|When Tom found they were gone, he crept out of his hiding-place.
“How dangerous it is,” said he, “to walk about in this ploughed field.
If I were to fall from one of those big lumps I should surely break my
neck.” At last, he found a large, empty snail-shell.
[Illustration: 0093]
“This is lucky,” said he. “I can sleep here very well,” and in he crept.
Just as he was falling asleep he heard two men pass by, and one said to
the other:--
“How shall we manage to steal that rich farmer’s silver and gold?”
“I’ll tell you!” cried Tom.
“What noise was that? I am sure I heard some one speak,” said the thief.
He was in a great fright. They both stood listening, and Tom spoke up:--
“Take me with you, and I will show you how to get the farmer’s money.”
“But where are you?”
“Look about on the ground, and listen where the sound comes from.”
“What a little chap! What can you do for us?”
“Why, I can get between the iron window bars, and throw you out whatever
you want.”
“That is a good thought. Come along; we will see what you can do.”
When they came to the farmer’s house, Tom slipped through the bars into
the room, and then called out as loud as he could:--
“Will you have all that is here?”
“Softly, softly!” said the thieves. “Speak low, or you will wake
somebody.”