on before the thief, who followed, expecting every moment to lay his hand upon the strayed horse. Imperceptibly he led him to a great distance, and then leaving him hurried back to the other. When he was not more than twenty yards from him he stopped and cried:
“Pray, brother, come and help me to untie this accursed brute.”
The fellow, imagining that it was his brother, got up to help him, saying:
“A pretty baby you, who cannot untie a horse.”
Tim, however, pretending that he could not hold the horse, moved away, and led him very far from the road. Then leaving him to seek his brother who was in vain pursuit of the horse he ran to where the swine lay, and, seizing hold of her, placed her upon his horse and carried her off. As soon as he got home he tied her by the leg to the hand-mill which stood in the
middle of the kitchen, round which he strewed a quantity of rye. Forthwith the swine fell to eating the rye, and, by moving round, set the mill a grinding. Tim then flung himself upon his bed, and without any care resigned himself to sleep.
In the meanwhile the thieves met each other.
One said, “Where’s the horse?”
The other answered, that he had never caught a glimpse of it.
“Then why did you call me to help you to untie it?” said the first.