"Did you shoot the bird?" said he.

"I did," said the soldier.

"And did you get the cap and the round stone?"

"I did."

"Then here is your dollar."

"Wait a bit," said the soldier, "I shot greater game that time
than I bargained for, and so it's ten dollars and not one you
shall pay me before you lay finger upon the feather cap and the
little stone."

"Very well," said the old man, "here are ten dollars."

"Ho! ho!" thought the soldier, "is that the way the wind
blows?"--"Did I say ten dollars?" said he; " twas a hundred
dollars I meant."

At that the old man frowned until his eyes shone green. "Very
well," said he, "if it is a hundred dollars you want, you will
have to come home with me, for I have not so much with me.
Thereupon he entered the town with the soldier at his heels.

Up one street he went and down another, until at last he came to
a great, black, ancient ramshackle house; and that was where he
lived. In he walked without so much as a rap at the door, and so
led the way to a great room with furnaces and books and bottles