gotasbigasumbrellas.
MicillinatheWitchwasnottemptedtoplunderothertowns,knowingfullwellthatcalmandpeace-lovingpeopleweretobefoundonlyinPocapaglia.Therethepoorfarmerslitabigbonfireeverynightinthetownsquare,whilethewomenandchildrenlockedthemselvesindoors.Themensataroundthefirescratchingtheirheadsandgroaning.Dayafterdaytheyscratchedandgroaneduntiladecisionwasfinallyreachedtogotothecountforhelp.
Thecountlivedhighabovethetownonalargecircularestatesurroundedbyamassivewall.Thetopofthewallwasencrustedwithsharpbitsofglass.OneSundaymorningallthetownsmenarrived,withhatsinhand.Theyknocked,thedoorswungopen,andtheyfiledintothecourtyardbeforethecourtsrounddwelling,whichhadbarsatallthewindows.Aroundthecourtyardsatthecourtssoldierssmoothingtheirmustacheswithoiltomakethemshineandscowlingatthefarmers.Attheendofthecourtyard,inavelvetchair,satthecounthimselfwithhislongblackbeard,whichfoursoldierswerecombingfromheadtofoot.
Theoldestfarmertookheartandsaid,"YourHonor,wehavedaredcometoyouaboutourmisfortune.Asourcattlegointothewoods,MicillinatheWitchappearsandmakesoffwiththem."So,amidsighsandgroans,withtheotherfarmersnoddinginassent,hetoldthecountallabouttheirnightmare.
Thecountremainedsilent.
"Wehavecomehere,"saidtheoldman,"tobesoboldastoaskYourHonorsadvice."
Thecountremainedsilent.
"Wehavecomehere,"headded,"tobesoboldastoaskYourHonortohelpus.Ifyouassignedusanescortofsoldiers,wecouldagaintakeourcattledowntopasture."
Thecountshookhishead."IfIletyouhavethesoldiers,"hesaid,"Imustalsoletyouhavethecaptain"
Thefarmerslistened,hardlydaringtohope.
"Butifthecaptainisawayintheevening,"saidthecount,"whocanIplaylottowith?"
Thefarmersfelltotheirknees."Helpus,noblecount,forpityssake!"Thesoldiersaroundthecourtyardyawnedandstrokedtheirmustaches.
Againthecountshookhisheadandsaid:
IamthecountandIcountforthree;
NowitchhaveIseen,
So,nowitchhastherebeen.
Atthosewordsandstillyawning,thesoldierspickeduptheirgunsand,withbayonetsextended,movedslowlytowardthefarmers,whoturnedandfiledsilentlyoutofthecourtyard.
Backint
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