When the King who was still at table heard this refrain , and the poultry woman came to tell him what had been going on in the yard , he was terribly annoyed . He ordered them to throw this tail of a drake into the well , to make an end of him . And it was done as he commanded . Drakestail was in despair of getting himself out of such a deep hole , when he remembered his lady friend , the Ladder . ` Ladder , Ladder , come out of thy hold , Or Drakestail 's days will soon be told . ' My friend Ladder , who was only waiting for these words , hastens out , leans her two arms on the edge of the well , then Drakestail climbs nimbly on her back , and hop ! he is in the yard , where he begins to sing louder than ever . When the King , who was still at table and laughing at the good trick he had played his creditor , heard him again reclaiming his money , he became livid with rage . He commanded that the furnace should be heated , and this 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 XXXXX a turkey cock , and all his ministers attending him standing sword in hand .
At as because for from in of than that with