The stag obeyed , but the men were hot and tired , and did not think this a good joke . So they set their dogs at him , and he was obliged to run away as fast as he could . ' I hope your industry will be rewarded as it deserves , ' said the puma as he passed along ; and the men were pleased , and offered him some of their maize to eat . By-and-by the puma saw a small snake with a beautiful shining skin , lying coiled up at the foot of a tree . ` What a lovely bracelet that would make for your daughter , friend stag ! said he . The stag stooped and picked up the snake , which bit him , and he turned angrily to the puma . ` Why did you not tell me it would bite ? ' he asked . ` Is it my fault if you are an idiot ? ' replied the puma . At last they reached their journey 's end , but by this time it was late , and the puma 's comrade was ready for bed , so they slung their hammocks in convenient places , and went to sleep . But in the middle of the night the puma rose softly and stole out of the door to the sheep-fold , where he killed and ate the fattest sheep he could find , and taking a bowl full of its blood , he sprinkled the sleeping stag with it . This done , he returned to bed . In the morning the shepherd went as usual to let the sheep out of the fold , and found one of them missing . He thought directly of the puma , and ran to accuse him of having eaten the sheep . ` I , my good man ? What had put it into your head to think of such a thing ? Have I got any blood about me ? If anyone has eaten a sheep it must be my friend the stag . '
Then the shepherd went XXXXX examine the sleeping stag , and of course he saw the blood .
At about as by for if in of so to