the pied piper lures the rats to the river

This is a scene from the traditional tale of the pied piper of Hamelin. The town is overrun with rodentia, whereupon the townsfolk hire a wanderer who purports to be able to play a song on his flute that will lure them to their deaths. He does so and the townsfolk then refuse to pay him. He later plays another tune and takes away all the children in the village, save a cripple.