"Good morning, my good neighbor," said friend Fox; "where are you going so early in the day?"
"I am going to the King to ask him to pay me what he owes me."
"Oh, take me with you!"
"One can't have too many friends," thought Drakesbill. Then he said: "Certainly I will take you; but you walk on four legs, and you will soon get tired. So make yourself very small, get into my mouth, creep under my tongue—and I will carry you."
Friend Fox thanked him very kindly, made himself very small, and was out of sight like a letter in a letterbox.
Then Drakesbill was off again, all spruce and fresh as a spring morning, and still singing, "Quack, quack, quack, when shall I get my money back?"
He had not gone far when he met his lady friend Ladder leaning against her wall. "Good morning, ducky darling," said the lady friend, "whither away, so bold and gay, this fine, new day?"
"I am going to the King to ask him to pay me what he owes me."
"Oh, take me with you!"