In a cozy little village, nestled beside a whispering forest, lived a young lad named Jan. Now, Jan wasn't like the other children who dreamed of being brave knights or wise wizards. Oh no, Jan had a rather unusual ambition: he wanted to be the cleverest thief in the whole wide world!

His parents, when they heard this, scratched their heads. "A thief, Jan? Are you sure?" his mother asked.
"The very best!" Jan declared.
So, they sent him to his godfather, who, unbeknownst to many, was indeed a retired master of sneaky tricks.

The godfather listened to Jan’s wish with a twinkle in his eye. "So, you want to be a master thief, eh? Well, it takes more than just wanting. You must prove your skill. I have three tasks for you. If you succeed, I’ll call you a master."

Jan’s eyes lit up. "Tell me!"

"First," said the godfather, "you must steal the Count’s favorite horse from his stable. But be warned, it’s guarded day and night."

Jan thought for a moment, then grinned. That night, he dressed as an old woman, carrying a small flask of wine. He hobbled to the Count’s stable. The guards, seeing a frail old lady, felt sorry for her. Jan offered them a sip of his "special warming wine." The wine was so special, it made them fall into a deep, dreamy sleep. Jan then carefully wrapped the horse’s hooves in soft cloth, so they made no sound, and led it quietly away.

The next morning, the Count was furious! "My horse! Gone!"
The godfather chuckled when Jan arrived with the horse. "Well done, Jan! But the next task is harder. You must steal the bedsheet from under the Count and Countess while they sleep, and the Countess’s ring from her finger."

Jan’s grin widened. That night, he found a scarecrow that looked rather like a person. He propped it up on a ladder against the Count’s bedroom window. Then, he made a little noise.
The Count woke up. "Who’s there?" He saw the figure at the window. "Aha! A thief!" He grabbed his pistol and BANG! He shot the scarecrow.
"Ouch, you got me!" Jan cried from below, pretending to be hurt.
The Count, thinking he’d caught the thief, rushed outside and climbed the ladder to see. While he was busy with the scarecrow, Jan, quick as a mouse, slipped into the bedroom. He gently, oh so gently, pulled the bedsheet from under the sleeping couple. Then, with a feather-light touch, he slipped the ring from the Countess’s finger. He was out of the room before the Count even realized the scarecrow wasn't real.

The next morning, the Countess shivered. "My dear, where is our sheet? And... my ring is gone!" The Count was speechless.
The godfather roared with laughter when Jan presented the sheet and ring. "Amazing, Jan! One last task, the trickiest of all. You must steal the Parson and the Clerk from the church."

Jan nodded, a clever plan already forming. He went to the market and bought a sack and a dozen little crabs. That night, he crept into the church. He carefully stuck tiny candle stubs onto the backs of the crabs and lit them. Then, he let the crabs scuttle all over the dark church floor.
The Parson and the Clerk were inside, preparing for the next day. Suddenly, they saw little lights moving everywhere!
"Saints preserve us!" cried the Parson. "The church is full of spirits!"
"Or little devils!" shivered the Clerk.
Jan then called out in a deep, spooky voice, "I am a great spirit, come to carry sinners away! If you are good, hide in this sack, and I shall spare you!"
Terrified, the Parson and the Clerk scrambled into the big sack Jan held open. Jan quickly tied it up, slung it over his shoulder, and carried them to his godfather.

When the godfather saw the wiggling sack, he couldn't stop laughing. "Jan, Jan, Jan! You truly are a master of mischief and cleverness!"
Even the Count, when he heard all about Jan's adventures (after he got his things back, of course), had to admit the boy was incredibly smart.
"Jan," the Count said, "you're too clever to be a thief. How about you use your quick thinking to help me protect my castle instead? You'd be the best head of security anyone could ask for!"

Jan thought about it. Being clever was fun, but using his cleverness to help people sounded even better. He agreed! And so, Jan, the boy who wanted to be a master thief, became the master of keeping things safe, and everyone agreed he was the best at that too.

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