Then he sat by to see what would happen.

The first that came into the net was a snow-white bird, with dove's eyes, and he sang a beautiful song--'A human-God! a human-God! a human-God!' it sang.

The second that came was black and mystical, with dark, lovely eyes, that looked into the depths of your soul, and he sang only this--'Immortality!' "And the hunter took them both in his arms for he said-- "'They are surely of the beautiful family of Truth.' "Then came another, green and gold, who sang in a shrill voice, like one crying in the marketplace,--'Reward after Death! Reward after Death!' "And he said-- "'You are not so fair; but you are fair too,' and he took it.
"And others came, brightly coloured, singing pleasant songs, till all the grains were finished.

And the hunter gathered all his birds together, and built a strong iron cage called a new creed, and put all his birds in it.
"Then the people came about dancing and singing.
"'Oh, happy hunter!' they cried.

'Oh, wonderful man! Oh, delightful birds! Oh, lovely songs!' "No one asked where the birds had come from, nor how they had been caught; but they danced and sang before them.