But I have done with the wood for ever . ' ` My dear husband , grief has driven you mad ! Do you think Fortune will come to anybody who does not go after her ? Dress yourself , and saddle the mules , and begin your work . Do you know that there is not a morsel of bread in the house ? ' ' I do n't care if there is n't , and I am not going to the forest . It is no use your talking ; nothing will make me change my mind . ' The distracted wife begged and implored in vain ; her husband persisted in staying in bed , and at last , in despair , she left him and went back to her work . An hour or two later a man from the nearest village knocked at her door , and when she opened it , he said to her : ` Good-morning , mother . I have got a job to do , and I want to know if your husband will lend me your mules , as I see he is not using them , and can lend me a hand himself ? ' ` He is upstairs ; you had better ask him , ' answered the woman . And the man went up , and repeated his request . ' I am sorry , neighbour , but I have sworn not to leave my bed , and nothing will make me break my vow . ' ` Well , then , will you lend me your two mules ? I will pay you something for them . ' ` Certainly , neighbour . Take them and welcome . ' So the man left the house , and leading the mules from the stable , placed two sacks on their back , and drove them to a field where he had found a hidden treasure . He filled the sacks with the money , though he knew perfectly well that it belonged to the sultan , and was driving them quietly home again , when he saw two soldiers coming along the road . Now the man was aware that if he was caught he would be condemned to death , so he fled back into the forest .
The mules , XXXXX to themselves , took the path that led to their master 's stable .
Fortune Good-morning back home hour left neighbour something village wife