'Ah, how clever you are,' answered the other two. 'Nobody else would have thought of that.'
So gaily the three husbands knocked down their three wives, who fell dead to the ground. Then one by one the men tried the whistle, and blew so loudly that it seemed as if their lungs would burst, but the women lay stark and stiff and never moved an eyelid. The husbands grew pale and cold, for they had never dreamed of this, nor meant any harm, and after a while they understood that their efforts were of no use, and that once more the boy had tricked them. With stern faces they rose to their feet, and taking a large sack they retraced their steps to the hut.
This time there was no escape. Touéno had been asleep, and only opened his eyes as they entered. Without a word on either side they thrust him into the sack, and tying up the mouth, the eldest threw it over his shoulders. After that they all set out to the river, where they intended to drown the boy.
But the river was a long way off, and the day was very hot and Antoine was heavy, heavier than a whole sheaf of corn. They carried him in turns, but even so they grew very tired and thirsty, and when a little tavern came in sight on the roadside, they thankfully flung the sack down on a bench and entered to refresh themselves. They never noticed that a beggar was sitting in the shade of the end of the bench, but Touéno's sharp ears caught the sound of someone eating, and as soon as the farmers had gone into the inn, he began to groan softly.
'What is the matter?' asked the beggar drawing a little nearer. 'Why have they shut you up, poor boy?'
'Because they wanted to make me a bishop, and I would not consent,' answered Touéno.
'Dear me,' exclaimed the beggar, 'yet it isn't such a bad thing to be a bishop.'
'I don't say it is,' replied the young rascal, 'but I should never like it. However, if you have any fancy for wearing a mitre, you need only untie the sack, and take my place.'
'I should like nothing better,' said the man, as he stooped to undo the big knot.
So it was the beggar and not Touéno-Buéno who was flung into the water.