The Adventures of Chanticleer
and Partlet
I. How They Went to the Hills to Eat Nuts
HANTICLEER said to Partlet one day, ‘The nuts must be ripe; now we will go up the hill together and have a good feast before the squirrel carries them all off.’
‘All right,’ said Partlet, ‘come along; we’ll have a fine time.’ So they went away up the hill, and, as it was a bright day, they stayed till evening.
Now whether they really had grown fat, or whether it was merely pride, I do not know, but, whatever the reason, they would not walk home, and Chanticleer had to make a little carriage of nut-shells. When it was ready, Partlet took her seat in it, and said to Chanticleer, ‘Now you get between the shafts.’
‘That’s all very fine,’ said Chanticleer, ‘but I would sooner go home on foot than put myself in harness. I will sit on the box and drive, but draw it myself I never will.’
As they were squabbling over this, a Duck quacked out, ‘You thievish folk! Who told you to come to my nut-hill? Just you wait, you will suffer for it.’
Then she rushed at Chanticleer with open bill, but he was not to be taken by surprise, and fell upon her with his spurs till she cried out for mercy. At last she allowed herself to be harnessed to the carriage. Chanticleer seated himself on the box as coachman, and cried out unceasingly, ‘Now, Duck, run as fast as you can.’
When they had driven a little way they met two foot