You sold us a ram knowing full well that it was a wolf , and we came here to-day to pay you out for it . But if you will give us that whistle , we will pardon what you have done , and will leave you alone . ' ` It is my only treasure , and I set great store by it , ' answered the boy , pretending to hesitate . ` But as you wish for it so much , well , I suppose I ca n't refuse , ' and he held out the whistle , which the eldest brother put in his pocket . Armed with the precious whistle , the three brothers returned home full of joy , and as they went the youngest said to the others , ' I have such a good idea ! Our wives are all lazy and grumbling , and make our lives a burden . Let us give them a lesson , and kill them as soon as we get in . Of course we can restore them to life at once , but they will have had a rare fright . ' ` Ah , how clever you are , ' answered the other two . ` Nobody else would have thought of that . ' So gaily the three husbands knocked down their three wives , who fell dead to the ground . Then one by one the men tried the whistle , and blew so loudly that it seemed as if their lungs would burst , but the women lay stark and stiff and never moved an eyelid . The husbands grew pale and cold , for they had never dreamed of this , nor meant any harm , and after a while they understood that their efforts were of no use , and that once more the boy had tricked them . With stern faces they rose to their feet , and taking a large sack they retraced their steps to the hut . This time there was no escape . Toueno had been asleep , and only opened his eyes as they entered . Without a word on either side they thrust him into the sack , and tying up the mouth , the eldest threw it over his shoulder . After that they all set out to the river , where they intended to drown the boy . But the river was a long way off , and the day was very hot , and Antoine was heavy , heavier than a whole sheaf of corn . They carried him in turns , but even so they grew very tired and thirsty , and when a little tavern came in sight on the roadside , they thankfully flung the sack down on a bench and entered to refresh themselves .
They never noticed that a beggar was sitting in the shade at the end XXXXX the bench , but Toueno 's sharp ears caught the sound of someone eating , and as soon as the farmers had gone into the inn he began to groan softly .
Without after by for in into of off so that