In the time of Mohammed 's uncle , the shepherd had had nothing to eat but the scraps left by the old woman ; but the new shepherd was not going to be content with that . ` You will not touch the food till I have had as much as I want , ' whispered he . ` Very good ! ' replied she . And when he had had enough , he said : ` Now , eat ! ' But she wept , and cried : ` That was not written in your contract . You were only to have what I left ! ' ` If you say a word more , I will kill you ! ' said he . The next day he took the old woman on his back , and drove the sheep in front of him till he was some distance from the house , when he let her fall , and said : ` Quick ! go and mind the sheep ! ' Then he took a ram , and killed it . He lit a fire and broiled some of its flesh , and called to the old woman : ` Come and eat with me ! ' and she came . But instead of letting her eat quietly , he took a large lump of the meat and rammed it down her throat with his crook , so that she died . And when he saw she was dead , he said : ` That is what you have got for tormenting my uncle ! ' and left her lying where she was , while he went after the singing birds . It took him a long time to catch them ; but at length he had the whole seven hidden in the pockets of his tunic , and then he threw the old woman 's body into some bushes , and drove the sheep before him , back to their fold . And when they drew near the house the seven boys came to meet him , and he gave a bird to each . ` Why are you weeping ? '
asked the boys , XXXXX they took their birds .
If In as before for near on till to while