"That is a good story" he said. "Where do you carry your gold?"

"It is in my hat, underneath the lining," answered Otanes.

"Oh, well! You can't make me believe that," said the robber; and he
hurried away to rob one of the rich merchants.

Soon another came up and said, "My boy, do you happen to have any gold
about you?"

"Yes! Forty pieces, in my hat, said Otanes.

"You are a brave lad to be joking with robbers" said the man; and he
also hurried on to a more promising field.

At length the chief of the band called to Otanes and said, "Young
fellow, have you anything worth taking?"

Otanes answered, "I have already told two of your men that I have forty
pieces of gold in my hat. But they wouldn't believe me."

"Take off your hat," said the chief.

[Illustration]

The boy obeyed. The chief tore out the lining and found the gold hidden
beneath it.

"Why did you tell us where to find it?" he asked. "No one would have