that there was a stranger from no one knew where, and whom nobody knew, staying in the peasant's cottage. The King ordered that he should be brought before him. The little grey man set out boldly; but the peasant and his wife began to feel conscience-stricken as they thought of the thieves and their accomplices who were hung on the same gibbet.
When the little grey man appeared at Court, the King asked him if, by chance, he had heard that five fine sheep had been stolen from the Royal flock.
"Yes, your Majesty," answered the little man; "I took them myself."
"By what right?" said the King.
"Your Majesty," replied the little man, "I took them for an old man and his wife, who were dying of hunger, whilst you had plenty and to spare. You cannot even spend the tenth part of your revenue, and I thought it only right that these good people should live on what you had no need of, rather than die of starvation."
The King was thunderstruck at such audacity; he eyed the little man with a look that boded nothing good. "It is evident," he said, "that your greatest talent is stealing."
The little man bowed with an air of self-conscious modesty.
"Well, you deserve to be hanged," said the King, "but I pardon you on condition that tomorrow at this time you shall have taken my from herdsmen my black bull, which is guarded with the greatest care."
"Your Majesty," answered the little grey man, "your condition is impossible. How do you think I can elude such vigilance?"
"Unless you do it," replied the King, "you shall be hanged."
And with a wave of his hand he dismissed our thief, who heard, as he passed out, derisive whispers of: "You will be hanged! You will be hanged!"
The little grey man returned to the cottage of the peasant, where he was warmly welcomed by the old man and his wife. But he said nothing to them, except that he was in need of a rope, and that he was going away the next morning at daybreak. They gave him the old halter of the cow, and then he went to bed and slept peacefully. At dawn, with the earliest beams of the rising sun, the little grey man went out, taking his cord with him. He strode into the forest, by the path usually used by the King's herdsmen, and selecting a big oak in full view, he hung himself by the neck to the largest branch. But he was very careful not to make a slip-knot. Very soon afterwards two herdsmen passed by, leading the black bull.
"Good-bye, old chap."
"Halloa!" said one of them, "here is our rascal, who has got what he deserved. Good-bye, old chap; you won't steal the King's bull now."
As soon as the herdsmen were out of sight, the little grey man came down from the tree, and taking a short cut hung himself once more to a great oak close by the road. Imagine the surprise of the herdsmen, when they caught sight of him again!
"Who is that?" said one. "Are my eyes deceiving me? Here is the little man we saw hanging over yonder!"
