And another said, "If we put him in a tree, Coyote will surely climb
up."
So they decided to burn the body of Rabbit, and yet there was no fire on
earth.
Blue Fly said, "Go to Sun and get some of the fire which he keeps in his
house," So Coyote scampered away, but he was sure the people were trying
to get rid of him so he kept looking back.
Then Blue Fly made the first fire drill. Taking a stick like an arrow he
twirled it in his hands, letting the lower end rest on a flat stick that
lay on the ground. Soon smoke began to arise, and then fire came. The
people gathered fuel and began their duty.
But Coyote, looking back, saw fire ascending. He turned and ran back as
fast as he could go. When the people saw him coming, they formed a ring,
but he raced around the circle until he saw two short men standing
together. He jumped over them, and seized the heart of Rabbit. But he
burned his mouth doing it, and it is black to this day.
Coyote and the Rattlesnake
Sia (New Mexico)
Coyote's house was not far from Rattlesnake's home. One morning when
they were out walking together, Coyote said to Rattlesnake,
"To-morrow come to my house."
In the morning Rattlesnake went to Coyote's house. He moved slowly along
the floor, shaking his rattle. Coyote sat at one side, very much
frightened. The movements of the snake and the rattle frightened him.
Coyote had a pot of rabbit meat on the fire, which he placed in front of
the snake, saying,
"Companion, eat."
"I will not eat your meat. I do not understand your food," said
Rattlesnake.
"What food do you eat?"
"I eat the yellow flowers of the corn."
Coyote at once began to search for the yellow corn flowers. When he
found some, Rattlesnake said,
"Put some on top of my head so that I may eat it."
Coyote stood as far off as he could and placed the pollen on the snake's
head.
The snake said, "Come nearer and put enough on my head so that I may
find it."
Coyote was very much afraid, but after a while he came nearer and did as
he was told.
Then the snake went away, saying,
"Companion, to-morrow you come to my house."
"All right," said Coyote. "To-morrow I will come."
Coyote sat down and thought about the morrow. He thought a good deal
about what the snake might do. So he made a small rattle by placing tiny
pebbles in a gourd and fastened it to the end of his tail. He shook it a
while and was much pleased with it.
The next morning he started for the snake's house. He shook the rattle
on the end of his tail and smiled, and said to himself,
"This is good. When I go into Rattlesnake's house, he will be very much
afraid of me."
Coyote did not walk into Snake's house, but moved like a snake. But
Coyote could not shake his rattle as the snake shook his. He had to hold
it in his hand. But when he shook his rattle, the snake seemed much
afraid, and said,
"Companion, I am afraid of you."
Now Rattlesnake had a stew of rats on the fire, and he placed some
before Coyote. But Coyote said,
"I do not understand your food. I cannot eat it because I do not
understand it."
Rattlesnake insisted upon his eating, but Coyote refused. He said,
"If you put some of the flower of the corn on my head, I will eat. I
understand that food."
The snake took some corn pollen, but he pretended to be afraid of Coyote
and stood off some distance. Coyote said,
"Come nearer and place it on top my head."