` He gave them to me to look after , but I knew I could not do it , so I drove them straight to you . Now make the best of your good fortune , and kill them and hang them up at once . ' ` What are you talking about ? ' cried the father , pale with horror . ` We should certainly both be put to death if I did any such thing . ' ` No , no ; do as I tell you , and I will get out of it somehow , ' replied the young man . And in the end he had his way . The pigs were killed , and laid side by side in a row . Then he cut off the tails and tied them together with a piece of cord , and swinging the bundle over his back , he returned to the place where they should have been feeding . Here there was a small swamp , which was just what he wanted , and finding a large stone , he fastened the rope to it , and sank it in the swamp , after which he arranged the tails carefully one by one , so that only their points were seen sticking out of the water . When everything was in order , he hastened home to his master with such a sorrowful face that the herdsman saw at once that something dreadful had happened . ` Where are the pigs ? ' asked he . ` Oh , do n't speak of them ! ' answered the young man ; ' I really can hardly tell you . The moment they got into the field they became quite mad , and each ran in a different direction . I ran too , hither and thither , but as fast as I caught one , another was off , till I was in despair . At last , however , I collected them all and was about to drive them back , when suddenly they rushed down the hill into the swamp , where they vanished completely , leaving only the points of their tails , which you can see for yourself . ' ` You have made up that story very well , ' replied the herdsman . ` No , it is the real truth ; come with me and I 'll prove it . '
And they went together to the spot , and there sure enough were the points XXXXX the tails sticking up out of the water .
after as at in into of over that to with