Free The Strange Tale of the Snake Ring by John Holroyd Page A

minutes later it was all over. Before they were even properly awake, the robbers were securely tied and transported to the town lock-up.
    The next morning, their appointment was not kept with the goldsmith, but before the magistrates in court.
    News spread quickly round the town that two notorious robbers had been caught, and were to be tried at noon. By the time the magistrates took their places on the bench, and the robbers were brought from the prison, the courthouse was full of people.
    â€œYou are accused of having in your possession stolen property, namely a ring. Are you guilty or not guilty?”
    â€œNot guilty!” said the robbers together.
    â€œWho accuses these men of robbery?” asked the chief magistrate.
    The goldsmith stepped forward. “I do, your honour. They came into my workshop offering to sell me a ring. I know that it belonged to a young man, who had his name and the name of his sweetheart, engraved on it. He would never have sold it or given it to these men.”
    â€œWhat were the names?” asked the magistrate.
    â€œThomas and Gerda,” replied the goldsmith.
    â€œDoes anyone here know these persons?”
    A man on the front row of the crowd raised his hand. “Your honour,” he said, “I knew Thomas when he used to work at Riverside Farm. But he went on a journey many months ago, and has never returned.”
    The magistrate then turned to the robbers. “How do you say that you obtained the ring?”
    Zwerg answered: “It did belong to a man called Thomas, but he owed us money, and gave us the ring in payment.”
    The magistrate then spoke to all the people present. “Can anyone here prove that these men stole the ring, and that their story is untrue?”
    No one spoke.
    The chief magistrate spoke quietly to the two other magistrates who sat on either side of him. “I believe they are guilty, but there is no proof. I am very sorry, but I am afraid that we shall have to let them go free.”
    Just at that moment, there was a commotion at the back of the courtroom as two men entered in great haste. The younger of the two men appeared to be a merchant, and the man who followed him, his servant. They walked quickly up to the bench, and the young man asked for permission to speak. When this was granted, he pointed at the two robbers and said in a loud, clear voice:
    â€œI know these men. Their names are Riese and Zwerg, and I can swear that they are robbers, because some months ago my servant and I were captured by them in the forest. They took our money, our packhorses and our clothes, and left us tied to a tree. We were soon weak from lack of food and exposure, and would have died. But a soldier travelling home on leave found us and set us free. He bought us food and brought us safely home. My servant here can witness that what I have told you, is true.”
    â€œIt is true, sir,” said the servant.
    â€œWe’ve never seen them before!” shouted Zwerg.
    â€œSilence!” said the magistrate. “This changes everything.” He turned to Zwerg and Riese. “Is there anyone who would speak in your defence?”
    There was silence. “Then I find you guilty of robbery and attempted murder,” continued the magistrate. “You are to go back to prison while it is decided whether you are to be hanged or stay in prison for life. The ring shall be kept safely by the goldsmith until the true owner is found. Take them back to prison.”
    The guards obeyed.

Chapter 16
    Freedom for Thomas

    Thomas was cold and hungry. The robbers had left no food in the cave, and the fire was almost out. He did not expect them to return the same day, but when they had not done so by noon on the following day, he began to suspect that something was wrong.
    â€œI must get out of this cave,” he said to himself. “But how? I’ve already thought of ways of escape for weeks and months, but nothing seems