When he had given these directions he ran out of the back door and hid behind a barrel . A few minutes later the robbers arrived , and called loudly for the shoemaker . ` Alas ! good gentlemen , he is up in the vineyard , but I will send the dog after him at once . Here ! now quickly to the vineyard , and tell your master some gentlemen are here who wish to speak to him . Go as fast as you can . ' And she opened the door and let the dog out . ` You can really trust the dog to call your husband ? ' asked the robbers . ` Dear me , yes ! He understands everything , and will always carry any message I give him . ' By-and-bye the shoemaker came in and said , ` Good morning , gentlemen ; the dog tells me you wish to speak to me . ' ` Yes , we do , ' replied the robber ; ` we have come to speak to you about that guitar . It is your fault that we have murdered all our wives ; and , though we played as you told us , none of them ever came back to life . ' ` You could not have played properly , ' said the shoemaker . ` It was your own fault . ' ` Well , we will forget all about it , ' answered the robbers , ` if you will only sell us your dog . ' ` Oh , that is impossible ! I should never get on without him . '
But the robbers offered him forty gold pieces , and at last he agreed XXXXX let them have the dog .
about after as behind for if in of that to