n she kept looking about her, and prying into all the bushes,
to see for the green huntsman, whom she had never heard of before, and
wondered why the old woman had given her such a message. At last, just
as she was passing by a pool of stagnant water, so green that you would
have taken it for grass, and have walked into it, as Little Red Riding
Hood, who had never seen it before, though she had gone that same way
often enough, had nearly done, she perceived a huntsman clad in green
from top to toe, standing on the bank, apparently watching the flight of
some birds that were wheeling above his head. "Good morning, Master
Huntsman," said Little Red Riding Hood; "the old water-cress woman sends
her service to you, and says there is game in the wind." The huntsman
nodded assent, and bent his ear to the ground to listen, and then drew
out an arrow tipped with a green feather, and strung his bow, without
taking any further notice of Little Red Riding Flood, who trudged
onwards, wondering what it all meant.

[Illustration]

Presently the little girl reached her grandmother's well-known cottage,
and knocked at the door. "Who is there?" cried the wolf, forgetting to
disguise his voice. Little Red Riding Hood was somewhat startled at
first; then thinking her grandam had a bad cold that made her very
hoarse, she answered, "It is your grandchild, Little Red Riding Hood,
who has brought you a cake and a little pot of butter, which mother
sends you." The wolf then softened his voice a little, as he replied:
"Lift the latch, and the bolt will fall." Little Red Riding Hood did as
she was told, and then entered the cottage. The wolf then hid his head
under the bed-clothes, and said: "Put the cake and the pot of butter on
the shelf, my dear, and then come and help me to rise." Little Red
Riding Hood set down her basket, and then went and drew back the
curtain, when she was much surprised to see how oddly her grandmother
looked in her night-clothes. "Dear me! grandmamma," said the little
girl, "what long arms you have got!" "The better to hug you, my child,"
answered the wolf.

[Illustration]

"But, grandmamma, what long ears you have got!" persisted Little Red
Riding Hood.

"The better to listen to you, my child," replied the wolf.

"But, grandmamma, what large eyes you have got!" continued the little
girl.

"The better to see you, my child," said the wolf.

"But, grandmamma, what terrible large teeth you have got!" cried Littl