When this was accomplished, at a given
signal they commenced together to perform their music: the ass brayed,
the dog barked, the cat mewed, and the cock crew; and they made such
a tremendous noise, and so loud, that the panes of the window were
shivered! Terrified at these unearthly sounds, the robbers got up with
great precipitation, thinking nothing less than that some spirits had
come, and fled off into the forest, so the four companions immediately
sat down at the table, and quickly ate up all that was left, as if
they had been fasting for six weeks.
As soon as they had finished, they extinguished the light, and each
sought for himself a sleeping-place, according to his nature and
custom. The ass laid himself down upon some straw, the hound behind
the door, the cat upon the hearth, near the warm ashes, and the cock
flew up on a beam which ran across the room. Weary with their long
walk, they soon went to sleep.
At midnight the robbers perceived from their retreat that no light was
burning in their house, and all appeared quiet; so the captain said:
"We need not have been frightened into fits"; and, calling one of the
band, he sent him forward to reconnoiter. The messenger, finding
all still, went into the kitchen to strike a light, and, taking the
glistening, fiery eyes of the cat for live coals, he held a
lucifer match to them, expecting it to take fire.
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