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 XXXXX the success of his trick .
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