These he put in his pockets , together with one bird which he caught . After this he drove his flock home . When he approached the house the boys came out to meet him as before , saying : ` Give me my bird ! ' and he put a scorpion into the hand of each , and it stung him , and he died . But to the youngest only he gave a bird . As soon as he saw the boys lying dead on the ground , Mohammed lifted up his voice and cried loudly : ` Help , help ! the children are dead ! ' And the people came running fast , saying : ` What has happened ? How have they died ? ' And Mohammed answered : ` It was your own fault ! The boys had been accustomed to birds , and in this bitter cold their fingers grew stiff , and could hold nothing , so that the birds flew away , and their spirits flew with them . Only the youngest , who managed to keep tight hold of his bird , is still alive . ' And the father groaned , and said , ' I have borne enough ! Bring no more birds , lest I lose the youngest also ! ' ` All right , ' said Mohammed . As he was driving the sheep out to grass he said to his master : ` Out there is a splendid pasture , and I will keep the sheep there for two or , perhaps , three days , so do not be surprised at our absence . ' ` Very good ! ' said the man ; and Mohammed started . For two days he drove them on and on , till he reached his uncle , and said to him , ` Dear uncle , take these sheep and look after them . I have killed the old woman and the boys , and the flock I have brought to you ! '
Then Mohammed returned to his master ; and XXXXX the way he took a stone and beat his own head with it till it bled , and bound his hands tight , and began to scream .
For after as in into of on till to with