as the first tiny little tongue of flame crept up , the poor old man thought that his last hour had come . but when he thought that , he forgot completely that his wife was a witch . for , just as the little tongue of flame began to singe his breeches , there was a swish and a flutter in the air , and a great grey bird , with outstretched wings , appeared in the sky , and swooped down suddenly , and perched for a moment on the old man 's shoulder . and in this grey bird 's mouth was a little red pirnie , which , to everyone 's amazement , it popped on to the prisoner 's head . then it gave one fierce croak , and flew away again , but to the old man 's ears that croak was the sweetest music that he had ever heard . for to him it was the croak of no earthly bird , but the voice of his wife whispering words of magic to him . and when he heard them he jumped for joy , for he knew that they were words of deliverance , and he shouted them aloud , and his chains fell off , and he mounted in the air -- up and up -- while the onlookers watched him in awestruck silence . he flew right away to the kingdom of fife , without as much as saying good - bye to them ; and when he found himself once more safely at home , you may be very sure that he never tried to find out his wife 's secrets again , but left her alone to her own devices . 
for to him it was the croak of no earthly bird , but the voice of his wife whispering words of magic to him .
why was the grey bird's croak the sweetest music that he had ever heard ?
why was the grey bird's croak the sweetest music that he had ever heard ?