American Indian Trickster Tales (Myths and Legends) (32 page)

Asked how he came back, the Rabbit replied: “I am glad you threw me into the water. I did not die, I went to a beautiful place, where there were thousands of pretty girls who begged me to stay, and I am now sorry I came away from them.” The young warriors crowded around him and did not tire of hearing about such a lovely land. They begged him to show them the way, and he selected those he most envied and told them to prepare boxes in which they could be placed. When all were ready, their friends carried them to the stream and the Rabbit ordered them thrown in.

Again the busk rolled around and anxious friends awaited the return of the young warriors, but they did not come. At last the boxes were found on an island and in the boxes were the bodies of the ill-fated young men. A little box was also found containing the bones of the child. Then it was known that the Rabbit had deceived them again. On being questioned, he said: “I told you I was the only one who had ever returned from that beautiful country. I warned the warriors, but they would have me show them the way, and no one can be blamed except themselves.”

{
Cherokee
}

The Rabbit and the Possum each wanted a wife, but no one would marry either of them. They talked over the matter and the Rabbit said, “We can’t get wives here; let’s go to the next settlement. I’m the messenger for the council, and I’ll tell the people that I bring an order that everybody must take a mate at once, and then we’ll be sure to get our wives.”

The Possum thought this a fine plan, so they started off together for the next town. As the Rabbit traveled faster, he got there first and waited outside until the people noticed him and took him into their home. When the chief came to ask his business, the Rabbit said he brought an important order from the council that everybody must get married without delay. So the chief called the people together and told them the message from the council. Every animal took a mate at once, and the Rabbit got a wife.

The Possum traveled so slowly that he got there after all the animals had mated, leaving him still without a wife. The Rabbit pretended to feel sorry for him and said, “Never mind, I’ll carry the message to the people in the next settlement, and you hurry on as fast as you can, and this time you will get your wife.”

So he went on to the next town, and the Possum followed close after him. But when the Rabbit got to the town he sent out the word that, as there had been peace so long that everybody was getting lazy, the council had ordered that there must be war at once and they must begin right in the town. So they all began fighting, but the Rabbit made four great leaps and got away just as the Possum came in. Everybody jumped on the Possum, who had not thought of bringing his weapons on a wedding trip and so could not defend himself. They had nearly beaten the life out of him when he fell over and pretended to be dead until he saw a good chance to jump up and get away. The Possum never got a wife, but he remembers the lesson, and ever since, he shuts his eyes and pretends to be dead when the hunter has him in a close corner.

{Biloxi}

The Rabbit and the Frenchman were two friends. The Rabbit aided the Frenchman, agreeing to work a piece of land on shares. The first season they planted potatoes. The Rabbit, having been told to select his share of the crop, chose the potato vines, and devoured them all. The next season they planted corn. This year the Rabbit said, “I will eat the roots.” So he pulled up all the corn by the roots, but he found nothing to satisfy his hunger.“

Then the Frenchman said, “Let us dig a well.”

But the Rabbit did not wish to work any longer with his friend. Said he to the Frenchman, “If you wish to dig a well, I shall not help you.”

“Oho,” said the Frenchman, “you shall not drink any of the water from the well.”

“That does not matter,” replied the Rabbit. “I am accustomed to licking the dew from the ground.”

The Frenchman, suspecting mischief, made a tar baby, which he stood up close to the well. The Rabbit approached the well, carrying a long piece of cane and a tin bucket. On reaching the well, he addressed the tar baby, who remained silent. “Friend, what is the matter? Are you angry?” said the Rabbit. Still the tar baby said nothing. So the Rabbit hit him with one forepaw, which stuck there. “Let me go or I will hit you on the other side,” exclaimed the Rabbit. And when he found that the tar baby paid no attention to him, he hit him with his other forepaw, which stuck to the tar baby. “I will kick you,” said the Rabbit. But when he kicked the tar baby, the hind foot stuck. “I will kick you with the other foot,” said the Rabbit. And when he did so, that foot, too, stuck to the tar baby. Then the Rabbit resembled a ball, because his feet were sticking to the tar baby, and he could neither stand nor recline.

Just at this time the Frenchman approached. He tied the legs of the Rabbit together, laid him down, and scolded him. Then the Rabbit pretended to be in great fear of a brier patch. “As you are in such fear of a brier patch,” said the Frenchman, “I will throw you into one.”

“Oh, no,” replied the Rabbit.

“I will throw you into the brier patch,” responded the Frenchman.

“I am much afraid of it,” said the Rabbit.

“As you are in such dread of it,” said the Frenchman, “I will throw you into it.” So he seized the Rabbit, and threw him into the brier patch.

The Rabbit fell at some distance from the Frenchman. But instead of being injured, he sprang up and ran off laughing at the trick that he had played on the Frenchman.

{
San Ildefonso or San Juan
}

One day Rabbit Boy was nibbling on some nice green plants. He was so busy nibbling that he did not notice Fox Man creeping up on him. Fox Man grinned at Rabbit Boy. “What a coincidence. I was just thinking how nice it would be to have a fine, fat, juicy rabbit for dinner, and here you are. This is my lucky day.”

Fox was about to leap upon Rabbit Boy and eat him up, but Rabbit Boy stopped him. “Wait a minute, friend, not so fast. Don’t you know that it is very unhealthy to eat rabbits without having a drink of water first? ”

“I guess I forgot it,” said the Fox Man. “Thanks for reminding me.”

“The brook is right over here,” said Rabbit Boy.

While Fox Man was slurping up water, Rabbit Boy quickly picked up a big round stone, as heavy as he could lift it. Fox Man had just about finished drinking, but before he could turn around, Rabbit Boy told him: “Dear friend, if you close your eyes and open your mouth wide, I’ll jump right in and save you the trouble of bending over and picking me up.”

“You are really very considerate,” said Fox. “I am almost sorry for making a meal of you, but as you know, one has to eat.”

“Certainly, one has to eat,” said Rabbit Boy.

Fox Man was sitting up, his eyes closed and his mouth wide open, waiting for his treat, and Rabbit Boy threw the big round stone down Fox Man’s throat. The stone knocked out all of Fox Man’s teeth. The stone was stuck in his throat. Fox Man was choking, sputtering, struggling, trying to cough up the stone.

“You don’t have to always believe what people tell you, such as it being unhealthy to eat rabbits without drinking water first,” said Rabbit Boy as he was running away.