Read the excerpt below and answer the question.

suddenly this little woods-girl is horror-stricken to hear a clear whistle not very far away. not a bird’s-whistle, which would have a sort of friendliness, but a boy’s whistle, determined, and somewhat aggressive. sylvia left the cow to whatever sad fate might await her, and stepped discreetly aside into the bushes, but she was just too late. the enemy had discovered her, and called out in a very cheerful and persuasive tone, “halloa, little girl, how far is it to the road? ” and trembling sylvia answered almost inaudibly, “a good ways.” she did not dare to look boldly at the tall young man, who carried a gun over his shoulder, but she came out of her bush and again followed the cow, while he walked alongside.

in at least 150 words, explain the symbolic role that the hunter plays to sylvia in this story.