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his finger in the tap…hole that he took it out。
‘Now I shall have ten dollars more！' cried the old woman
inside the cask； so he soon saw what kind of mead it was； and set
out homewards。 When he had gone a very little way he met his
servant bringing him the horse； for the Master Thief had already
taken it home。
The following day he went to the Governor and wanted to have
his daughter according to promise。 But the Governor again put
him off with fine words； and only gave him three hundred dollars；
saying that he must do one more masterpiece of skill； and if he
were but able to do that he should have her。
Well； the Master Thief thought he might if he could hear what
it was。
‘Do you think you can steal the sheet off our bed； and my wife's
night…gown？' said the Governor。
‘That is by no means impossible；' said the Master Thief。 ‘I
only wish I could get your daughter as easily。'
So late at night the Master Thief went and cut down a thief
who was hanging on the gallows； laid him on his own shoulders；
and took him away with him。 Then he got hold of a long ladder；
set it up against the Governor's bedroom window； and climbed
up and moved the dead man's head up and down； just as if he were
some one who was standing outside and peeping in。
‘There's the Master Thief； mother！' said the Governor； nudging
his wife。 ‘Now I'll just shoot him； that I will！'
So he took up a rifle which he had laid at his bedside。
‘Oh no； you must not do that；' said his wife； ‘you yourself
arranged that he was to come here。'
‘Yes； mother； I will shoot him；' said he； and lay there aiming；
and then aiming again； for no sooner was the head up and he caught
sight of it than it was gone again。 At last he got a chance and
fired； and the dead body fell with a loud thud to the ground； and
down went the Master Thief too； as fast as he could。
‘Well；' said the Governor； ‘I certainly am the chief man about
here； but people soon begin to talk； and it would be very unpleasant
if they were to see this dead body； the best thing that I can do is
to go out and bury him。'
‘Just do what you think best； father；' said his wife。
So the Governor got up and went downstairs； and as soon as he
had gone out through the door； the Master Thief stole in and went
straight upstairs to the woman。
‘Well； father dear；' said she； for she thought it was her husband。
‘Have you got done already？'
‘Oh yes； I only put him into a hole；' said he； ‘and raked a little
earth over him； that's all I have been able to do to…night； for it is
fearful weather outside。 I will bury him better afterwards； but
just let me have the sheet to wipe myself with； for he was bleeding；
and I have got covered with blood with carrying him。'
So she gave him the sheet。
‘You will have to let me have your night…gown too；' he said；
‘for I begin to see that the sheet won't be enough。'
Then she gave him her night…gown； but just then it came into
his head that he had forgotten to lock the door； and he was forced
to go downstairs and do it before he could lie down in bed again。
So off he went with the sheet； and the night…gown too。
An hour later the real Governor returned。
‘Well； what a time it has taken to lock the house door； father！'
said his wife； ‘and what have you done with the sheet and the
night…gown？'
‘What do you mean？' asked the Governor。
‘Oh； I am asking you what you have done with the night…gown
and sheet that you got to wipe the blood off yourself with；' said she。
‘Good heavens！' said the Governor； ‘has he actually got the
better of me again？'
When day came the Master Thief came too； and wanted to
have the Governor's daughter as had been promised； and the
Governor dared do no otherwise than give her to him； and much
money besides； for he feared that if he did not the Master Thief
might steal the very eyes out of his head； and that he himself would
be ill spoken of by all men。 The Master Thief lived well and happily
from that time forth； and whether he ever stole any more or not I
cannot tell you； but if he did it was but for pastime。
＇5＇ From P。 C。 Asbjornsen。