Then Psammeticus tried still another plan.

He sent out among the poor people of the city and found two little
babies who had never heard a word spoken. He gave these to a shepherd
and ordered him to bring them up among his sheep, far from the homes
of men. "You must never speak a word to them," said the king; "and you
must not permit any person to speak in their hearing."

The shepherd did as he was bidden. He took the children far away to
a green valley where his flocks were feeding. There he cared for them
with love and kindness; but no word did he speak in their hearing.

They grew up healthy and strong. They played with the lambs in the
field and saw no human being but the shepherd.

Thus two or three years went by. Then, one evening when the shepherd
came home from a visit to the city, he was delighted to see the
children running out to meet him. They held up their hands, as though
asking for something, and cried out, "Becos! becos! becos!"

[Illustration]

The shepherd led them gently back to the hut and gave them their usual
supper of bread and milk. He said nothing to them, but wondered where
they had heard the strange word "becos," and what was its meaning.

After that, whenever the children were hungry, they cried out, "Becos!
becos! becos!" till the shepherd gave them something to eat.