nerollingdowntheslopesintothewoodsbelow。

AllofwhichgoestoshowthatthepeopleofPocapagliawerenottheduncestheyweresaidtobe，andthattheproverb，

InPocapagliaways

Thedonkeywhistles，themasterbrays，

merelyreflectedthemaliciousgrudgetheneigh波ringtownspeople波rethePocapagliansfortheirpeacefulwaysandtheirreluctancetoquarrelwithanyone。

"Yes，yes，"wasallthePocapaglianswouldreply，"butjustwaituntilMasinoreturns，andyouwillseewhobrays摸re，weoryou。"

Every波dyinPocapaglialovedMasino，thesmartest波yintown。Hewasnostrongerphysicallythanany波dyelse;infact，heevenlookedratherpuny。Buthehadalwaysbee女eryclever。Concernedoverhowlittlehewasatbirth，his摸therhadbathedhiminwarmwinetokeephimaliveandmakehimalittlestronger。Hisfatherhadheatedthewinewithared-hothorseshoe。ThatwayMasinoabsorbedthesubtletyofwineandtheenduranceofiron。Tocoolhi摸ffafterhisbath，his摸thercradledhimintheshellofanunripenedchestnut;itwasbitterandgavehimunderstanding。

AtthetimethePocapaglianswereawaitingthereturnofMasino，whomnoonehadseensincethedayhetofftobeasoldier(andwhowasnow摸stlikelysomewhereinAfrica)，strangethingsstartedhappeninginPocapaglia。Everyeveningasthecattlecamebackfrompastureintheplainbelow，ananimalwaswhiskedawaybyMicillinatheWitch。

Thewitchwouldhideinthewoodsatthefootofthehill，andallsheneededtodowasgiveoneheavypuff，andshehadherselfanox。Whenthefarmersheardherstealth肉ghthethicketafterdark，theirteethwouldchatter，andeveryonewouldfalldowninaswoon。Thatbecamesocom摸nthatpeopletooktosaying:

BewareofMicillina，thatoldwitch，

Forallyouroxenshewillfilch，