When the two women saw that the wolf had the firebrand, they were very
angry, and straightway they ran after him.
"Catch it and run!" cried the wolf, and he threw it to the deer. The
deer caught it and ran.
"Catch it and run!" cried the deer, and he threw it to the bear. The
bear caught it and ran.
"Catch it and fly!" cried the bear, and he threw it to the bat. The bat
caught it and flew.
"Catch it and run!" cried the bat, and he threw it to the squirrel. The
squirrel caught it and ran.
"Oh, serpent," called the two old women, "you are no friend to the
Indians. Help us. Get the firebrand away from the squirrel."
As the squirrel ran swiftly over the ground, the serpent sprang up and
tried to seize the firebrand. He did not get it, but the smoke went into
the squirrel's nostrils and made him cough. He would not let go of the
firebrand, but ran and ran till he could throw it to the frog.
When the frog was running away with it, then the squirrel for the first
time thought of himself, and he found that his beautiful bushy tail was
no longer straight, for the fire had curled it up over his back.
"Do not be sorry," called the young Indian across the pond. "Whenever an
Indian boy sees a squirrel with his tail curled up over his back, he
will throw him a nut."