村民们就照马西诺说的做了。随后，马西诺又动身游历世界去了，一路上，他加入了一次又一次的战争，每一次战争都持续了很长时间，有诗为证：
啊，战争中的士兵，
你吃的差，睡在地上，
将火药装进炮膛，
嘣！嘣！
The Count's Beard
The town of Pocapaglia was perched on the pinnacle of a hill so steep that its inhabitants tied little bags on the tail feathers of their hens to catch each freshly laid egg that otherwise would have gone rolling down the slopes into the woods below。
All of which goes to show that the people of Pocapaglia were not the dunces they were said to be； and that the proverb；
In Pocapaglia ways
The donkey whistles； the master brays；
merely reflected the malicious grudge the neighboring townspeople bore the Pocapaglians for their peaceful ways and their reluctance to quarrel with anyone。
〃Yes； yes；〃 was all the Pocapaglians would reply； 〃but just wait until Masino returns； and you will see who brays more； we or you。〃
Everybody in Pocapaglia loved Masino； the smartest boy in town。 He was no stronger physically than anybody else； in fact； he even looked rather puny。 But he had always been very clever。 Concerned over how little he was at birth； his mother had bathed him in warm wine to keep him alive and make him a little stronger。 His father had heated the wine with a red…hot horseshoe。 That way Masino absorbed the subtlety of wine and the endurance of iron。 To cool him off after his bath； his mother cradled him in the shell of an unripened chestnut； it was bitter and gave him understanding。
At the time the Pocapaglians were awaiting the return of Masino； whom no one had seen since the day he went off to be a soldier （and who was now most likely somewhere in Africa）； strange things started happening in Pocapaglia。 Every evening as the cattle came back from pasture in the plain below； an animal was whisked away by Micillina the Witch。
The witch would hide in the woods at the foot of the hill； and all she needed to do was give one heavy puff； and she had herself an ox。 When the farmers heard her steal through the thicket after dark； their teeth would chatter； and everyone would fall down in a swoon。 That became so mon that people took to saying：
Beware of Micillina； that old witch；
For all your oxen she will filch；
Then train on you her crossed…eye；
And wait for you to fall and die。
At night they began lighting huge bonfires to keep Micillina the Witch from venturing out of the woods。 But she would sneak up on the solitary farmer watching over cattle beside the bonfire and knock him out in one breath。 In the morning upon awaking； he'd find cows and oxen gone； and his friends would hear him weeping and moaning and hitting himself on the head。 Then everybody bed the woods for traces of the stolen cattle； but found only tufts of hair； hairpins； and footprints left here and there by Micillina the Witch。
Things went from bad to worse。 Shut up all the time in the barn； the cows grew as thin as rails。 A rake instead of a brush was all that was needed to groom them； from rib to rib。 Nobody dared lead the cattle to pasture any more。 Everyone stayed clear of the woods now； and the mushrooms that grew there went unpicked and got as big as umbrellas。
Micillina the Witch was not tempted to plunder other towns； knowing full well that calm and peace…loving people were to be found only in Pocapaglia。 There the poor farmers lit a big bonfire every night in the town square； while the women and children locked themselves indoors。 The men sat around the fire scratching their heads and groaning。 Day after day they scratched and groaned until a decision was finally reached to go to the count for help。
The count lived high above the town on a large circular estate surrounded by a massive wall。 The top of the wall was encrusted with sharp bits of glass。 One Sunday morning all the townsmen arrived； with hats in hand。 They knocked； the door swung open； and they filed into the courtyard before the court's round dwelling； which had bars at all the windows。 Around the courtyard sat the court's soldiers smoothing their mustaches with oil to make them shine and scowling at the farmers。 At the end of the courtyard； in a velvet chair； sat the count himself with his long black beard； which four soldiers were bing from head to foot。
The oldest farmer took heart and said； 〃Your Honor； we have dared e to you about our misfortune。 As our cattle go into the woods； Micillina the Witch appears and makes off with them。〃 So； amid sighs and groans； with the other farmers nodding in assent； he told the count all about their nightmare。
The count remained silent。
〃We have e here；〃 said the old man； 〃to be so bold as to ask Your Honor's advice。〃
The count remained silent。
〃We have e here；〃 he added； 〃to be so bold as to ask Your Honor to help us。 If you assigned us an escort of soldiers； we could again take our cattle down to pasture。〃
The count shook his head。 〃If I let you have the soldiers；〃 he said； 〃I must also let you have the captain。。。〃
The farmers listened； hardly daring to hope。
〃But if the captain is away in the evening；〃 said the count； 〃who can I play lotto with？〃
The farmers fell to their knees。 〃Help us； noble count； for pity's sake！〃 The soldiers around the courtyard yawned and stroked their mustaches。
Again the count shook his head and said：
I am the count and I count for three；
No witch have I seen；
So； no witch has there been。
At those words and still yawning； the soldiers picked up their guns and； with bayonets extended； moved slowly toward the farmers； who turned and filed silently out of the courtyard。
Back in the town square and pletely discouraged； the farmers had no idea what to do next。 But the senior of them all； the one who had spoken to the count； said； 〃There's nothing left to do but send for Masino！〃
So they wrote Masino a letter and sent it to Africa。 Then one evening； while they were all gathered around the bonfire as usual； Masino returned。 Imagine the wele they gave him； the embraces； the pots of hot； spiced wine！ 〃Where on earth have you been？ What did you see？ If you only knew what we have been going through！〃
Masino let them have their say； then he had his。 〃In Africa I saw cannibals who ate not men but locusts； in the desert I saw a madman who had let his fingernails grow twelve meters long to dig for water； in the sea I saw a fish with a shoe and a slipper who wanted to be king of the other fish； since no other fish possessed shoe or slipper； in Sicily I saw a woman with seventy sons and only one kettle； in Naples I saw people who walked while standing still； since the chatter of other people kept them going； I saw sinners and I saw saints； I saw fat people and people no bigger than mites； many； many frightened souls did I see； but never so many as here in Pocapaglia。〃
The farmers hung their heads in shame； for Masino had hit a sensitive spot in suggesting they were cowards。 But Masino was not cross with his fellow townsmen。 He asked for a detailed account of the witch's doings； then said； 〃Let me ask you three questions； and at the stroke of midnight I'll go out and catch the witch and bring her back to you。〃
〃Let's hear your questions！ Out with them！〃 they all said。
〃The first question is for the barber。 How many people came to you this month？〃
The barber replied：
〃Long beards； short beards；
Fine beards； coarse beards；
Locks straight； locks curly；
All I trimmèd（sic） in a hurry。〃
〃Your turn now； cobbler。 How many people brought you their old shoes to mend this month？〃
〃Alas！〃 began the cobbler：
〃Shoes of wood； shoes of leather；
Nail by nail I hammered back together；
Mended shoes of satin and shoes of serpent。
But there's nothing left to do；
All their money is spent。〃
〃The third question goes to you； rope maker。 How much rope did you sell this month？〃
The rope maker replied：
〃Rope galore of every sort I sold：
Hemp rope； braided； wicker； cord；
Needle…thin to arm…thick；
Lard…soft to iron…strong。。。
This month I couldn't go wrong。〃
〃Very well；〃 said Ma