_Ponca_
Gray fox was very fat. Coyote said, "Younger brother, what has made
you fat?" "Elder brother," said the Gray Fox, "I lie down on the trail
in the way of those who carry crackers, and I pretend to be dead. When
they throw me in the wagon, I lie there, kicking the crackers out.
Then I leap out and start home eating. It is the crackers which make
me fat. Elder brother, I wish you would do likewise. Elder brother,
you have large feet, so I think will knock out a great many crackers."
Coyote went to the place and lay down in the trail. When the white man
came along, he threw Coyote into the wagon. The white man thought, "It
is not the first time he has acted in this way," so he tied the feet
of Coyote. Having put the Coyote in the wagon, the white man went to
his house. He threw Coyote out near an old outhouse. Then the white
man brought a knife, and cut the cords which bound Coyote's feet. He
acted as if Coyote was dead, so he threw him over his back and started
off for the house.
But Coyote managed to get loose and ran homeward. He went back to get
even with Gray Fox.
"Oh, younger brother," said Coyote, "you have made me suffer."
"You yourself are to blame," said Gray Fox. "Be silent and listen to
me. You brought the trouble on yourself as you lay down in the place
where the white man came with his load of goods."
"Oh, younger brother, you tell the truth," said Coyote. But Gray Fox
had tempted him.