III The Death of Partlet
Partlet and Chanticleer went to the nut-hill on another occasion, and they arranged that whichever of them found a nut should share it with the other.
Partlet found a huge nut, but said nothing about it, and meant to eat it all herself; but the kernel was so big that she could not swallow it. It stuck in her throat, and she was afraid she would be choked. She shrieked: “Chanticleer, Chanticleer, run and fetch some water as fast as you can, or I shall choke!”
So Chanticleer ran as fast as he could to the well, and said: “Well, well, you must give me some water! Partlet is out on the nut-hill; she has swallowed a big nut, and is choking.”
The well answered: “First you must run to my bride, and tell her to give you some red silk.”
Chanticleer ran to the bride, and said: “Bride, bride, give me some red silk; I will give the silk to the well, and the well will give me some water to take to Partlet, for she has swallowed a big nut and is choking.”
The bride answered: “Run first and fetch me a wreath which I left hanging on a willow.”
So Chanticleer ran to the willow, pulled the wreath off the branch, and brought it to the bride. The bride gave him the red silk, which he took to the well, and the well gave him the water for it. Then Chanticleer took the water to Partlet; but as it happened, she had choked in the meantime, and lay there dead and stiff. Chanticleer’s grief was so great that he cried aloud, and all the animals came and condoled with him.
Six mice built a little car to draw Partlet to the grave; and when the car was ready they harnessed themselves to it and drew Partlet away.
On the way, Reynard the fox joined them. “Where are you going, Chanticleer?” said he.
“I’m going to bury my wife, Partlet.”
“May I go with you?”
“Well, yes, if ride you will, you must jump up behind,
To carry weight in front, my horses aren’t inclined.”
So the fox took a seat at the back, and he was followed by the wolf, the bear, the stag, the lion, and all the other animals of the forest. The procession went on till they came to a stream.
“How shall we ever get over?” said Chanticleer.
A straw was lying by the stream, and it said: “I will stretch myself across, and then you can pass over upon me.”
But when the six mice got on to the straw it collapsed, and the mice fell into the water with it, and they were all drowned. So the travelers’ difficulty was as great as ever. Then a coal came along and said: “I am big enough; I will lie down and you can pass over me.”
So the coal laid itself across the stream, but unfortunately it just touched the water, hissed, went out, and was dead. A stone, seeing this, had pity on them, and, wanting to help Chanticleer, laid itself over the water. Now Chanticleer drew the car himself, and he just managed to get across with Partlet. Next he wanted to pull the others over who were hanging on behind, but it was too much for him, and the car fell back and they all fell into the water and were drowned.
So Chanticleer was left alone with the dead hen, and he dug a grave himself and laid her in it. Then he made a mound over it, and seated himself upon it and grieved till he died; and then they were all dead.