HOW DRAKESTAIL
by Carolyn Sherwin Bailey
Drakestail and the King's Money
Once, a clever duck named Drakestail lived. He had a long tail and shiny money.
Drakestail was a kind, small duck. He had much money. The King asked for his money. Drakestail gave his money to The King. The King kept it safe.
A long time passed. The King forgot the money. Drakestail felt brave. He decided to go. He would ask for his money.
Drakestail walked on the road. He met The Fox. Drakestail asked, 'Where go you?' He had an idea. He made a safe place. The Fox went in his tummy.
Drakestail met The Ladder. Drakestail asked, 'Where go you?' He made a place. The Ladder went inside his tummy.
Drakestail met The River. Drakestail asked, 'Where go you?' He made a place. The River went in his tummy.
Drakestail came to The King's house. He asked for The King. The Cook was grumpy. He put Drakestail in the chicken yard.
The chickens were not nice. They attacked Drakestail. Drakestail called The Fox. The Fox came out. He scared the chickens away. They ran and hid.
The grumpy Cook saw Drakestail. He caught Drakestail. He put Drakestail in a big pot. The pot was near a warm fire.
Drakestail called The Ladder. The Ladder came out. It helped him climb out. He climbed over a wall. But The Cook saw him!
The grumpy Cook caught him. He put Drakestail back in the pot. The pot was near the warm fire.
Drakestail called The River. The River splashed out! It made a big WHOOSH! It put out the fire.
The King heard the big splash. He heard the noise. He came to the kitchen. He wanted to see.
Drakestail hopped out. He made a polite bow. He asked The King. "Please, King, my money?"
The King remembered the money. He was very surprised. He gave Drakestail his money. He gave it back right away.
Drakestail was happy. He waddled home with his money. He was a clever, brave duck. Drakestail was small, but he was very clever and brave. He showed that even a little duck can do big things!
Original Story
HOW DRAKESTAIL
WENT TO THE KING.
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Once upon a time there was a wee little duck, with a very long tail, so he was called Drakestail. Now, Drakestail had some money of his very, very own, and the king asked if he might take it. So Drakestail loaned all his money to the king.
But the king kept Drakestail’s money for a year and a day, and still he did not send it back. Drakestail said he would go to the king and bring back the money himself.
So off he started, one very fine morning, for the king’s house. The sun was shining on the ponds, and Drakestail waddled along in the middle of the road, feeling very fine. As he traveled, he met a fox, and the fox said, “Where do you go this fine morning, Friend Drakestail?”
“To the king,” said Drakestail, “for he owes me money.”
“I will travel along with you,” said the fox.
“Ah,” said Drakestail, “your four legs would soon tire. Come along with me this way,” and he opened his wee little bill very wide, and down his wee little throat went the fox.
Then Drakestail traveled on a little farther. As he went he came to a ladder lying beside the road.
“Where do you go this fine morning, Friend Drakestail?” asked the ladder.
“To the king,” said Drakestail, “for he owes me money.”
“I will travel along with you,” said the ladder.
“Your wooden legs would soon tire,” said Drakestail. “Come along with me this way,” and he opened his little bill very wide, and down his wee little throat went the ladder.
Then Drakestail traveled on a bit farther until he came to his friend, the river, lying and glistening in the sunshine.
“Where do you go this fine morning, Friend Drakestail?” asked the river.
“To the king, for he owes me money,” said Drakestail.
“I will travel with you,” said the river.
“You would soon tire if you ran so far, my friend,” said Drakestail. “Come along with me this way.” He opened his wee bill very wide, and down his wee little throat went the little river.
Then Drakestail traveled and traveled until he came to the king’s house. Now Drakestail thought that the king would meet him at the gate, so he called out very loudly:
“*Honk! Honk!* Drakestail waits at the gate.”
But the king did not come out to meet him. Who should appear at the gate but the king’s cook, and the cook took Drakestail by his two little legs and flung him into the poultry yard. The other fowls, who were ill-bred birds, ran up to Drakestail and bit him, and jeered at his large tail. It would have gone very badly with Drakestail, but he called to his friend, the fox:
“Reynard, Reynard, come out to the earth,
Or Drakestail’s life is of little worth.”
So the fox came out, and he ate up all the ill-bred fowls in the king’s poultry yard. But still Drakestail was badly off. He heard the king’s cook putting the broth pot over the fire.
“Ladder, ladder, come out to the wall,
Drakestail does not wish to be broth at all,”
he cried. So the ladder came out and leaned against the wall, and Drakestail climbed over in safety. But the king’s cook saw Drakestail and set out after him. He caught poor Drakestail and clapped him into the broth pot, and hung him over the fire.
“River, my sweetheart, put out this hot fire,
The flames that would cook me rise higher and higher,”
cried Drakestail. So the river put out the fire with a great noise and sputtering, which the king heard. And the king came running to the kitchen.
“Good morning to you, King,” said Drakestail, hopping out of the broth pot, and making a very low bow, “are you through with my money, which you have kept for a year and a day?”
“That I am, Drakestail,” said the king. “You shall have it at once.”
So the king gave Drakestail the money that he owed him, and Drakestail waddled home again to tell of all his travels.
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Moral of the Story
Even the smallest and seemingly weakest can achieve justice through cleverness and perseverance.
Characters
Drakestail ★ protagonist
A small, wee duck with a notably long tail, which is his namesake. His body is typical of a duck, likely plump and covered in feathers, with webbed feet for waddling.
Attire: None, as he is an animal.
Wants: To retrieve the money the King owes him.
Flaw: Physically small and vulnerable to larger creatures or human actions (like being thrown into a pot).
He starts as a determined individual seeking justice and successfully retrieves his money, demonstrating his resourcefulness and courage throughout his journey.
