The Toad and the King of Water
In the beginning of things a drought of several months completely dried up a marsh in which a Toad dwelt. By reason of this catastrophe the Toad could not bring up his young, so he decided to make a complaint in person to the King of Water.
To give greater weight to his plea he begged the Fox, the Bear and the Tiger to go with him.
The journey was long and wearisome, but at length the four animals, marching in single file, left behind them the narrow path which leads to heaven, and reached the gate.
A tom-tom was hung there, and the Toad banged it vigorously to announce his presence, while his companions discreetly drew aside.
Hearing the noise, the King of Water sent a genius to find out who the new-comer was.
"It is only a miserable toad," the messenger reported. "What must I do with him?"
The King ordered the cocks to put the intruders to flight, but the Fox flew at them and made a mouthful of them.
The King ordered the dogs to seize and punish the Fox, but then it was the Bear's turn to give them his deadly embrace. The King became more and more angry and ordered his archers to shoot the Bear with poisoned arrows.