_Cherokee_
Rabbit and Possum each wanted a wife, but no one would marry either of
them. They talked over the matter and Rabbit said, "We can't get wives
here. Let's go to the next village. I'll say I'm messenger for the
council and that everybody must marry at once, and then we'll be sure
to get wives."
Off they started for the next town. As Rabbit traveled the faster, he
got there first. He waited outside the village until people noticed
him and took him into the council lodge. When the chief asked his
business, Rabbit said he brought an important message: everyone must
be married at once. So the chief called a great council of the people
and told them the message.
Every animal took a mate at once, and thus Rabbit got a wife.
But Possum traveled slowly. Therefore he reached the village so late
that all the men were married and there was no wife for him. Rabbit
pretended to be sorry. He said, "Never mind. I'll carry the same
message to the next village."
So Rabbit traveled ahead to the next village. He waited outside until
they invited him to the council lodge. There he told the chief he
brought an important message: there had been peace so long, there must
be war at once. The war must begin in the council lodge.
The animals all began to fight at once, but Rabbit got away in just
four leaps. Then Possum reached the lodge. Now Possum had brought no
weapons. So all the animals began to fight Possum. They hit him so
hard that after a while he rolled over in a corner and shut his eyes
and pretended to be dead. That is why Possum pretends to be dead when
he finds the hunters after him.