` So I took the cake as well as the holy water , and was flying back with them over the sea , when there fell a great rain , and the sea was swollen , and swept away my millet cake . Ah , how vexed I was at its loss when I was safe on earth again . ` Suddenly I remembered that my hair was very long . If I stood it touched the ground , although if I was sitting it only reached my ears . I seized a knife and cut off a large lock , which I plaited together , and when night came tied it into a knot , and prepared to use it for a pillow . But what was I to do for a fire ? A tinder box I had , but no wood . Then it occurred to me that I had stuck a needle in my clothes , so I took the needle and split it in pieces , and lit it , then laid myself down by the fire and went to sleep . But ill-luck still pursued me . While I was sleeping a spark from the fire lighted on the hair , which was burnt up in a moment . In despair I threw myself on the ground , and instantly sank in it as far as my waist . I struggled to get out , but only fell in further ; so I ran to the house , seized a spade , dug myself out , and took home the holy water . On the way I noticed that the ripe fields were full of reapers , and suddenly the air became so frightfully hot that the men dropped down in a faint . Then I called to them , `` Why do n't you bring out our mare , which is as tall as two days , and as broad as half a day , and make a shade for yourselves ? '' My father heard what I said and jumped quickly on the mare , and the reapers worked with a will in the shadow , while I snatched up a wooden pail to bring them some water to drink . When I got to the well everything was frozen hard , so in order to draw some water I had to take off my head and break the ice with it . As I drew near them , carrying the water , the reapers all cried out , `` Why , what has become of your head ? '' I put up my hand and discovered that I really had no head , and that I must have left it in the well . I ran back to look for it , but found that meanwhile a fox which was passing by had pulled my head out of the water , and was tearing at my brains . I stole cautiously up to him , and gave him such a kick that he uttered a loud scream , and let fall a parchment on which was written , `` The cake is mine , and the beardless one goes empty-handed . '' '
With these words the boy rose , XXXXX the cake , and went home , while the beardless one remained behind to swallow his disappointment .
become cried draw heard noticed plaited said stuck tearing took