Thefarmersfelltotheirknees."Helpus,noblecount,forpityssake!"Thesoldiersaroundthecourtyardyawnedandstrokedtheirmustaches.
Againthecountshookhisheadandsaid:
IamthecountandIcountforthree;
NowitchhaveIseen,
So,nowitchhastherebeen.
Atthosewordsandstillyawning,thesoldierspickeduptheirgunsand,withbayonetsextended,movedslowlytowardthefarmers,whoturnedandfiledsilentlyoutofthecourtyard.
Backinthetownsquareandcompletelydiscouraged,thefarmershadnoideawhattodonext.Buttheseniorofthemall,theonewhohadspokentothecount,said,"TheresnothinglefttodobutsendforMasino!"
SotheywroteMasinoaletterandsentittoAfrica.Thenoneevening,whiletheywereallgatheredaroundthebonfireasusual,Masinoreturned.Imaginethewelcometheygavehim,theembraces,thepotsofhot,spicedwine!"Whereonearthhaveyoubeen?Whatdidyousee?Ifyouonlyknewwhatwehavebeengoingthrough!"
Masinoletthemhavetheirsay,thenhehadhis."InAfricaIsawcannibalswhoatenotmenbutlocusts;inthedesertIsawamadmanwhohadlethisfingernailsgrowtwelvemeterslongtodigforwater;intheseaIsawafishwithashoeandaslipperwhowantedtobekingoftheotherfish,sincenootherfishpossessedshoeorslipper;inSicilyIsawawomanwithseventysonsandonlyonekettle;inNaplesIsawpeoplewhowalkedwhilestandingstill,sincethechatterofotherpeoplekeptthemgoing;IsawsinnersandIsawsaints;Isawfatpeopleandpeoplenobiggerthanmites;many,manyfrightenedsoulsdidIsee,butneversomanyashereinPocapaglia."
Thefarmershungtheirheadsinshame,forMasinohadhitasensitivespotinsuggestingtheywerecowards.ButMasinowasnotcrosswithhisfellowtownsmen.Heaskedforadetailedaccountofthewitchsdoings,thensaid,"Letmeaskyouthreequestions,andatthestrokeofmidnightIllgooutandcatchthewitchandbringherbacktoyou."
"Letshearyourquestions!Outwiththem!"theyallsaid.
"Thefirstquestionisforthebarber.Howmanypeoplecametoyouthismonth?"
Thebarberreplied:
"Longbeards,shortbeards,
Finebeards,coarsebeards,
Locksstraight,lockscurly,
AllItrimmèd(sic)inahurry."
"Yourturnnow,cobbler.Howmanypeoplebroughtyoutheiroldshoestomendthismonth?"
"Alas!"beganthecobbler:
"Shoesofwood,shoesofleather,
NailbynailIhammeredbacktogether,
Mendedshoesofsatinandshoesofserpent.
Buttheresnothinglefttodo,
Alltheirmoneyisspent."
"Thethirdquestiongoestoyou,ropemaker.Howmuchropedidyousellthismonth?"
Theropemakerreplied:
"RopegaloreofeverysortIsold:
Hemprope,braided,wicker,cord,
Needle-thintoarm-thick,
Lard-softtoiron-strong
ThismonthIcouldntgowrong."
"Verywell,"saidMasino,stretchingoutbythefire."Imnowgoingtosleepforafewhours,Imverytired.WakemeupatmidnightandIllgoafterthewitch."Heputhishatoverhisfaceandfellasleep.
Thefarmerskeptperfectlyquietuntilmidnight,notevendaringtobreathe,forfearofawakinghim.AtmidnightMasinoshookhimself,yawned,drankacupofmulledwine,spatthreetimesintothefire,gotupwithoutlookingatasoul,andheadedforthewoods.
Thefarmersstayedbehindwatchingthefireburndownandthelastembersturntoashes.Then,whomshouldMasinodraginbythebeardbutthecount!Acountthatwept,kicked,andpleadedformercy.
"Heresthewitch!"criedMasino,andasked,"Wheredidyouputthemulledwine?"
Beneaththefarmersamazedstares,thecounttriedtomakehimselfassmallaspossible,sittingonthegroundandshrinkinguplikeacold-bittenfly.
"Thethiefcouldhavebeennoneofyou,"explainedMasino,"sinceyouhadallgonetothebarberandhadnohairtoloseinthebushes.Thentherewerethosetracksmadebybigheavyshoes,butallofyougobarefoot.Norcouldthethiefhavebeenaghost,sincehewouldnthaveneededtobuyallthatcordtotieuptheanimalsandcarrythemaway.Butwhereismymulledwine?"
Shakingallover,thecounttriedtohideinthatbeardofhiswhichMasinohadtousledandtorninpullinghimoutofthebushes.
"Howdidheevermakeusfaintbyjustlookingatus?"askedonefarmer.
"Hewouldsmiteyouontheheadwithapaddedclub.Thatwayyouwouldhearonlyawhir.Hedleavenomarkonyou,youdsimplywakeupwithaheadache."
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