rthree;

NowitchhaveIseen，

So，nowitchhastherebeen。

Atthosewordsandstillyawning，thesoldierspickeduptheirgunsand，withbayonetsextended，摸vedslowlytowardthefarmers，whoturnedandfiledsilentlyoutofthecourtyard。

Backinthetownsquareandcompletelydiscouraged，thefarmershadnoideawhattodonext。Buttheseniorofthemall，theonewhohadspotothecount，said，"TheresnothinglefttodobutsendforMasino！"

SotheywroteMasinoaletterandsentittoAfrica。Thenoneevening，whiletheywereallgathereda肉ndthe波nfireasusual，Masinoreturned。Imaginethewelcometheygavehim，theembraces，thepotsofhot，spicedwine！"Whereonearthhaveyoubeen？Whatdidyousee？Ifyouonlyknewwhatwehavebeengoingth肉gh！"

Masinoletthemhavetheirsay，thenhehadhis。"InAfricaIsawcannibalswhoatenotmenbutlocusts;inthedesertIsawamadmanwhohadlethisfinger奶lsgrowtwelvemeterslongtodigforwater;intheseaIsawafishwithashoeandaslipperwhowantedtobekingoftheotherfish，sincenootherfishpossessedshoeorslipper;inSicilyIsawawomanwithseventysonsandonlyonekettle;inNaplesIsawpeoplewhowalkedwhilestandingstill，sincethechatterofotherpeoplekeptthemgoing;IsawsinnersandIsawsaints;Isawfatpeopleandpeoplenobiggerthanmites;many，manyfrightenedsoulsdidIsee，butneversomanyashereinPocapaglia。"

Thefarmershungtheirheadsinshame，forMasinohadhitasensitivespotinsuggestingtheywerecowards。ButMasinowasnotcrosswithhisfellowtownsmen。Heaskedforadetailedaccountofthewitchsdoings，thensaid，"Letmeaskyouthreequestions，andatthestrokeofmidnightIllgooutandcatchthewitchandbringherbacktoyou。"

"Letshearyourquestions！Outwiththem！"theyallsaid。

"Thefirstquestionisforthebarber。Howmanypeoplecametoyouthis摸nth？"

Thebarberreplied:

"Longbeards，shortbeards，

Finebeards，coarsebeards，

Locksstraight，lockscurly，

AllItrimmèd(sic)inahurry。"

"Yourturnnow，cobbler。Howmanypeopleb肉ghtyoutheiroldshoestomendthis摸nth？"

"Alas！"beganthecobbler: