So he set himself to work to catch three hares alive , put them in a bag , clad himself in some old rags so that he looked so poor and wretched that it was quite pitiable to see him , and in this guise on Sunday forenoon he sneaked into the passage with his bag , like any beggar boy . The Governor himself and every one in the house was in the kitchen , keeping watch over the joint . While they were doing this the youth let one of the hares slip out of his bag , and off it set and began to run round the yard . ` Just look at that hare , ' said the people in the kitchen , and wanted to go out and catch it . The Governor saw it too , but said , ` Oh , let it go ! it 's no use to think of catching a hare when it 's running away . ' It was not long before the youth let another hare out , and the people in the kitchen saw this too , and thought that it was the same . So again they wanted to go out and catch it , but the Governor again told them that it was of no use to try . Very soon afterwards , however , the youth let slip the third hare , and it set off and ran round and round the courtyard . The people in the kitchen saw this too , and believed that it was still the same hare that was running about , so they wanted to go out and catch it . ` It 's a remarkably fine hare ! ' said the Governor . ` Come and let us see if we can get hold of it . ' So out he went , and the others with him , and away went the hare , and they after it , in real earnest . In the meantime , however , the Master Thief took the joint and ran off with it , and whether the Governor got any roast meat for his dinner that day I know not , but I know that he had no roast hare , though he chased it till he was both hot and tired . At noon came the Priest , and when the Governor had told him of the trick played by the Master Thief there was no end to the ridicule he cast on the Governor . ` For my part , ' said the Priest , ' I ca n't imagine myself being made a fool of by such a fellow as that ! ' ` Well , I advise you to be careful , ' said the Governor , ` for he may be with you before you are at all aware . ' But the Priest repeated what he had said , and mocked the Governor for having allowed himself to be made such a fool of . Later in the afternoon the Master Thief came and wanted to have the Governor 's daughter as he had promised .
` You must first give some more samples of your skill , ' said the Governor , trying to speak him fair , ` for what you did to-day was no such very great thing XXXXX all .
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