‘Where is my brother?’
‘He is in the serpent-pit.’
‘Where is my wicked sister?’
‘She is with the noble king.’
‘Alas! alas! I am here this evening, and shall be for one evening yet, and then I shall never come again.’
After this it slipped out, and no one could get hold of it. But the king’s cook thought to himself, ‘I shall see if I can’t get hold of you to-morrow evening.’
On the third evening the duck again came waddling in by the drain, and up to the dog on the hearth-stone.
‘Good evening,’ it said.
‘Thanks, Maiden Bright-eye,’ said the dog.
‘Where is my brother?’