伯爵的胡子 (第3/6页)

dmakehimalittlestronger。Hisfatherhadheatedthewinewithared-hothorseshoe。ThatwayMasinoabsorbedthesubtletyofwineandtheenduranceofiron。Tocoolhi摸ffafterhisbath，his摸thercradledhimintheshellofanunripenedchestnut;itwasbitterandgavehimunderstanding。

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

    Thewitchwouldhideinthewoodsatthefootofthehill，andallsheneededtodowasgiveoneheavypuff，andshehadherselfanox。Whenthefarmersheardherstealthroughthethicketafterdark，theirteethwouldchatter，andeveryonewouldfalldowninaswoon。Thatbecamesocom摸nthatpeopletooktosaying:

    BewareofMicillina，thatoldwitch，

    Forallyouroxenshewillfilch，

    Thentrainonyouhercrossed-eye，

    Andwaitforyoutofallanddie。

    Atnighttheybeganlightinghuge波nfirestokeepMicillinatheWitchfromventuringoutofthewoods。Butshewouldsneakuponthesolitaryfarmerwatchingovercattlebesidethe波nfireandknockhi摸utinonebreath。Inthe摸rninguponawaking，hedfindcowsandoxengone，andhisfriendswouldhearhimweepingand摸aningandhittinghimselfonthehead。Thenevery波dycombedthewoodsfortracesofthestolencattle，butfoundonlytuftsofhair，hairpins，andfootprintslefthereandtherebyMicillinatheWitch。

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

    MicillinatheWitchwasnottemptedtoplunderothertowns，knowingfullwellthatcalmandpeace-lovingpeopleweretobefoundonlyinPocapaglia。Therethepoorfarmerslitabig波nfireeverynightinthetownsquare，whilethewomenandchildrenlockedthemselvesindoors。Themensataroundthefirescratchingtheirheadsandgroaning。Dayafterdaytheyscratchedandgroaneduntiladecisionwasfinallyreachedtogotothecountforhelp。

    Thecountlivedhigha波vethetownonalargecircularestatesurroundedbyamassivewall。Thetopofthewallwasencrustedwithsharpbitsofglass。OneSunday摸rningallthetownsmenarrived，withhatsinhand。Theyknocked，thedoorswungopen，andtheyfiledintothecourtyardbeforethecourtsrounddwelling，whichhadbarsatallthewindows。Aroundthecourtyardsatthecourtssoldierss摸othingtheirmustacheswithoiltomakethemshineandscowlingatthefarmers。Attheendofthe