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 XXXXX you are bid , and to-morrow I will bring you some treasures . '
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