صفحة 532 من 626

The huntsman thanked her, and thought to himself, 'If all this

does happen, it will be a fine thing for me.' When he had gone a

hundred steps or so, he heard a screaming and chirping in the

branches over him, and looked up and saw a flock of birds pulling

a cloak with their bills and feet; screaming, fighting, and

tugging at each other as if each wished to have it himself.

'Well,' said the huntsman, 'this is wonderful; this happens just

as the old woman said'; then he shot into the midst of them so

that their feathers flew all about. Off went the flock chattering

away; but one fell down dead, and the cloak with it. Then the

huntsman did as the old woman told him, cut open the bird, took

out the heart, and carried the cloak home with him.