'Nay, but I can't steal them', she said; 'you know how it went last
time.'

'Well, you can learn to steal; who knows but you may have better luck
next time', said Hacon Grizzlebeard.

When she was well on her way, Hacon ran by a short cut, reached the
palace long before her, threw off his skin cloak and false beard, and
stood in the kitchen with his royal robes before she came in. So the
Princess stood by when the pig was killed, and made sausages with the
rest, and did as Hacon bade her, and stuffed her pockets full of
sausages. But when she was about to go home at even, the Prince said:

'This beggar's wife was long-fingered last time; we may as well just
see if she hasn't carried anything off.'

So he began to thrust his hands into her pockets, and when he found
the sausages he was in a great rage again, and made a great to do,
threatening to send for the constable and put her into the cage.

'Oh, God bless your royal highness; do let me off! The beggar made me
do it', she said, and wept bitterly.

'Well', said Hacon, 'you ought to smart for it; but for the beggar's
sake you shall be forgiven.'

When she was gone, he changed his clothes again, ran by the short
cut, and when she reached the cabin, there he was before her. Then
she told him the whole story, and swore, through thick and thin, it