Then the ship was made ready and the wicked woman and her daughter were placed in it , and it sailed away , and no more was heard of them . But the prince and his wife lived together long and happily , and ruled their people well . The Foolish Weaver -LSB- Adapted from Thorpe 's Yule-Tide Stories . -RSB- Once a weaver , who was in want of work , took service with a certain farmer as a shepherd . The farmer , knowing that the man was very slow-witted , gave him most careful instructions as to everything that he was to do . Finally he said : ` If a wolf or any wild animal attempts to hurt the flock you should pick up a big stone like this ' -LRB- suiting the action to the word -RRB- ` and throw a few such at him , and he will be afraid and go away . ' The weaver said that he understood , and started with the flocks to the hillsides where they grazed all day . By chance in the afternoon a leopard appeared , and the weaver instantly ran home as fast as he could to get the stones which the farmer had shown him , to throw at the creature . When he came back all the flock were scattered or killed , and when the farmer heard the tale he beat him soundly . ` Were there no stones on the hillside that you should run back to get them , you senseless one ? ' he cried ; ` you are not fit to herd sheep . To-day you shall stay at home and mind my old mother who is sick , perhaps you will be able to drive flies off her face , if you ca n't drive beasts away from sheep ! ' So , the next day , the weaver was left at home to take care of the farmer 's old sick mother . Now as she lay outside on a bed , it turned out that the flies became very troublesome , and the weaver looked round for something to drive them away with ; and as he had been told to pick up the nearest stone to drive the beasts away from the flock , he thought he would this time show how cleverly he could obey orders . Accordingly he seized the nearest stone , which was a big , heavy one , and dashed it at the flies ; but , unhappily , he slew the poor old woman also ; and then , being afraid of the wrath of the farmer , he fled and was not seen again in that neighbourhood . All that day and all the next night he walked , and at length he came to a village where a great many weavers lived together . ` You are welcome , ' said they . ` Eat and sleep , for to-morrow six of us start in search of fresh wool to weave , and we pray you to give us your company . ' ` Willingly , ' answered the weaver . So the next morning the seven weavers set out to go to the village where they could buy what they wanted .
On the way they had XXXXX cross a ravine which lately had been full of water , but now was quite dry .
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