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When they came to the parson's house, Tom slipped through the

window-bars into the room, and then called out as loud as he

could bawl, 'Will you have all that is here?' At this the thieves

were frightened, and said, 'Softly, softly! Speak low, that you

may not awaken anybody.' But Tom seemed as if he did not

understand them, and bawled out again, 'How much will you have?

Shall I throw it all out?' Now the cook lay in the next room; and

hearing a noise she raised herself up in her bed and listened.

Meantime the thieves were frightened, and ran off a little way;

but at last they plucked up their hearts, and said, 'The little

urchin is only trying to make fools of us.' So they came back and

whispered softly to him, saying, 'Now let us have no more of your

roguish jokes; but throw us out some of the money.' Then Tom

called out as loud as he could, 'Very well! hold your hands! here

it comes.'