The Two Brotherspage 3 / 20
"We are the poor broom-maker's boys," they answered, and then proceeded to tell him how their father would not keep them at home any longer, because they found a gold piece every morning under their pillows.
"Well," said the huntsman, "that is not such a bad thing after all, provided you use the money honestly, and do not grow lazy," and as he had no children of his own, and had taken a fancy to these two, the good man took them home with him, telling them that he would be a father to them and bring them up.
So he taught them how to become excellent huntsmen, and saved up the money which they always found on rising, that it might be ready for them in case of need.
When they were both grown up, their foster-father took them with him one day into the wood, and said, "To-day you are both to make your trial shot, for since you are now fully trained huntsmen, I can then release you from your apprenticeship."
They started together in search of game, but could find nothing to shoot. At last the huntsman looked up and saw a flock of wild geese flying overhead in the shape of a triangle, so he said to one of the youths, "Shoot me down one from each corner." The boy did so, and thus successfully stood the required test.
A few minutes later another flock of geese passed overhead in the shape of the figure two. The huntsman gave the same order to the other brother, and he also brought down a bird from each corner, and so safely made his trial shot.
The huntsman then declared them free from any further dependence upon himself, adding, "You are now both accomplished huntsmen."
So the brothers went off into the wood and consulted together, and finally agreed what they would do.
When they sat down to supper that evening, they said to their foster father:
"We will not touch a single morsel of food until you have granted us the request we have to make?"