_Cherokee_
Long ago, in the beginning, Deer had no horns. His head was smooth
like a doe's. Now Deer was a very fast runner, but Rabbit was a famous
jumper. So the animals used to talk about it and wonder which could go
the farther in the same time. They talked about it a great deal. They
decided to have a race between the two, and they made a pair of large
antlers to be given to whoever could run the faster. Deer and Rabbit
were to start together from one side of a thicket, go through it, and
then turn and come back. The one who came out of the thicket first was
to receive the horns.
On a certain day all the animals were there. They put the antlers down
on the ground to mark the starting point. Everyone admired the horns.
But Rabbit said, "I don't know this part of the country; I want to
look through the bushes where I am to run."
So the Rabbit went into the thicket, and stayed a long time. He was
gone so long the animals suspected he was playing a trick. They sent a
messenger after him. Right in the middle of the thicket he found
Rabbit, gnawing down the bushes and pulling them away to make a clear
road for himself.
The messenger came back quietly and told the animals. When Rabbit came
back, they accused him of cheating. Rabbit said, "No," but at last
they all went into the thicket and found the road he had made.
Therefore the animals gave the antlers to Deer, saying that he was the
better runner. That is why deer have antlers. And because Rabbit cut
the bushes down, he is obliged to keep cutting them down, as he does
to this day.
[Illustration: KANSA CHIEF
_Courtesy of the Smithsonian Institution_]
[Illustration: BIG GOOSE
(Omaha)
_Courtesy of the Smithsonian Institution_]