While he was sitting in the place where the wood-cutters had left him , he took up a stone that lay near him , and idly dropped it on the ground . It rang with a hollow sound , and he called to his companions , and said , ` Come here and listen ; the ground seems hollow ! ' ` Knock again ! ' cried they . And he knocked and listened . ` Let us dig , ' said the boy . And they dug , and found a large pit like a well , filled with honey up to the brim . ` This is better than firewood , ' said they ; ` it will bring us more money . And as you have found it , Hassebu , it is you who must go inside and dip out the honey and give to us , and we will take it to the town and sell it , and will divide the money with you . ' The following day each man brought every bowl and vessel he could find at home , and Hassebu filled them all with honey . And this he did every day for three months . At the end of that time the honey was very nearly finished , and there was only a little left , quite at the bottom , and that was very deep down , so deep that it seemed as if it must be right in the middle of the earth . Seeing this , the men said to Hassebu , ` We will put a rope under your arms , and let you down , so that you may scrape up all the honey that is left , and when you have done we will lower the rope again , and you shall make it fast , and we will draw you up . ' ` Very well , ' answered the boy , and he went down , and he scraped and scraped till there was not so much honey left as would cover the point of a needle . ` Now I am ready ! ' he cried ; but they consulted together and said , ` Let us leave him there inside the pit , and take his share of the money , and we will tell his mother , `` Your son was caught by a lion and carried off into the forest , and we tried to follow him , but could not . '' ' Then they arose and went into the town and told his mother as they had agreed , and she wept much and made her mourning for many months . And when the men were dividing the money , one said , ` Let us send a little to our friend 's mother , ' and they sent some to her ; and every day one took her rice , and one oil ; one took her meat , and one took her cloth , every day . It did not take long for Hassebu to find out that his companions had left him to die in the pit , but he had a brave heart , and hoped that he might be able to find a way out for himself . So he at once began to explore the pit and found it ran back a long way underground .
And by night he slept , and by XXXXX he took a little of the honey he had gathered and ate it ; and so many days passed by .
Hassebu day firewood left middle months oil right son wood-cutters