The duck swam away after the ship , and came to the king 's palace on the next evening . There it waddled up the drain , and so into the kitchen , where her little dog lay on the hearth-stone ; it could not bear to stay in the fine chambers along with the ugly sister , and had taken refuge down here . The duck hopped up till it could talk to the dog . ` Good evening , ' it said . ` Thanks , Maiden Bright-eye , ' said the dog . ` Where is my brother ? ' ` He is in the serpent-pit . ' ` Where is my wicked sister ? ' ` She is with the noble king . ' ` Alas ! alas ! I am here this evening , and shall be for two evenings yet , and then I shall never come again . ' When it had said this the duck waddled off again . Several of the servant girls heard the conversation , and were greatly surprised at it , and thought that it would be worth while to catch the bird next evening and see into the matter a little more closely . They had heard it say that it would come again . Next evening it appeared as it had said , and a great many were present to see it . It came waddling in by the drain , and went up to the dog , which was lying on the hearth-stone . ` Good evening , ' it said . ` Thanks , Maiden Bright-eye , ' said the dog . ` Where is my brother ? '
` He is XXXXX the serpent-pit . '
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