"'Wait here a little,' said Tip-Top. 'Hold this thief till I return.' "He went to the stable, woke the thief's accomplice, who by this time was really asleep, and told him his companion had been captured. 'If I can find the horse and hide it our friend will be safe, for nothing can be proved on him.' "The man was so frightened that he told Tip-Top where he had arranged to meet the thief the next day. Then Tip-Top returned to the Mayor and his brother, who still held the thief, and took them to the house where the horse had been stabled. "When the horse had been found and restored to its owner the Mayor said to Tip-Top that he would not only reward him handsomely but grant any request he might make. "'Then, your honor,' replied Tip-Top, 'give this man his liberty.' "'Why?' asked the Mayor, much astonished. "'Because, your honor, he is my brother.' "The thief was as much astonished as the Mayor at this turn in his affairs, but he had no difficulty in recognizing Tip-Top as his younger brother. "'He certainly is a man of talent,' said the Mayor, 'and it is a pity that he should be executed.' "Then the thief fell on his knees and begged the Mayor to pardon him, promising him to live and die an honest man. And he kept his promise. He engaged in business, and, aided by Tip-Top's advice and influence, made a large fortune." "What became of the Talking-Saddle?" asked Buster John. "Well," replied Mr. Thimblefinger, "Tip-Top hung the saddle in his front porch, as you have seen farmers do. He thought a great deal of it." [Illustration: THE MAYOR PARDONING THE THIEF] "I've read something about the great thief," remarked Buster John. "But the story didn't end that way. The thief escaped every time." "Oh, well, you know how some people are," exclaimed Mrs. Meadows. "They want everything to happen just so; even a thief must be a big man if he's in a story; but I don't believe anybody ever stole anything yet without getting into trouble about it." "Who is that crying?" Mr. Rabbit suddenly exclaimed. "I hear no crying," said Mrs. Meadows. "I certainly thought I heard crying," persisted Mr. Rabbit. "It is Chickamy Crany Crow and Tickle-My-Toes singing. Listen!" Sure enough the queer-looking boy and the queer-looking girl were singing a song. One sang one line and the other the next line, and this made the song somewhat comical. The words were something like these:-- CHICKAMY CRANY CROW. Oh sing it slow, This song of woe, Of the girl who went to wash her toe! Her name was Chick-- (Oh run here quick-- The word's so thick)-- Chickamy--Chickamy Crany Crow! Chickamy what? and Chickamy which? She went to the well and fell in the ditch; What o'clock, old Witch?