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!"