buy a donkey.'

Having made up his mind what was best to do, he stayed in the town a few
days longer till he had four gold pieces safe in his purse. Then he went
to the market and for two of them he bought a good strong donkey, and,
mounting on its back, he rode home to Catania. But as he entered a thick
wood he saw in the distance a band of robbers who were coming quickly
towards him.

'I am lost,' thought he; 'they are sure to take from me all the money
that I have earned, and I shall be as poor as ever I was. What can I
do?' However, being a clever little man and full of spirit, he did not
lose heart, but, taking five florins, he fastened them out of sight
under the donkey's thick mane. Then he rode on.

Directly the robber came up to him they seized him exactly as he had
foretold and took away all his money.

'Oh, dear friends!' he cried, wringing his hands, 'I am only a poor
shoemaker, and have nothing but this donkey left in the world.'

As he spoke the donkey gave himself a shake, and down fell the five
florins.

'Where did that come from?' asked the robbers.

'Ah,' replied the shoemaker, 'you have guessed my secret. The donkey is
a golden donkey, and supplies me with all my money.'

'Sell him to us,' said the robbers. 'We will give you any price you
like.'

The shoemaker at first declared that nothing would induce him to sell
him, but at last he agreed to hand him over to the robbers for fifty
gold pieces. 'But listen to what I tell you,' said he. 'You must each
take it in turn to own him for a night and a day, or else you will all
be fighting over the money.'

With these words they parted, the robbers driving the donkey to their
cave in the forest and the shoemaker returning home, very pleased with
the success of his trick. He just stopped on the way to pick up a good
dinner, and the next day spent most of his gains in buying a small
vineyard.

Meanwhile the robbers had arrived at the cave where they lived, and the
captain, calling them all round him, announced that it as his right to
have the donkey for the first night. His companions agreed, and then he
told his wife to put a mattress in the stable. She asked if he had gone
out of his mind, but he answered crossly, 'What is that to you? Do as
you are bid, and to-morrow I will bring you some treasures.'

Very early the captain awoke and searched the stable, but could find
nothing, and guessed that Master Joseph had been making fun of them.
'Wel