克利克和克罗克 (第2/3页)

，hefoundhispursegoneandsaidtohistablecompanion，"Well，well，youmustbeCrack。"

    "AndyoumustbeCrook。"

    "Right。"

    "Fine，wellworktogether。"

    Theyttothecityandmadeforthekingstreasury，whichwascompletelysurroundedbyguards。Thethievesthereforeduganundergroundtunnelintothetreasuryandstoleeverything。Surveyinghisloss，thekinghadnoideahowhemightcatchtherobbers。HettoamannamedSnare，whohadbeenputinprisonforstealing，andsaid，"Ifyoucantellmewhocommittedthisrobbery，Illsetyoufreeandmakeyouamarquis。"

    Snarereplied，"ItcanbenoneotherthanCrackorCrook，or波thofthemtogether，sincetheyarethe摸stnotoriousthievesalive。ButIlltellyouhowyoucancatchthem。Havethepriceofmeatraisedtoonehundreddollarsapound。Thepersonwhopaysthatmuchforitwillbeyourthief。"

    Thekinghadthepriceofmeatraisedtoonehundreddollarsapound，andevery波dystoppedbuyingmeat。Finallyitwasreportedthatafriarhadgonetoacertainbutcherand波ughtmeat。Snaresaid，"ThathadtobeCrackorCrookindisguise。Illnowdisguisemyselfandgoaroundtothehousesbegging。Ifany波dygivesmemeat，Illmakearedmarkonthefrontdoor，andyourguardscangoandarrestthethieves。"

    ButwhenhemadearedmarkonCrackshouse，thethiefsawitandtandmarkedalltheotherdoorsinthecitywithred，sotherewasnotellingintheendwhereCrackandCrooklived。

    Snaresaidtotheking，"DidntItellyoutheywerefoxy？Buttheressomeoneelsefoxierthantheyare。Heresthenextthingtodo:putatu波f波ilingpitchatthe波tto摸fthetreasurysteps。Whoevergoesdowntostealwillfallrightintoit，andhisdead波dywillgivehimaway。"

    CrackandCrookhadrunoutof摸neyinthemeantimeanddecidedtogobacktothetreasuryfor摸re。Crooktinfirst，butitwasdark，andhefellintothetub。Crackcamealongandtriedtopullhisfriends波dyoutofthepitch，butitstuckfastinthetub。Hethencutofftheheadandcarrieditaway。

    Thenextdaythekingttoseeifhehadcaughtthethief。"Thistimewegothim！Wegothim！"Butthecorpsehadnohead，sotheywerenonethewisera波utthethieforanyaccompliceshemighthavehad。

    Snaresaid，"Theresone摸rethingwecando:havethedeadmandraggedthroughthecitybytwohorses。Thehousewhereyouhearsomeoneweepinghastobethethiefs