"Certes," said his wife, "dazed you must have been to ask me what had become of our bacon." "God help me," cried Travers, "when did I ask you this question?" "Why, but now, husband." "Sister, our bacon has walked off. Never shall we see it more, unless I may steal it from these thieves. But they are the most cunning robbers in all the land." Travers went out forthwith in quest of the rogues who had carried off his bacon. He took a short cut through a field of wheat, and following the path very swiftly, presently found himself between the tricksters and the wood. Haimet was very near to cover, but Barat went more heavily, seeing that his load was right heavy. So Travers, being anxious to take his own again, quickened his steps, and coming to him said-- "Give it to me, for you are weary, seeing you have carried it so long a road. Sit down now, and take a little rest." Barat, thinking that he had met with Haimet, gladly placed the bacon on the shoulders of Travers, and went his way. But Travers turned him back to his own house, and hastened towards his home by the nearest path. Now Barat, deeming that Haimet followed after, ran towards the wood until he overtook his brother. When he knew him again he had great fear, because he thought him behind. But when Haimet saw him stagger, he cried out, "Let me bear the bacon for a while. I think it little likely that I shall fall beneath its weight, as you are near to do. Certainly you are overdone." "God give me health," answered Barat, "for Travers has made a fool of us. It is he who carries his bacon on his own shoulders. But the game is not finished yet, and I have yet a throw to make." Travers proceeded on his way in quietness and peace, as one who had nought to fear from any man. But Barat, wet with haste, overtook him in the end. He had taken off his shirt and wrapped it about his head like a coif, and as much as he was able bore himself in the semblance of a woman. "Alas," cried he, "very nearly am I dead by reason of the loss and mischief dealt me by these wicked men. God, what has become of my husband, who has suffered so many things at their hands?" Thinking that his wife was speaking to him, Travers held forth the bacon. "Sister," said he, "God is yet above the Devil. You see we have again our own." Then he, who never thought to lay hands upon the meat, seized upon it greedily. "Do not wait for me, husband, but get to bed as quickly as you can, for now you may sleep without any fear." So Travers returned to his own house, and Barat hastened to his brother, bearing the bacon with him. When Travers found his wife in tears--