e who might chance
to enter. Whenever they heard footsteps approaching they seized their
clubs and stood on the defensive. Sometimes a passer-by would pause,
look in, and ask what the trouble was. Then the watchers would reply
that they were waiting for the great thief who was coming to steal the
fine horse. Thus the hours passed, but no thief came. Then the
watchers began to get tired.

"'We are crazy,' said one. 'How can a thief steal this horse, even if
he were to come in here? We are four to one. Two of us should sleep a
while, and thus we can take turns in watching.' This was agreed to,
and two of the guards stretched themselves on the straw and prepared
to sleep. But just then they heard some one singing far down the
street. It was a jolly song, and the sound of it came louder and
louder. As the singer was going by, the light in the stable caught his
eye, and he paused and looked in, but still kept up his singing.

"'Friends,' he said when his song was done, 'what is the trouble?'

"'We are watching a horse.'

"'Is he sick? Perhaps I can aid you. I have doctored many a horse in
my day.'

"'He is not sick,' replied the watchers. 'He is well and taking his
ease. We are watching to prevent a thief from stealing him.'

"Then they told him the threat the thief had made.

"'Come, that is too good,' cried the newcomer. 'This thief will be
worth looking at when four such stout lads as you get through with
him. When does he show himself?'

"'That is what we are to find out,' replied the watchers.

"'Very well,' the newcomer said; 'I'll stay, by your permission, and
see you double him up.'

"The watchers gave their consent gladly, for the newcomer had a lively
manner and a rattling tongue. He sang songs and told stories for an
hour or more, and then pulled a bottle from under his coat.

"'A little wine,' he said, 'will clear the fog from our throats.' He
passed the bottle around, and all drank except the guard who was
watching in the stall.

"Now the man who had come singing up the street was the thief himself,
and the guard in the stall was his companion. The wine was drugged,
and in a very few minutes three of the watchers were fast asleep. Then
the thief and his companion took the horse from the stall.

"'I shall have to remain here and pretend to be asleep,' said the
companion. 'You will find a saddle around the corner.' He then told
the thief about the man with the saddle.

"'You are a fool, my friend