Then I heard a -- a noise , which I -- I thought was the wind . But -- but -- it was the sheep , which , be -- before my very eyes , were carried straight up -- up into the air . I stood watching them as if I was turned to stone , but there kept ringing in my ears the sound of the bells on the ram which led them . ' ` That is nothing but a lie from beginning to end , ' said the herdsman . ` No , it is as true as that there is a sun in heaven , ' answered the young man . ` Then give me a proof of it , ' cried his master . ` Well , come with me , ' said the youth . By this time it was evening and the dusk was falling . The young man brought the herdsman to the foot of the great rock , but it was so dark you could hardly see . Still the sound of sheep bells rang softly from above , and the herdsman knew them to be those he had hung on the horns of his ram . ` Do you hear ? ' asked the youth . ` Yes , I hear ; you have spoken the truth , and I can not blame you for what has happened . I must bear the loss as best as I can . ' He turned and went home , followed by the young man , who felt highly pleased with his own cleverness . ' I should not be surprised if the tasks I set you were too difficult , and that you were tired of them , ' said the herdsman next morning ; ` but to-day I have something quite easy for you to do . You must look after forty oxen , and be sure you are very careful , for one of them has gold-tipped horns and hoofs , and the king reckons it among his greatest treasures . ' The young man drove out the oxen into the meadow , and no sooner had they got there than , like the sheep and the pigs , they began to scamper in all directions , the precious bull being the wildest of all . As the youth stood watching them , not knowing what to do next , it came into his head that his father 's cow was put out to grass at no great distance ; and he forthwith made such a noise that he quite frightened the oxen , who were easily persuaded to take the path he wished . When they heard the cow lowing they galloped all the faster , and soon they all arrived at his father 's house .
The old man was standing before the door of his hut when the great herd XXXXX animals dashed round a corner of the road , with his son and his own cow at their head .
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