there came an ugly old woman, who said to him, 'Good-day, dear
hunter! You are very merry and contented, but I suffer hunger
and thirst, so give me a trifle.' The Hunter was sorry for the
poor old woman, and he felt in his pocket and gave her all he
could spare. He was going on then, but the old woman stopped him
and said, 'Listen, dear hunter, to what I say. Because of your
kind heart I will make you a present. Go on your way, and in a
short time you will come to a tree on which sit nine birds who
have a cloak in their claws and are quarrelling over it. Then
take aim with your gun and shoot in the middle of them; they will
let the cloak fall, but one of the birds will be hit and will
drop down dead. Take the cloak with you; it is a wishing-cloak,
and when you throw it on your shoulders you have only to wish
yourself at a certain place, and in the twinkling of an eye you
are there. Take the heart out of the dead bird and swallow it
whole, and early every morning when you get up you will find a
gold piece under your pillow.'

The Hunter thanked the wise woman, and thought to himself 'These
are splendid things she has promised me, if only they come to
pass!' So he walked on about a hundred yards, and then he heard
above him in the branches such a screaming and chirping that he
looked up, and there he saw a heap of birds tearing a cloth with
their beaks and feet, shrieking, tugging, and fighting, as if
each wanted it for himself. 'Well,' said the Hunter, 'this is
wonderful! It is just as the old woman said'; and he took his
gun on his shoulder, pulled the trigger, and shot into the midst
of them, so that their feathers flew about. Then the flock took
flight with much screaming, but one fell dead, and the cloak
fluttered down. Then the Hunter did as the old woman had told