"What is it that you want?" said the red one.
"Only this," said Jacob: "I would like to shoot one more shot out of my
old gun before I go with you."
Oh, if that was all, he might do that and welcome. So Jacob took down
his gun, and he and the red one went out together, walking side by side,
for all the world as though they were born brothers.
[Illustration: Jacob and the Red One go hunting together]
By-and-by they saw a wren. "Shoot at that," said the red one.
"Oh no," said Jacob, "that is too small."
So they went on a little farther.
By-and-by they saw a raven. "Shoot at that, then," said the red one.
"Oh no," said Jacob, "that is too black."
So they went on a little farther.
By-and-by they came to a ploughed field, and there was something
skipping over the furrows that looked for all the world like a great
bird. That was Gretchen; for the feathers stuck to the honey and all
over her, so that she looked just like a great bird.
"Shoot at that! shoot at that!" said the red one, clapping his hands
together.
"Oh yes," said Jacob, "I will shoot at that." So he raised his gun and
took aim. Then he lowered his gun again. "But what is it?" said he.
At this the red one screwed up his eyes, and looked and looked, but for
the life of him he could not tell what it was.
"No matter what it is," said he, "only shoot and be done with it, for I
must be going."
"Yes, good! But what _is_ it?" said Jacob.
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