"Husband," said his wife, Dame Maria, "two men have sought you who
frightened me greatly, for I was alone in the house, and they would not
tell me their business. They were mean and shifty to look upon, and
there is not a thing in all the room that they have not taken stock
of--not the bacon, nor anything else--knife, reaping-hook, nor axe, for
their eyes were in every place at once."
"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.
"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.