To his horror , the sheep were all stretched out dead before him , except one , which the wolf had eaten , bones and all . Instantly the truth flashed upon him . It was no ram that lay curled up in the corner pretending to be asleep -LRB- for in reality he could bend back and turn his head as much as he liked -RRB- , but a wolf who was watching him out of the corner of his eye , and might spring upon him at any moment . So the farmer took no notice , and only thought that here was a fine chance of revenging himself on his next brother for a trick which he had played , and merely told him that the ram would not eat the grass in that field , and it might be well to drive him to the pasture by the river , where his own flock was feeding . The second brother eagerly swallowed the bait , and that evening the wolf was driven down to the field where the young man kept the sheep which had been left him by his father . By the next morning they also were all dead , but the second brother likewise held his peace , and allowed the sheep which belonged to the youngest to share the fate of the other two . Then they met and confessed to each other their disasters , and resolved to take the animal as fast as possible back to Toueno-Boueno , who should get a sound thrashing . Antoine was sitting on a plum tree belonging to a neighbour , eating the ripe fruit , when he saw the three young farmers coming towards him . Swinging himself down , he flew home to the hut , crying breathlessly , ` Mother , mother , the farmers are close by with the wolf . They have found out all about it , and will certainly kill me , and perhaps you too . But if you do as I tell you , I may be able to save us both . Lie down on the floor , and pretend to be dead , and be sure not to speak , whatever happens . Thus when the three brothers , each armed with a whip , entered the hut a few seconds later , they found a woman extended on the floor , and Toueno kneeling at her side , whistling loudly into her ears . ` What are you doing now , you rascal ? ' asked the eldest . ` What am I doing ? Oh , my poor friends , I am the most miserable creature in the world ! I have lost the best of mothers , and I do n't know what will become of me , ' and he hid his face in his hands and sobbed again . ` But what are you whistling like that for ? ' ` Well , it is the only chance .
This whistle has been known to bring the dead back XXXXX life , and I hoped -- ' here he buried his face in his hands again , but peeping between his fingers he saw that the brother had opened their six eyes as wide as saucers .
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