Three thieves never lived: one from Kikuni, two from Ger-gebil. They once argued about which of them was more skillful.
“Why should we argue,” said the Kikunin man, “today will show.”
And the three of them went to steal and settle the dispute on the spot. Soon they saw a peasant plowing a field.
“Let’s steal the ox,” suggested the Kikunin man.
- Why not two? - his companions laughed, thinking that the idea was in vain, - how can you steal an ox harnessed to a plow, and even in front of the owner?
“I’ll distract the owner, and you will take the ox away...” The Kikunin man climbed the hill and shouted loudly:
- I see a miracle! Oh what a miracle!
The plowman became interested, stopped the bulls and began to ask what miracle he was seeing. But the Kikunin continued shouting:
- Oh miracle! Oh what a miracle!
Finally the plowman rose to him and asked:
-What miracle do you see? And why are you tearing my ears and your throat?
“Isn’t it a miracle that you plow with one bull?” - answered the Kikunin.
The plowman turned around and saw that there was indeed only one ox in his team.
While the plowman was pondering the miracle, the Kikunin man caught up with his friends.
The Kikunin man took the ox for himself.
The Gergebilians decided to surpass their successful rival and planned to rob his house. Anticipating this, the Kikunin man ordered his wife to lock the pantry and hide the key in a safe place.
At night, the Gergebilites discovered the castle and quietly crept up to the bed of the owners. One of the thieves whispered in the ear of the sleeping woman:
—Did you hide the key to the pantry safely?
- He’s on the lace of my bloomers, shameless! - the wife giggled.
“Give me the key here,” whispered the Gergebilian. And the thieves unlocked the pantry, took the largest fat tail and disappeared.
A little later the Kikunin man woke up and asked his wife:
—Did you hide the key to the storage room securely?
- How many times must I explain to you that I have it on a cord! - the wife got angry.
- How many times do you say? They cleaned us out! - the Kikunin man screamed and rushed in pursuit.
The Gergebilites carried the heavy fat tail one at a time. The Kikuninets took advantage of the darkness and replaced the tired thief. Then he quietly fell behind and slowly returned home. They say that the Gergebil residents waited for each other all night on the road from Kikuni to Gergebil.
Translated from Russian · original on wisdomlib.ru