He took the Grouse up in his arms and started homewards.
“Feed me for a year,” the Grouse said, “and I’ll reward you.”
When they reached home and Helli’s wife saw the Grouse, she cried out petulantly:
“Is that all you’ve got and out hunting all morning! That won’t be dinner enough for four!”
“This Grouse isn’t to be killed,” Helli announced. “I’m going to keep it for a year and feed it.”
“It won’t take much to feed a Grouse,” the old man remarked.
But the wife flew into a passion.
“What! Feed a useless bird when there isn’t enough to feed your own flesh and blood!”
But Helli was firm and despite her threats his wife did not dare to maltreat the Grouse.
At the end of a year the Grouse grew a copper feather in its tail which it dropped in the dooryard. Then it disappeared.