For ten days they travelled through the desert , and then they came to a place where the road parted in two . ` Uncle ! ' said the boy . ` Well , what is it ? ' replied he . ` You see these two roads ? You must take one , and I the other ; for the time has come when we must part . ' But the uncle cried , ` No , no , my boy , we will keep together always . ' ` Alas ! that can not be , ' said the boy ; ` so tell me which way you will go . ' ' I will go to the west , ' said the uncle . ` One word before I leave you , ' continued the boy . ` Beware of any man who has red hair and blue eyes . Take no service under him . ' ` All right , ' replied the uncle , and they parted . For three days the man wandered on without any food , till he was very hungry . Then , when he was almost fainting , a stranger met him and said , ` Will you work for me ? ' ` By contract ? ' asked the man . ` Yes , by contract , ' replied the stranger , ` and whichever of us breaks it , shall have a strip of skin taken from his body . '
` All XXXXX , ' replied the man ; ` what shall I have to do ? '
boy contract days fainting food hair right stranger west word