Soon she came upon some thieves who were looking about for something to steal, and she went up to them and offered to help them, and the thieves thought she knew of a good place and opportunity, and were glad of her offer. But Kate walked in front of the houses calling out,
"Good people, what have you for us to steal?"
So the thieves thought to themselves, "This will never do," and wished themselves quit of her. At last they said to her,
"Just at the end of the village there are some turnips in the parson's field; go and fetch us some."
So Kate went into the field and began to pull some up, but very lazily, and never raised herself. Presently came by a man who saw her, and thought she was some evil thing grubbing for the turnips. So he ran quickly into the village and said to the parson,
"O parson, some evil creature is grubbing in your turnip-field!"
"Oh dear!" answered the parson, "I have a lame foot, I cannot go to drive it away."
And the man at once offered to take him on his back, and he did so.
Just as they reached the field Kate got up and stood upright.
"Oh, the devil!" cried the parson, and both took to their heels, and the parson was able, out of his great fear, to run faster with his lame foot than the man who had carried him on his back with both legs sound.