While the fox is the type of all mischief with the Onondagas, they seem
to have few stories about him. One of these has been related by Mrs. E.
A. Smith, and has modern features. In this she makes one story depend
upon another, while they were related to me as distinct tales. I
inquired particularly about this, and was assured that there was no
connection. These are the tales I received:—
I. The fox saw some men carrying home a wagon load of fish, and
contrived to get upon it. At his leisure he quietly threw off one, and
then another, until he was satisfied, and slipped off himself to eat
them. As he was feasting on the last the bear came along, and asked
about his good luck. The fox said he would show him how to get a good
supply if he would go with him the next night. So they went on the ice
till they found a hole, and the fox told the bear to put his tail in
this that the fish might bite.
“Now,” said the fox, “you are very strong, and must wait until a good
many take hold of your tail.” So the bear sat very still for a time; but
when he shifted a little his tail was slightly pulled, for it was
freezing to the ice. “Don’t pull yet,” said the fox; “more will take
hold, and you will have a big haul. You are very strong, and must catch
all you can.” So the bear waited, and the next time he moved it pulled a
little harder. “Not yet,” said the fox; “more will take hold.” But when
the morning was come the fox ran to a house on the bank, and the dogs
began to bark furiously. This frightened the bear, so that he pulled
with all his might, and left his tail frozen to the ice. Then I came
away; but the bears have had short tails ever since.
II. For some reason the bear and the fox fell out, and were going to
fight a duel. The fox chose a cat and a lame dog for his seconds, while
the bear had the wolf and the pig, but the wolf kept away. The bear and
the pig came to the place first, both of them a little afraid, and the
bear said he would climb a tree and watch for the rest. The pig hid
under the leaves by a log. The bear said: “I see the fox coming. He has
two men with him, and one is picking up stones to throw at us!” For when
the dog limped, it seemed to the bear he was picking up stones. The cat,
too, raised its tail and waved it around. When it did this the bear
said: “Now I see the other man. He has a big club, and oh! how he waves
it around! Lie down there! Keep still! They’ll give it to us if they
find us!” Then he looked again. “Yes, they’re coming! they’re coming!
Keep still! keep still!”
So the cat came under the tree, and upon the log. The pig wanted to see,
and tried to peep out; but when the cat saw the leaves moving she
thought it was a mouse. Down she sprang in an instant, and had the pig
by the nose. “Ke-week! ke-we-e-k!” he squealed and squealed, which
scared the cat in turn, and she ran for the tree. The bear was so
frightened when he saw her coming, that he let go his hold, fell from
the tree, and was killed. Then I came away.
In this story the narrator imitated the squealing of the pig, etc., to
the intense delight of the Indian children. It was thus a favorite tale.
_W. M. Beauchamp._