The hunter, great in prowess and local fame, repaired to a shrine to give thanks. There he heard this.
"Go and slay one of every kind of creature!"
He departed without complaint or question. For years he wandered, bringing down ferocious beasts to acclaim and trapping pests to ridicule. He learned the name of every animal and spared none of them, excepting not even man, though as it was a cheater at dice whose life he took, he doubted whether he counted as such.
When at last he was able to discover no prey not yet felled, he returned to the shrine, hoping for guidance. There he heard this.
"You ran off before I announced the reward for the deed."
"There was to be a reward?" the hunter asked, amazed.
"Good health, everlasting fame, and a few score new kinds of beasts are even now coming into being should you wish to continue your hunt."
Regarding the first two, the hunter had little interest, but hearing the third he wept and praised the god.
Finis
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