Not suspecting anything, the man put him on the ground. What was his surprise and anger when Little Tom darted off through the hedge. Calling to him to come back, the master with difficulty climbed over the bushes and started searching for his small runaway. He looked behind stones, under clumps of grass, in little furrows, but never thought of the nest of the field-mouse. Little Tom stayed very still long after the angry voice had died away in the distance. When he came forth it was dark, and he did not know which way to go. He was still trying to make up his mind, when he overheard two robbers on the other side of the hedge. The first robber said: "There is plenty of gold and silver in the rector's house, but his doors are locked and his windows barred." "Yes," said the other one, "and if we break in we shall wake up the servants." This conversation gave Tom an idea. Stepping through the hedge he said in a loud voice: "I can help you. I am so small I can get between the bars on the window. Then I'll pass all the gold and silver out to you, and when I get out you can divide with me." [Illustration] The robbers were pleased with the idea. They decided between themselves that as soon as they got the money in their own hands they would make off and not divide it at all. They never suspected that Little Thumb was planning to give them away. Reaching the rector's home they lifted Tom up, and he crawled between the bars and out of reach of the robbers. Then he called out in a very loud voice, so as to waken the servants: "Will you have everything I can get?" The servants came running calling, "Thief! Thief!" and the two robbers escaped as fast as their feet would carry them. Now, the servants were so angry, and told in such loud voices what they should do if they caught anyone in the house, that Little Thumb was very much afraid. So he climbed out through the window and hid in the barn in the hay. It is best for little people to stay out of harm's way; the queerest things may happen. While our small adventurer was peacefully sleeping, the milkmaid came to give the cattle their morning fodder. As bad luck would have it, she took the very truss of hay in which Tom lay; and he awoke with a start to find himself in the cow's great mouth, in danger of being crushed at any minute by her tremendous teeth. He dodged back and forth in terror; and it was a relief when the cow gave one big swallow, and he slid down into her roomy stomach. [Illustration] It was dark and moist down there, however, and more hay came down with every swallow; so Tom called out with all his might: "No more hay, please! no more hay!" The milkmaid screamed, and ran to the house, telling everyone that the cow had been talking to her just like a man.