The woman, bent double, was pulling, turning round occasionally to strike the donkey with a stick.

As soon as he saw her, Labouise exclaimed:  “Say, Mailloche!”

Mailloche answered:  “What’s the matter?”

“Want to have some fun?”

“Of course!”

“Then hurry, sister; we’re going to have a laugh.”

Chicot took the oars.  When he had crossed the river he stopped opposite the woman and called: 

“Hey, sister!”

The woman stopped dragging her donkey and looked.

Labouise continued:  “What are you doing—­going to the locomotive show?”

The woman made no reply.  Chicot continued: 

“Say, your trotter’s prime for a race.  Where are you taking him at that speed?”

At last the woman answered:  “I’m going to Macquart, at Champioux, to have him killed.  He’s worthless.”

Labouise answered:  “You’re right.  How much do you think Macquart will give you for him?”

The woman wiped her forehead on the back of her hand and hesitated, saying:  “How do I know?  Perhaps three francs, perhaps four.”

Chicot exclaimed:  “I’ll give you five francs and your errand’s done!  How’s that?”

The woman considered the matter for a second and then exclaimed:  “Done!”

The two men landed.  Labouise grasped the animal by the bridle.  Maillochon asked in surprise: 

“What do you expect to do with that carcass?”

Chicot this time opened his other eye in order to express his gaiety.  His whole red face was grinning with joy.  He chuckled:  “Don’t worry, sister.  I’ve got my idea.”

He gave five francs to the woman, who then sat down by the road to see what was going to happen.  Then Labouise, in great humor, got the gun and held it out to Maillochon, saying:  “Each one in turn; we’re going after big game, sister.  Don’t get so near or you’ll kill it right away!  You must make the pleasure last a little.”

He placed his companion about forty paces from the victim.  The ass, feeling itself free, was trying to get a little of the tall grass, but it was so exhausted that it swayed on its legs as if it were about to fall.

Maillochon aimed slowly and said:  “A little pepper for the ears; watch, Ghicot!” And he fired.

The tiny shot struck the donkey’s long ears and he began to shake them in order to get rid of the stinging sensation.  The two men were doubled up with laughter and stamped their feet with joy.  The woman, indignant, rushed forward; she did not want her donkey to be tortured, and she offered to return the five francs.  Labouise threatened her with a thrashing and pretended to roll up his sleeves.  He had paid, hadn’t he?  Well, then, he would take a shot at her skirts, just to show that it didn’t hurt.  She went away, threatening to call the police.  They could hear her protesting indignantly and cursing as she went her way.