μῦθοι Mythoi
Motif
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Filed under Thief loses his goods or is detected.

5 finer motifs beneath it
Robber cheated by substitution. Spending the night in company with a suspicious-looking stranger, the man does not go to sleep, but leaves his clothes in bed and waits to see what will happen. When the stranger wakes up in the night, he stabs at his sleeping companion, who shoots him down. (Cf. K525.1.)Robber with hand of glory killed. A robber disguised as a beggar gets night's lodging at a farm house. Using a candle made of human fat or hand of a corpse, he tries to charm the household into a deep sleep (D1162.2.1). One man who is suspicious and has not gone to sleep sees this and kills the robberSausage as revolver. Man scares robber with sausage; later boasts of event at inn. Robber hears this. Innkeeper secretly lends man a real revolver; robber is shot down when boldly attempting a second attackConqueror of robber discovers his money-stick. Thinking that he has killed the robber, the man takes his stick or knife with big handle. The robber recovers and, disguised as a beggar, inquisitively looks at the stick. The man is suspicious and by examining finds much money inside itRobbers enslaved. Youth told by two robbers to go to town and sell bracelet for each. He goes and offers to sell two slaves. Goes back with buyer and cries out "Did you say both?" "Yes." Youth is paid; robbers are enslaved
Filed beside it
Robber mistakenly carries off worthless goods and leaves valuableThief rendered helpless by magicStolen object magically returns to ownerThief condemned when witnesses of theft are able to find the stolen goodsKing's daughter put into brothel to catch thiefApparently dead woman revives when thief tries to steal from her graveClever animal betrays thiefMagic statue betrays a thief by indirection. He has threatened to smash the head of the magic statue if it betrays him. The statue says, "Whoever would tell the truth now is likely to have his head smashed."Mouse's tail in mouth of sleeping thief causes him to cough up swallowed magic ringPerson being robbed deceives robbers and calls help. (Cf. K551.5.)Child's curiosity exposes thief. Thief steals pig. Slaughters it together with one of his own and takes both to market. Puts little pig inside large one to avoid paying tax on two. Boy notices three hind legs. Thief is caughtClever girl discovers robber and cheats himChild's song incriminates thiefBlind thief trying to steal dates from withered tree killed by slipping of ropeThief loses his goods or is detected – miscellaneous

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