Mátyás thought himself the best thief around. His method was surprisingly simple. The robber waited high in a tree until an unsuspecting victim walked by.
“HO! I am the Dark Wood robber. Hand over your silver and gold or lose your life,” shouted Mátyás, perched on a limb.
The travelers were so startled by his audacity that they quickly emptied their purses, skedaddled, and reported the mysterious culprit to the authorities.
Mátyás was sharper than most gave him credit for. To hide his covert activities, the robber played the village idiot, who got drunk on Penny Ale and danced in the street. No one could imagine the two were the same.
As with all good things, they end sooner than expected, so it was for Mátyás’s ruse.
When a stranger strolled down the road, Mátyás had just found a comfortable waiting spot. The robber noticed his fine robes and, throwing caution to the wind, failed to carry out a detailed inspection of the fellow.
“HO! I am the Dark Wood robber. Hand over your silver and gold or lose your life,” proclaimed the robber. He then waited for the man to empty his coffer quickly.
“My, my, what a strange bird. I have heard of these creatures but have not seen one until today,” remarked the stranger.
Jumping down from his perch, Mátyás approached the man with blade drawn and said. “I am the Dark Wood robber. Hand over your silver and gold or lose your life.”
The stranger reached into his robes and produced a wooden stick. “If it is gold you seek, I shall be more than happy to provide you with a lifetime’s supply.
With a wave of his wand, the wizard cast his spell, and before Mátyás could utter a word, he was transformed into a golden finch.
Away flew the bird to the top of the tree, and if he is still alive, he sits there today, singing to all who pass that way.
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