The weekly mountain Democrat. [volume] (Placerville, El Dorado County, Calif.) 1861-1862, 1861-02-23


The seeming old woman trottcd up to the
group, and taking her basket from her
head, sat 1t down near them.
What have yOn got in your basket,
old woman ?" cried one. -
"a good taste Of wine" she replied
II mSintain myself by trading with ! { ;
for some money and your fair words
will give you glassful!."
"Come along, them" returned the sol.
der; but as soon as he drank what was
given him, he said-" Ali this wine il
very good I would rather have two glasses
than on0!" and so he took q second glass.
and then his comrades followed his exam.
pie.
Holloa, there I" exclaimed one Of the
soldiers, to another inside the stable, -
Here is an old woman with some wine
so good that II will warm your chest more
than all the fire."
AS hc spoke, she carried her cask into
the stable, and saw there three soldiers,
one Of whom sat on the saddled horse.
Another had the bride in his hand, and
a third held on to II by the tail. The old
woman served out to them the wine us
long as 1t lasted, and then it's effects began
to show themselves. He who held the
bride let II drop from his hand, and sink
ing to tho ground, soon began to Snore {;
the other let 90 the tail and fell asleep,
snoring louder than the other; aud the
soldier who was sitting on his horse bent
his head upon it's neck, and SO fell asleep,
and snored like the noise Of smiths bel
lows. The soldiers outside, also, had long
before fallen asleep, and were lying mo.
tionleSs as stones round their fire.
When the Master. Thief saw himself so
far favored, he gave to him who had held
the bride rope in his hand. and to the
other who had held the tail wisp of
straw but what to do with him who still
sat on the horses back, puzzled him. He
could not trow him of, for that would
have awakened him, and he would have
called for help, 90 he was obliged 10 adopt
= stratagem. lie unbucklcd the saddle.
gIrths, and knotted fast to the saddle a
couple Of ropes, which passed through
rings in the wall. This done, hc drew
the sleeping rider, saddle and oil, up In
tho air, and then mado the ropes secure
to tho posts Of the stable. lie next un.
chained the horse, but before he led him
over the stone floor Of the yard, he wrap.
ped his hoofs round with old rags, so that
they might not make any noise which
could awaken the watchers. Then he led
out his prize cautiously, and swinging
himself upon its back, rode off in haste.
AS soon as the day broke the Master
Thief returned to the castle, mounted on
the stolen steed. The Count was up al
ready, and looking out of his window.
"Good morning, sir Count" said the
Thief; here is your horse, which have
luckily taken from its stable. Look around
and see your soldiers lying in the yard
fast asleep /; and if you 60 into the stable
you will find them equally well occupied
there. -.,,-- ,i-',. /, - 4 -.
The Count was forced to laugh. and
said
"Wcll, for once you have succeeded !;
but this second time you will not come
off SO easily. And I warn you, If you
meet me as Thief shall treat you as a
Thief"
By-and-by night came, and the Count.
ess went TO bed, with her wedding. ring
held fast in her closed hand.
GAN the doors are locked and bolted,
said the Count, land shall keep awake
and watch for this Thief, that, il he makes
his appearance at the window, may
shoot him."
The Master Thief, however, went In the
dark to the gallows, and, cutting down
from the rope poor criminal who had
been hing there that day, carried him on
his back to the castle. There he placed
u ladder up to the sleeping-chamber Of
the Count, and hosting the dead man
upon his shoulders, began to mount. As
soon as he had got so high that the head
Of the dead man was on q level with the
window, the Count, concealed by the cur
tain, pointed pistol at it and fired.
Immediately the Master. Thief pitched
the corpse over, and then rapidly descend.
ing the ladder, concealed himself in cor
ner. The night was bright, with clear
moonshine. and the Master Thief plainly
saw the Count descend the ladder, and
bear the dead man away into the garden,
where he began to dig hole in which to
bury him.
"Now is the lucky mOmcnt!" said the
Thief to himself; and slipping from his
hiding.place, he ran up the ladder, and
entered tho sleeping room.
"Dcar wife," he began, initiating the
Counts voice, the Thief is dead; but he
is nevertheless my gOdson, and more Of a
rogue than criminal; do not, therefore,
wish to put his family to shame, for / pity
his poor parents. wish, therefore, be.
fore daybrcak, to bury him in the garden,
that the affair may be kept quiet. Give
me the bed covering, that may wrap bis
body in it and bury him deccntly."
The Countess gave him the counterpane
readily, and as she did SO, the Thief con-
tinued:
I" Do you know I have fit Of magma.
nimity; give inc your ring; since this un.
fortunate fellow has periled his life for it,
l will bury Il with him."
Tho Countess did not wish to disobligC
the Count, and so, drawing off her ring,
though unwillingly, she handed it to him,
Thercupon the Thief made off with both
his prizes, and luckily reached his home
before the Count had finished his grave
digging.
You may fancy what long face the
Count pulled the next morning when the
Master. Thief brought him the bed cover.
ing and the ring.
"Are you = wizard ?" he said to him
"who has fetched you out Of the grave ia
which l myself laid you, and who has
brought you to life ngainY"
"YOU did not bury me-" replied the
Thief, "but poor criminal from the gal
lows" and then he related circGmstantial
ly ell that had occurred, 20 that the COun
was compelled to believe that he was I
clever and crafty fellow.
But your tasks are not ended yet,
said the Count; "you have still the thirC
to do, and II you do not manage that, al
your former work will be useless" '
The Master-Thief laughed, but made NJ
answer; and when night came he went t.
the village church with . long sack on BIZ
back, bundle under his arm. end = liant
AFn in his hand In fha mack ha hsI \ ann,