Listen to me , and I will tell you a true story . ` In my youth , when I was an old man , we had a quantity of beehives . Every morning when I got up I counted them over , and it was quite easy to number the bees , but I never could reckon the hives properly . One day , as I was counting the bees , I discovered that my best bee was missing , and without losing a moment I saddled a cock and went out to look for him . I traced him as far as the shore , and knew that he had crossed the sea , and that I must follow . When I had reached the other side I found a man had harnessed my bee to a plough , and with his help was sowing millet seed . ' `` That is my bee ! '' I shouted . `` Where did you get him from ? '' ' `` Brother , '' replied the man , `` if he is yours , take him . '' And he not only gave me back my bee , but a sack of millet seed into the bargain , because he had made use of my bee . Then I put the bag on my shoulders , took the saddle from the cock , and placed it on the back of the bee , which I mounted , leading the cock by a string , so that he should have a rest . As we were flying home over the sea one of the strings that held the bag of millet broke in two , and the sack dropped straight into the ocean . It was quite lost , of course , and there was no use thinking about it , and by the time we were safe back again night had come . I then got down from my bee , and let him loose , that he might get his supper , gave the cock some hay , and went to sleep myself . But when I awoke with the sun what a scene met my eyes ! During the night wolves had come and had eaten my bee . And honey lay ankle-deep in the valley and knee-deep on the hills . Then I began to consider how I could best collect some , to take home with me . ` Now it happened that I had with me a small hatchet , and this I took to the wood , hoping to meet some animal which I could kill , whose skin I might turn into a bag .
As I entered the forest I saw two roe-deer hopping on one foot , so I slew them with a single blow , and made three bags from their skins , all of which I filled with honey and placed on the back XXXXX the cock .
During In as because from into of on over to