"That is a hard thing to learn," said the tall stranger.

Yes; Jacob knew that it was a hard thing; but what one man had done
another man could do.

"What will you give me if I teach you to be as clever a huntsman as
that?" said the tall stranger.

"What will you take to teach me?" said Jacob; for he saw that the
stranger had a horse's hoof instead of a foot, and he did not like his
looks, I can tell you.

"Oh, it is nothing much that I want," said the tall man; "only just sign
your name to this paper--that is all."

But what was in the paper? Yes; Jacob had to know what was in the paper
before he would set so much as a finger to it.

Oh, there was nothing in the paper, only this: that when the red one
should come for Jacob at the end of ten years' time, Jacob should
promise to go along with him whithersoever he should take him.

At this Jacob hemmed and hawed and scratched his head, for he did not
know about that. "All the same," said he, "I will sign the paper, but on
one condition."

[Illustration: Jacob and The Red One]

At this the red one screwed up his face as though he had sour beer in