10. THE BUNGLING HOST.
(Second Version.)
(Continued)Coyote watched him as he took a pot, water, and hot stones cut a piece from the front of his wife's dress, and cooked it. He gave it to Coyote. Then he went out and climbed a cliff. Soon he came back with five mountain-sheep. Coyote ate all he could hold. Mountain Sheep's wife then told her husband to help Coyote down the trail with what was left. So they went home, and Coyote asked Mountain Sheep to come and see him.
Mountain-Sheep's wife told her husband not to go, for she knew that Coyote had nothing to eat. He, however, replied that he had to go. So he went to Coyote's tent, and the latter cut a piece out of his wife's dress and tried to cook it, but it only shrivelled up. There was a steep hill near the tent. Coyote made steps leading up, like those he had seen at Mountain-Sheep's place. He climbed up in order to find fresh meat. When he was about half way up, he fell down to the bottom. They carried him home, bruised and nearly dead. Mountain-Sheep made the dress of Coyote's wife whole again. Then he cut a piece out and cooked it. He went up the hill and came back with five mountain-sheep. He made Coyote well, and gave him plenty of meat.
Coyote and Fox lived together. Coyote used to hunt mice and gather wild-rose berries. He would share them with Fox, whom he gave only a few, however, saying that he had not been able to get many. Coyote used to watch Fox, and every evening he would see him eating. Once he jumped at him, and asked, "What are you eating?" -- "Oh, salmon," was the reply. Coyote asked, "Where did you get them?" Fox refused to tell, but finally Coyote persuaded him. Fox explained that he had found a log with pitch on it, that he had split off a few pieces, thrown them backward, and that these had become dried salmon. When Coyote heard this, he said that he was strong, and that he was going to work the next day in order to procure a winter supply.
Early the next morning Coyote arose and went to Fox's log. There he found a small piece of dried salmon, which he ate. He proceeded to split two other logs. He also ate the salmon that came from these. After that, he worked all day without ever looking back. When evening came and he looked about, nothing but pitch-wood was to be seen. He was thoroughly disgusted, but carried a load home. Fox had staid at home. When he got up, and went to his cache, he too, found that everything there was pitch-wood. "There," he said, "Coyote has spoiled everything!" When Coyote arrived with his load of pitch-wood, Fox told him that he had not gone about it in the right manner: when he, Fox, had split enough, he had always turned around and seen the salmon, and then returned home.
The day after, Coyote went out as usual for mice and berries. Fox went out and made some traps. He set them and caught some rabbits. He cooked them and gave one to Coyote. "Where did you catch that?" asked Coyote. "Never mind!" said Fox. At last, however, Coyote prevailed upon him to give him the information. Fox told him, "After you left, I went up to the rose-bushes where the rabbit-tracks are. I sat down and took several thorns." -- "Then what?" asked Coyote. "Never mind!" said Fox. "Oh, tell me!" persisted Coyote. "Well," said Fox, "Masturbatus sum atque spinas milei in penem infixi. Then, when the blood came, and the rabbits smelt it and rushed in, I caught several." -- "Oh! I can do that better than you," said Coyote, "I am strong."
So next morning he went out and did as Fox had said. One rabbit came, and he ate it. Then he repeated the process until he was sorely exhausted and could not move. At last he went home. "You old fool!" Fox said to him, "I don't do that. I just made traps and caught the rabbits that way." -- "I thought so," Coyote said, as he lay there suffering.
Next morning Fox went down the trail to the river. He dropped his tail into the creek; and when he drew it forth, there were many roots attached to it. He did this several times, and then carried the roots home. Old-Coyote watched Fox, and wondered what he was eating. He pestered Fox until the latter at last told him, "I went down and got into the riffle. I stuck my tail in where the ice was running; and when I pulled it out, I drew these roots out with it." -- "I can do that all day," said Coyote.
So the next morning Coyote went and found the place. He stuck his tail in and drew out a few roots, which he promptly ate. Then his tail froze in and dragged him down the stream. Coyote could not disengage himself, and was drowned. Fox waited for him all day. Then he decided to look for him. He found him lodged in the ice. He dragged him out, and then sat down, wondering what to do with him. Finally he walked back and forth over him several times. This brought him to life, and they went home together.
One day1 Fox went out and met a wounded deer that dropped down right in front of him. Fox took an arrow out of the deer's side. Just then a man came up the trail and found Fox sitting down. "Old man, where is my arrow?" the man asked him. "Here it is," Fox replied. In gratitude the man gave him the meat. Fox cut up the deer and took it home. "Wherein the world did you get that meat?" Coyote asked him. Fox said, "I went out early and found a wounded deer. I broke the arrow that had hit it; and when the hunter who had shot it came, he was afraid of me, because I broke the arrow, and went away."
1 RBAE 31: 716.
