"Well I know who they are and what they want of me," said Travers, "for they have seen me often. We have lost our bacon, I promise you, since Barat and Haimet have come to seek it for themselves. It is to no purpose that we have cured it in the smoke, of that I am very sure. In an evil hour I killed my pig, and certainly it were better to have sold it last Saturday when I was able." "Husband," answered the wife, "if you take the bacon down from the ceiling, perchance these thieves may not find it when they come." Therefore, because of the importunity of his wife, Travers mounted on a stool and cut the cord, so that the bacon fell upon the floor. But not knowing where to bestow the meat, they let it remain even where it had fallen, having first covered it with the vessel in which they kneaded their bread. Then, sad at heart, they went to bed to take what rest they might. When the night was come, those who were so desirous of the bacon came to the house, and with their stakes made a hole in the wall near to the threshold, a hole so large that you might have trundled a mill-stone therein. Thereby they entered softly, and groped warily about the house. Now Barat went from stool to table till he came beneath the rafter from whence the bacon hung. He knew by touch that the cord was severed, and he whispered in his brother's ear that he had not found the meat, "But," said the thief, "Travers is a fool if he thinks to conceal it for long." Then they listened in the darkness of the room to the breathing of those upon the bed. Travers did not dare to sleep, and finding that his wife was becoming drowsy, roused her, saying-- "Wife, this is no time for sleep. I shall go about the house to see that all is fast." "Do not leave me," answered his wife. But Travers, who was a prudent man, rose from his bed to make sure of all his goods. He came to the kneading trough, and raising it a little from the ground, felt the bacon safely beneath. Then taking a great axe in his hand he went out to visit his cow in her byre. Barat came swiftly to the bed, like the bold and cunning thief he was. "Marion," said he, "fair sister, I have a certain thing to ask you, but dare not do so, for fear you think me mad." "That I will never deem you, husband, by St. Paul; but I will counsel you to the best of my power." "I slept so soundly that I cannot remember where we bestowed the bacon yester night, so bemused am I with dreams." "God help you, husband, to find more seasonable jests; is it not hid beneath the bin upon the floor?" "In God's name, sister, you speak truly, and I will go to feel if it is yet there." Being desirous to keep his word, Barat lifted the trough and drew forth the bacon. Then he rejoined Haimet, who was near by, and the two thieves hastened towards the coppice, making much of each other because of the success of their trick. Now Travers returned to his bed, first carefully fastening his doors.