e 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 on 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. The master came running and asked, 'What is the
matter?'

And Mohammed answered: 'While the sheep were grazing, robbers came and
drove them away, and because I tried to prevent them, they struck me on
the head and bound my hands. See how bloody I am!'

'What shall we do?' said the master; 'are the animals far off?'

'So far that you are not likely ever to see them again,' replied
Mohammed. 'This is the fourth day since the robbers came down. How
should you be able to overtake them?'

'Then go and herd the cows!' said the man.

'All right!' replied Mohammed, and for two days he went. But on the
third day he drove the cows to his uncle, first cutting off their tails.
Only one cow he left behind him.

'Take these cows, dear uncle,' said he. 'I am going to teach that man a
lesson.'

'Well, I suppose you know your own business best,' said the uncle. 'And
certainly he almost worried me to death.'

So Mohammed returned to his master, carrying the cows' tails tied up in
a bundle on his back. When he came to the sea-shore, he stuck all the
tails in the sand, and went and buried the one cow, whose tail he had
not cut off, up to her neck, leaving the tail projecting. After he had
got everything ready, he began to shriek and scream as before, till
his master and all the other servants came running to see what was the
matter.

'What in the world has happened?' they cried

'The sea has swallowed up the cows,' said Mohammed, 'and nothing remains
but their tails. But if you are quick and pull hard, perhaps you may get
them out again!'

The master ordered each man instantly to take hold of a tail, but at
the first pull they nearly tumbled backwards, and the tails were left in
their hands.

'Stop,' cried Mohammed, 'you are doing it all wrong. You hav