The cock said to the hen, "Our nuts are ripe. Let's go to the hill and eat our fill before the squirrel takes them." "Yes," replied the hen, "let's have some pleasure together."
They went to the hill and stayed until evening. Perhaps they ate too much or grew proud, but they refused to walk home. The cock built a little carriage from nutshells.
When it was ready, the hen sat in it and said, "You can harness yourself to it." "I'd rather walk!" said the cock. "I'll be the coachman, but I won't pull it."
As they argued, a duck quacked at them, "You thieves! Who said you could go to my nut-hill? You'll pay for this!" She ran at the cock with her beak open. But the cock fought back bravely and wounded her with his spurs until she begged for mercy. As punishment, she agreed to be harnessed to the carriage.
The cock sat as coachman, and they set off at a gallop. "Duck, go as fast as you can!"
After a while, they met two foot-passengers: a pin and a needle. "Stop!" they cried. "It's getting dark and the road is dirty. May we ride with you?" They had been at the tailor's tavern and stayed too long over beer.
Since they were thin and took little space, the cock let them in, but they had to promise not to step on his or the hen's feet.
Late in the evening, they reached an inn. Not wanting to travel by night, and with the duck stumbling, they decided to stay. The innkeeper objected at first—his house was full, and they didn't seem distinguished. But they spoke pleasantly and promised him the egg the hen had laid on the journey, and said he could keep the duck, which laid an egg daily. Finally, he agreed to let them stay.
They feasted and made merry. Early next morning, while everyone slept, the cock woke the hen. They pecked open the egg, ate it, and threw the shell on the hearth. Then they took the sleeping needle and stuck it into the landlord's chair cushion, and put the pin in his towel. Without further ado, they flew away over the heath.
The duck, who had slept in the yard, heard them leave. Happily, she found a stream and swam away—much faster than pulling a carriage.
The landlord woke two hours later. He washed and went to dry his face, but the pin scratched a red streak from ear to ear. Then he went to the kitchen to light his pipe, but the egg-shell flew into his eyes. "Everything attacks my head this morning!" he said angrily. He sat in his grandfather's chair but jumped up crying, "Woe is me!" The needle had pricked him somewhere worse than the pin. Now furious, he suspected the late guests. When he looked for them, they were gone.
He vowed never to take in ragamuffins again, for they eat much, pay nothing, and play mischievous tricks as thanks.