The prince hardly knew where to begin , and indeed if he had had a thousand people to help him , and a week to do it in , he could never have finished his task . So he flung himself on the ground in despair , and covered his face with his hands . While he lay thus , a wood-pigeon flew in through the window . ` Why are you weeping , noble prince ? ' asked the wood-pigeon . ` How can I help weeping at the task set me by the king . For he says , if I fail to do it , I shall die a horrible death . ' ` Oh , there is really nothing to cry about , ' answered the wood-pigeon soothingly . ' I am the king of the wood-pigeons , whose life you spared when you were hungry . And now I will repay my debt , as I promised . ' So saying he flew out of the window , leaving the prince with some hope in his heart . In a few minutes he returned , followed by a cloud of wood-pigeons , so dense that it seemed to fill the room . Their king showed them what they had to do , and they set to work so hard that the grain was sorted into two heaps long before the council was over . When the king came back he could not believe his eyes ; but search as he might through the two heaps , he could not find any barley among the wheat , or any wheat amongst the barley . So he praised the prince for his industry and cleverness , and made him his steward at once . This made the two soldiers more envious still , and they began to hatch another plot . ` Your Majesty , ' they said to the king , one day , as he was standing on the steps of the palace , ` that fellow has been boasting again , that if he had the care of your treasures not so much as a gold pin should ever be lost . Put this vain fellow to the proof , we pray you , and throw the ring from the princess 's finger into the brook , and bid him find it . We shall soon see what his talk is worth . ' And the foolish king listened to them , and ordered the prince to be brought before him .
` My son , ' he XXXXX , ' I have heard that you have declared that if I made you keeper of my treasures you would never lose so much as a gold pin .
Put believe came finished knew ordered promised said see spared