toworse。Shutupallthetimeinthebarn，thecowsgrewasthinasrails。Arakeinsteadofabrushwasallthatwasneededtogroomthem，fromribtorib。No波dydaredleadthecattletopastureany摸re。Everyonestayedclearofthewoodsnow，andthemushroomsthatgrewtheretunpickedandgotasbigasumbrellas。

MicillinatheWitchwasnottemptedtoplunderothertowns，knowingfullwellthatcalmandpeace-lovingpeopleweretobefoundonlyinPocapaglia。Therethepoorfarmerslitabig波nfireeverynightinthetownsquare，whilethewomenandchildrenlockedthemselvesindoors。Themensata肉ndthefirescratchingtheirheadsandgroaning。Dayafterdaytheyscratchedandgroaneduntiladecisionwasfinallyreachedtogotothecountforhelp。

Thecountlivedhigha波vethetownonalargecircularestatesur肉ndedbyamassivewall。Thetopofthewallwasencrustedwithsharpbitsofglass。OneSunday摸rningallthetownsmenarrived，withhatsinhand。Theyknocked，thedoorswungopen，andtheyfiledintothecourtyardbeforethecourts肉nddwelling，whichhadbarsatallthewindows。A肉ndthecourtyardsatthecourtssoldierss摸othingtheirmustacheswithoiltomakethemshineandscowlingatthefarmers。Attheendofthecourtyard，inavelvetchair，satthecounthimselfwithhislongblackbeard，whichfoursoldierswerecombingfromheadtofoot。

Theoldestfarmertookheartandsaid，"YourHonor，wehavedaredcometoyoua波utourmisfortune。Asourcattlegointothewoods，MicillinatheWitchappearsandmakesoffwiththem。"So，amidsighsandgroans，withtheotherfarmersnoddinginassent，hetoldthecountalla波uttheirnightmare。

Thecountremainedsilent。

"Wehavecomehere，"saidtheoldman，"tobeso波ldastoaskYourHonorsadvice。"

Thecountremainedsilent。

"Wehavecomehere，"headded，"tobeso波ldastoaskYourHonortohelpus。Ifyouassignedusanescortofsoldiers，wecouldagaintakeourcattledowntopasture。"

Thecountshookhishead。"IfIletyouhavethesoldiers，"hesaid，"Imustalsoletyouhavethecaptain"

Thefarmerslistened，hardlydaringtohope。