l,' he said to himself, 'if I have been taken in, the others shall
not come off any better.'

So, when one of his men arrived and asked him eagerly how much money he
had got, he answered gaily, 'Oh, comrade, if you only knew! But I shall
say nothing about it till everyone has had his turn!'

One after another they all took the donkey, but no money was forthcoming
for anybody. At length, when all the band had been tricked, they held a
council, and resolved to march to the shoemaker's house and punish him
well for his cunning. Just as before, the shoemaker saw them a long way
off, and began to think how he could outwit them again. When he had hit
upon a plan he called his wife, and said to her, 'Take a bladder and
fill it with blood, and bind it round your neck. When the robbers come
and demand the money they gave me for the donkey I shall shout to you
and tell you to get it quickly. You must argue with me, and decline to
obey me, and then I shall plunge my knife into the bladder, and you must
fall to the ground as if you were dead. There you must lie till I play
on my guitar; then get up and begin to dance.'

The wife made haste to do as she was bid, and there was no time to lose,
for the robbers were drawing very near the house. They entered with a
great noise, and overwhelmed the shoemaker with reproaches for having
deceived them about the donkey.

'The poor beast must have lost its power owing to the change of
masters,' said he; 'but we will not quarrel about it. You shall have
back the fifty gold pieces that you gave for him. 'Aite,' he cried to his
wife, 'go quickly to the chest upstairs, and bring down the money for
these gentlemen.'

'Wait a little,' answered she; 'I must first bake this fish. It will be
spoilt if I leave it now.'

'Go this instant, as you are bid,' shouted the shoemaker, stamping as if
he was in a great passion; but, as she did not stir, he drew his knife,
and stabbed her in the neck. The blood spurted out freely, and she fell
to the ground as if she was dead.

'What have you done?' asked the robbers, looking at him in dismay. 'The
poor woman was doing nothing.'

'Perhaps I was hasty, but it is easily set right,' replied the
shoemaker, taking down his guitar and beginning to play. Hardly had he
struck the first notes than his wife sat up; then got on her feet and
danced.

The robbers stared with open mouths, and at last they said, 'Master
Joseph, you may keep the fifty gold pieces. But