Page:Folk-lore - A Quarterly Review. Volume 29, 1918.djvu/88

78 making my tail spread out like a fan, so that all that see me jeer at me. No, my friend, to every pig comes St. Martin's day, so fare you well, Sir Jester." With these words he crowed thrice very loudly, and went on his way as proud as a peacock.

In the middle of a field of stubble, where some labourers had made a fire, there rose up a column of smoke. Medio-pollita drew near and saw a tiny spark, which at times was nearly extinguished amidst the ashes. "Dear Medio-pollito," said the spark on seeing him, "you are come just in time to save my life. For want of fuel I am at my last gasp. I don't know where my cousin the wind has betaken himself, for he always comes to my help in cases like this. Bring some straw to revive me." "What business of mine is this?" replied the cock. "You may burst if you like. What need, plague take it, have you of me?" "Who knows whether you won't be in need some day?" replied the spark, "no one can say of this water I won't drink." "Holla," said the mischievous creature, "are you still boasting?—then take this for your pains." And so saying he covered the spark with ashes; after which he began to crow after his manner, as if he had done a very fine thing.

Medio-pollito now reached the capital. As he passed in front of a church that they told him was sacred to St. Peter, he stepped in front of the porch, and crowed till he was tired, not more to put the saint in a rage, than to enjoy the pleasure of disobeying his mother. On approaching the palace, when he would have gone in to see the king and queen, the sentinels cried out "back!" Then he turned about and made his way in by a back door into a big room, where he saw many people going in and out. He asked who they were, and learned that they were his Majesty's cooks. Instead of running away, as his mother had warned him to do, he went in with crest and tail erect. But one of the urchins threw a glove and knocked him over, and then twisted his neck in the twinkling of an eye. "Come," said he, "let us have some water to pluck this poor wretch." "Water, my dear lady Crystal," said the cock, "oblige me by not scalding me, have pity on me." "Had you pity on me, when I sought your help, ill-begotten wretch?" replied the water, boiling with rage,