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tail of a drake thrown into it； because he must be a sorcerer。
The furnace was soon hot； but this time Drakestail was not so
afraid； he counted on his sweetheart； my friend River。
‘River； River； outward flow；
Or to death Drakestail must go。'
My friend River hastens out； and errouf！ throws herself into the
furnace； which she floods； with all the people who had lighted it；
after which she flowed growling into the hall of the palace to the
height of more than four feet。
And Drakestail； quite content； begins to swim； singing deafeningly；
‘Quack； quack； quack； when shall I get my money back？'
The King was still at table； and thought himself quite sure of his
game； but when he heard Drakestail singing again； and when they
told him all that had passed； he became furious and got up from
table brandishing his fists。
‘Bring him here； and I'll cut his throat！ bring him here quick！'
cried he。
And quickly two footmen ran to fetch Drakestail。
‘At last；' said the poor chap； going up the great stairs； ‘they
have decided to receive me。'
Imagine his terror when on entering he sees the King as red as
a turkey cock； and all his ministers attending him standing sword
in hand。 He thought this time it was all up with him。 Happily；
he remembered that there was still one remaining friend； and he
cried with dying accents：
‘Wasp's…nest； Wasp's…nest； make a sally；
Or Drakestail nevermore may rally。'
Hereupon the scene changes。
‘Bs； bs； bayonet them！ ‘The brave Wasp's…nest rushes out
with all his wasps。 They threw themselves on the infuriated King
and his ministers； and stung them so fiercely in the face that they
lost their heads； and not knowing where to hide themselves they all
jumped pell…mell from the window and broke their necks on the
pavement。
Behold Drakestail much astonished； all alone in the big saloon
and master of the field。 He could not get over it。
Nevertheless； he remembered shortly what he had come for to
the palace； and improving the occasion； he set to work to hunt for
his dear money。 But in vain he rummaged in all the drawers； he
found nothing； all had been spent。
And ferreting thus from room to room he came at last to the one
with the throne in it； and feeling fatigued； he sat himself down on it
to think over his adventure。 In the meanwhile the people had found
their King and his ministers with their feet in the air on the pavement；
and they had gone into the palace to know how it had occurred。
On entering the throne…room； when the crowd saw that there was
already someone on the royal seat； they broke out in cries of surprise
and joy：
‘The King is dead； long live the King！
Heaven has sent us down this thing。'
Drakestail； who was no longer surprised at anything； received the
acclamations of the people as if he had never done anything else all
his life。
A few of them certainly murmured that a Drakestail would make
a fine King； those who knew him replied that a knowing Drakestail
was a more worthy King than a spendthrift like him who was lying
on the pavement。 In short； they ran and took the crown off the
head of the deceased； and placed it on that of Drakestail； whom it
fitted like wax。
Thus he became King。
‘And now；' said he after the ceremony；； ladies and gentlemen；
let's go to supper。 I am so hungry！'＇15＇
＇15＇ Contes of Ch。 Marelles。