Page 129 sur 626

'The nuts are quite ripe now,' said Chanticleer to his wife

Partlet, 'suppose we go together to the mountains, and eat as

many as we can, before the squirrel takes them all away.' 'With

all my heart,' said Partlet, 'let us go and make a holiday of it

together.'

So they went to the mountains; and as it was a lovely day, they

stayed there till the evening. Now, whether it was that they had

eaten so many nuts that they could not walk, or whether they were

lazy and would not, I do not know: however, they took it into

their heads that it did not become them to go home on foot. So

Chanticleer began to build a little carriage of nutshells: and

when it was finished, Partlet jumped into it and sat down, and

bid Chanticleer harness himself to it and draw her home. 'That's

a good joke!' said Chanticleer; 'no, that will never do; I had

rather by half walk home; I'll sit on the box and be coachman, if

you like, but I'll not draw.' While this was passing, a duck came

quacking up and cried out, 'You thieving vagabonds, what business

have you in my grounds? I'll give it you well for your

insolence!' and upon that she fell upon Chanticleer most lustily.