Determined, clever, persistent, resourceful, polite (bows to the king).
The King ⚔ antagonist
Not explicitly described, but as a king, he would likely be of a commanding presence, perhaps portly or stately. His ethnicity is not specified, but the story's European fairy tale origin suggests a European appearance.
Attire: Implied to be regal and opulent, though not specified. Likely wears rich fabrics like velvet or silk, possibly adorned with jewels, a crown, or a scepter, consistent with a European king.
Wants: Initially, to keep Drakestail's money. Later, to understand the commotion in his kitchen and then to resolve the situation.
Flaw: His forgetfulness or disregard for his debts, and his susceptibility to chaos in his own home.
Starts as a negligent debtor and ends by fulfilling his obligation, albeit under duress.
Dishonest (initially), forgetful, easily surprised, ultimately honorable (pays his debt).
The Fox ◆ supporting
A typical fox, with four legs and a bushy tail. Described as 'Reynard', implying a classic red fox appearance.
Attire: None, as it is an animal.
Wants: To travel with Drakestail, and later, to help Drakestail when called upon.
Flaw: None explicitly shown, but its predatory nature could be seen as a double-edged sword.
Acts as a loyal, albeit fierce, helper to Drakestail.
Helpful, opportunistic (offers to travel), predatory (eats the fowls).
The Ladder ◆ supporting
A simple wooden ladder, lying beside the road. It has 'wooden legs' (rungs/sides).
Attire: None, as it is an inanimate object.
Wants: To travel with Drakestail, and later, to help him escape.
Flaw: Its immobility and dependence on being carried or placed.
Acts as a functional tool for Drakestail's escape.
Helpful, inanimate until called upon.
The River ◆ supporting
A body of water, 'lying and glistening in the sunshine'. It is a 'little river', implying it's not a vast, wide river.
Attire: None, as it is a natural element.
Wants: To travel with Drakestail, and later, to help him by extinguishing the fire.
Flaw: None explicitly shown.
Acts as a powerful force for Drakestail's rescue.
Helpful, powerful when unleashed.
The King's Cook ○ minor
Not explicitly described, but likely a robust build from working in a kitchen. As a European fairy tale, he would have a European appearance.
Attire: Likely wears practical kitchen attire of the period, such as a simple linen tunic or smock, possibly an apron, and sturdy shoes. Colors would be muted and functional.
Wants: To deal with the 'ill-bred' duck and prepare food (broth).
Flaw: Easily outsmarted by Drakestail's resourcefulness.
Remains a minor antagonist, failing to stop Drakestail.
Obedient (to the king's implied will), rough (flings Drakestail), persistent (chases Drakestail).
Locations
The Road to the King's House
A winding, dusty road, likely unpaved, leading through the countryside. The sun shines brightly, illuminating ponds glistening nearby. The path is wide enough for a duck to waddle comfortably in the middle.
Mood: Pleasant, open, journey-like, initially peaceful
Drakestail begins his journey, meeting the Fox, the Ladder, and the River, who all join him.
The King's Poultry Yard
A bustling, enclosed yard adjacent to the king's house, likely with a simple wooden fence or stone wall. It is filled with various 'ill-bred' fowls, suggesting a somewhat unkempt or crowded environment. The ground would be dirt or straw, churned by many birds.
Mood: Chaotic, hostile, confined, noisy
Drakestail is flung into the yard and attacked by other fowls, prompting the Fox to emerge and eat them.
The King's Kitchen
A functional, bustling kitchen within the king's house, likely with a large stone hearth or fireplace for cooking. There would be cooking implements, pots, and a general sense of activity. The air might be warm from the fire.
Mood: Busy, utilitarian, initially threatening, then dramatic
Drakestail is thrown into the broth pot, and the River puts out the fire, leading to the king's appearance.
Story DNA
Moral
Even the smallest and seemingly weakest can achieve justice through cleverness and perseverance.
Plot Summary
Drakestail, a small duck with a long tail, loans his money to the King, who fails to repay it. Determined, Drakestail sets off to retrieve his money, encountering and swallowing a fox, a ladder, and a river along the way. Upon reaching the King's house, he is repeatedly mistreated by the cook, first thrown into the poultry yard, then put into a broth pot. Each time, Drakestail calls upon his swallowed companions to save him. Finally, the river puts out the fire with a loud commotion, drawing the King's attention. Drakestail confronts the King, who, witnessing his resilience, promptly returns the money, allowing Drakestail to waddle home victorious.
Themes
Emotional Arc
injustice to triumph
Writing Style
Narrative Elements
Cultural Context
This story is a variant of a French folk tale, 'Drakestail' (Le Petit Canard), which often features a duck or similar small animal seeking justice from a king. It reflects themes of the common person seeking redress from authority.
Plot Beats (15)
- Drakestail, a small duck, loans his money to the King.
- After a year and a day, the King has not returned the money, so Drakestail decides to go get it himself.
- On his journey, Drakestail meets a fox and swallows him to bring him along.
- He then meets a ladder and swallows it too.
- Finally, he meets a river and swallows it as well.
- Drakestail arrives at the King's house and calls out, but is thrown into the poultry yard by the cook.
- Attacked by other fowls, Drakestail calls the fox, who comes out and eats all the fowls.
- The cook then catches Drakestail and puts him into a broth pot over the fire.
- Drakestail calls the ladder, which comes out and helps him climb over the wall, but the cook catches him again.
- Drakestail is put back into the broth pot over the fire.
- Drakestail calls the river, which comes out and puts out the fire with a great noise.
- The King hears the commotion and comes to the kitchen.
- Drakestail hops out of the pot, bows, and asks the King for his money.
- The King, impressed and perhaps intimidated, immediately returns Drakestail's money.
- Drakestail waddles home, having successfully retrieved his money and survived his ordeal.
