, where with the help of a saw he quickly made a neat opening in the floor, was for our clever little fellow the work of a few moments.

On reaching the King's bedroom, he proceeded to carefully uncover the Royal bed, and after placing the cat and her kittens in the centre, he arranged it neatly again, and then, by the aid of his rope, climbed upon the canopy, where he sat down to await the result.

The palace clock struck eleven as the King and Queen entered their chamber. The light having been extinguished, the Queen was about to step into bed, when she uttered a shrill scream and ran to the further end of the room.

"What is the matter? Are you mad?" said the King. "You will rouse the whole palace."

"Do not get into bed," answered the Queen; "my foot touched something warm and soft."

"Why not say at once that there is a hob-