Quoth the other: “I would almost give up the roubles for a horse or something to carry this load of carrion for us.”
Meanwhile, Tim, leading his horse some way aside, tied it to a tree, then drawing softly nigh he began to make a jingling with the bridle and stirrups which he had taken off the horse. One of the thieves hearing the jingling said:
“Listen, brother! some horse is going about entangled in its harness.”
As Tim still continued jingling, one of them fully persuaded that there was a horse close at hand set off to catch it, whilst the other rested himself sitting close by the swine. Tim moved 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.
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.
“You are mad!” replied the other; “I never spoke a word.”
“Well, then,” said his comrade, “it is plain that fellow Tim has played us a trick. Let us go and see whether the swine is where we left her.”
But, after seeking her for a long time in vain, they concluded that their brother-in-law had carried her back with him home, whereupon they set off for Tim’s house with all speed.