“What was he carrying on his back?”
“Butter and rice.
“Ah, he must be the one I’m looking for. Did he go by long ago?”
“Quite a time.”
“Do you think I can catch him up if I ride fast?”
“How could you?” said the Carnival. “You’re on horseback, but he was on foot. By the time your horse has taken four steps—one, two, three, four—the man will already have walked away on his two feet: one-two, one-two! Much faster than you!”
“What shall I do then?”
“Well, you can leave your horse with me and go on foot like him if you like. Maybe then you’ll catch him up.
“Yes, yes, well said!” And he climbed off his horse, left it with the other man, and set off on foot—one-two, one-two.. . . As soon as he was out of sight the Carnival loaded his burden on the horse’s back, turned off the road and galloped home.
Our man, however, walked on and on and finding nobody turned round and came back—to find both the horse and the stranger gone. He returned home and husband and wife started fighting anew: the man because of the butter and rice, the woman because of the horse. And they are fighting to this day. He calls her stupid, and she returns the compliment.
And the Carnival listens and laughs to himself.
