By this time, the villagers were full of curiosity. Several of them had gathered around the pot. "What are you making?" they asked. "Stone soup," replied the man. "It smells good, doesn't it?" And he sniffed the soup and smiled in anticipation. "Of course, a little salt and pepper would really help the flavor." "I think I could find some salt and pepper," said one of the women, and she ran back to her house to fetch the salt and pepper to add to the soup. "How tasty it would be with a tiny piece of garlic," said the traveler. "I might have a tiny piece of garlic," said another villager. "If only we had some potatoes, too, then it would really be delicious," said the stranger. "I'll get you a potato," said another man and rushed home to fetch it.