To give greater weight to his plea he begged the Fox, the Bear and the Tiger to go with him.
The journey was long and wearisome, but at length the four animals, marching in single file, left behind them the narrow path which leads to heaven, and reached the gate.
A tom-tom was hung there, and the Toad banged it vigorously to announce his presence, while his companions discreetly drew aside.
Hearing the noise, the King of Water sent a genius to find out who the new-comer was.
"It is only a miserable toad," the messenger reported. "What must I do with him?"
The King ordered the cocks to put the intruders to flight, but the Fox flew at them and made a mouthful of them.
The King ordered the dogs to seize and punish the Fox, but then it was the Bear's turn to give them his deadly embrace. The King became more and more angry and ordered his archers to shoot the Bear with poisoned arrows.
With one bound the Tiger laid low the warriors before they could even stretch their bows, and torn by his fangs and claws they soon took to their heels.
The King, seeing himself thus at the end of his resources and tired of war, had the Toad brought into his presence, and inquired the object of his visit.
"I salute thee humbly, Sire," said the Toad, "and would make an urgent supplication before thee. The great heat hath turned the ground to stone, since thou hast forgotten to send rain for many weary months. I can no longer feed my children who are on the point of death through thy neglect."
Touched at the story, the King acknowledged his remissness and at his command a refreshing shower immediately fell upon the earth, which soon revived.
Since that fortunate interview, whenever there is a drought men hear the toad croaking his petition and rain falls without further delay.
It will be noticed in these fables how careful the Moï is to give the Tiger, his dreaded foe, the rôle of the vanquished. They also show signs of education in the habits of the animal world. It is just because the croaking of the toad coincides with a change in the atmosphere that the Moï attributes to that plaintive sound the power to bring down rain.
Is it not equally true that the illustrious chanticleer had only to utter his morning call to cause the sun to rise?