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Alexander and the thieves (Traditional Russian story)

rave Alexander was crossing the forest deep in his own thoughts. So distracted was he that, because he didn’t pay attention to where he was going, he became completely lost. As dusk was beginning to fall, Alexander decided to spend the night in an abandoned windmill that he came across close by.

Suddenly, in the middle of the night, he was awakened by the sound of footsteps. In an instant, Alexander jumped bolt upright and hid behind some sacks just as three men entered the windmill. From his position, he could hear the strangers’ conversation. They appeared to be three thieves who wanted to share out the loot from their latest robberies.

“Listen carefully,” exclaimed the one who seemed to be the leader of the group. “What we’ll do is hide the loot behind those sacks. When the police stop looking for us, we’ll come back for it.”

Alexander began to tremble: the thieves were on the verge of discovering him. But just then, our hero had a brilliant idea. In the deepest voice he could muster, he began to shout: “After them boys! Andrei, you’re with me. Valery, you watch the back.

Dimitri, get your sword out! Come on, don’t let any of them escape!”

Luckily, the trick worked. The three thieves ran off without a backwards glance, leaving the loot in the windmill. So, brave Alexander returned home the following morning a rich man.