there was once a young huntsman who went into the forest to lie in
wait. he had a fresh and joyous heart, and as he was going thither,
whistling upon a leaf, an ugly old crone came up, who spoke to him
and said, "good-day, dear huntsman, truly you are merry and contented,
but i am suffering from hunger and thirst, do give me an alms." the
huntsman had compassion on the poor old creature, felt in his pocket, and
gave her what he could afford. he was then about to go further, but the
old woman stopped him and said, "listen, dear huntsman, to what i tell you;
i will make you a present in return for your kindness. go on your way now,
but in a little while you will come to a tree, whereon nine birds are sitting
which have a cloak in their claws, and are plucking at it; take your
gun and shoot into the midst of them, they will let the cloak fall
down to you, but one of the birds will be hurt, and will drop down
dead. carry away the cloak, it is a wishing-cloak; when you throw
it over your shoulders, you only have to wish to be in a certain
place, and you will be there in the twinkling of an eye. take out
the heart of the dead bird and swallow it whole, and every morning
early, when you get up, you will find a gold piece under your pillow."
the huntsman thanked the wise woman, and thought to himself,
"those are fine things that she has promised me, if all does but come
true." and verily when he had walked about a hundred paces, he heard
in the branches above him such a screaming and twittering that he
looked up and saw there a crowd of birds who were tearing a piece of
cloth about with their beaks and claws, and tugging and fighting as
if each wanted to have it all to himself. "well," said the huntsman,
"this is wonderful, it has really come to pass just as the old wife
foretold!" and he took the gun from his shoulder, aimed and fired
right into the midst of them, so that the feathers flew about. the
birds instantly took to flight with loud outcries, but one dropped
down dead, and the cloak fell at the same time. then the huntsman
did as the old woman had directed him, cut open the bird, sought the
heart, swallowed it down, and took the cloak home with him.
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