"So you shall," answered the hedge-sparrow, and cried angrily to the raven, "I want my money now, and cannot wait."
"In an instant," answered the raven, and again whispered to the donkey, "Why can't you pay me honestly? I should be ashamed of trying to slip out of my debts in such a way."
"I won't keep you waiting a second," said the donkey, and he turned once more to the pedlar and cried, "Come, give me my money. For shame! a man like you trying to cheat a poor beast like me."
Then the pedlar said to the hedge-sparrow, "Pay me for my blanket, or I'll wring your neck."
And the hedge-sparrow cried to the raven, "Give me my money or I'll peck out your eyes."
And the raven croaked to the donkey, "If you don't pay me, I'll bite off your tail."
And the donkey again cried to the pedlar, "You dishonest wretch, pay me my money or I'll kick you soundly."
And they made such an uproar outside the walls of the town, that the beadle came out to see what it was all about. Each turned to him and began to complain of the other loudly.
"You are a set of rogues and vagabonds," said the beadle, "and you shall all come before the mayor, and he'll settle your quarrels pretty quickly, and treat you as you deserve."
At this they all begged to be allowed to go away, each one saying he did not care about being paid at all. But the beadle would not listen to them, and led them straight away to the market-place, where the mayor sat judging the people.