按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
string paths so that he would get accustomed to it。 He bumped
around the room and finally found the tripe water bucket。 He took
hold of the string and started out。 When he had gotten a short
distance from the door he came to the end of the string so
suddenly； that he lost the end which he had in his hand； and he
wandered about； bumping against the trees； and tangling himself up
in plum bushes and thorns； scratching his face and hands so badly
that the blood ran from them。 Then it was that he commenced again
to cry； 〃Cinye！ Cinye！〃 （brother； brother）。 Soon his brother
arrived； and asked which way the old man had gone。
〃I don't know；〃 said Rabbit； 〃I couldn't see which path he took； as
I was blind。〃
The genie called the birds； and they came flying from every
direction。 As fast as they arrived the brother asked them if they
had seen the man whom he had placed here for punishment； but none
had seen him。 The owl came last； and when asked if he had seen the
man； he said 〃hoo…hoo。〃 〃The man who lived here；〃 said the
brother。 〃Last night I was hunting mice in the woods south of here
and I saw a man sleeping beneath a plum tree。 I thought it was
your brother； Rabbit； so I didn't awaken him；〃 said the owl。
〃Good for you； owl；〃 said the brother； 〃for this good news； you
shall hereafter roam around only at night； and I will fix your
eyes； so the darker the night the better you will be able to see。
You will always have the fine cool nights to hunt your food。 You
other birds can hunt your food during the hot daylight。〃 （Since
then the owl has been the night bird）。
The brother flew to the woods and brought the man back and cut the
strings short； and said to him： 〃Now you can get a taste of what
you gave my brother。〃
To Rabbit he said： 〃I ought not to have helped you this time。 Any
one who is so crazy as to change places with a blind man should be
left without help； so be careful； as I am getting tired of your
foolishness； and will not help you again if you do anything as
foolish as you did this time。〃
Rabbit started to return to his home。 When he had nearly completed
his journey he came to a little creek； and being thirsty took a
good long drink。 While he was drinking he heard a noise as though
a wolf or cat was scratching the earth。 Looking up to a hill which
overhung the creek； he saw four wolves； with their tails
intertwined； pulling with all their might。 As Rabbit came up to
them one pulled loose； and Rabbit saw that his tail was broken。
〃Let me pull tails with you。 My tail is long and strong；〃 said
Rabbit； and the wolves assenting； Rabbit interlocked his long tail
with those of the three wolves and commenced pulling and the wolves
pulled so hard that they pulled Rabbit's tail off at the second
joint。 The wolves disappeared。
〃Cinye！ Cinye！ （Brother； brother。） I have lost my tail；〃 cried
Rabbit。 The genie came and seeing his brother Rabbit's tail
missing； said： 〃You look better without a tail anyway。〃
From that time on rabbits have had no tails。
UNKTOMI AND THE ARROWHEADS
There were once upon a time two young men who were very great
friends； and were constantly together。 One was a very thoughtful
young man； the other very impulsive； who never stopped to think
before he committed an act。
One day these two friends were walking along； telling each other of
their experiences in love making。 They ascended a high hill； and
on reaching the top； heard a ticking noise as if small stones or
pebbles were being struck together。
Looking around they discovered a large spider sitting in the midst
of a great many flint arrowheads。 The spider was busily engaged
making the flint rocks into arrow heads。 They looked at the
spider； but he never moved； but continued hammering away on a piece
of flint which he had nearly completed into another arrowhead。
〃Let's hit him；〃 said the thoughtless one。 〃No；〃 said the other；
〃he is not harming any one； in fact； he is doing a great good； as
he is making the flint arrowheads which we use to point our
arrows。〃
〃Oh； you are afraid；〃 said the first young man。 〃He can't harm
you。 just watch me hit him。〃 So saying； he picked up an arrowhead
and throwing it at 〃Unktomi；〃 hit him on the side。 As Unktomi
rolled over on his side； got up and stood looking at them； the
young man laughed and said： 〃Well； let us be going； as your
grandfather； 〃Unktomi；〃 doesn't seem to like our company。〃 They
started down the hill； when suddenly the one who had hit Unktomi
took a severe fit of coughing。 He coughed and coughed； and finally
small particles of blood came from his mouth。 The blood kept
coming thicker and in great gushes。 Finally it came so thick and
fast that the man could not get his breath and fell upon the ground
dead。
The thoughtful young man； seeing that his friend was no more；
hurried to the village and reported what had happened。 The
relatives and friends hurried to the hill； and sure enough； there
lay the thoughtless young man still and cold in death。 They held
a council and sent for the chief of the Unktomi tribe。 When he
heard what had happened； he told the council that he could do
nothing to his Unktomi； as it had only defended itself。
Said he： 〃My friends； seeing that your tribe was running short of
arrowheads； I set a great many of my tribe to work making flint
arrowheads for you。 When my men are thus engaged they do not wish
to be disturbed； and your young man not only disturbed my man； but
grossly insulted him by striking him with one of the arrowheads
which he had worked so hard to make。 My man could not sit and take
this insult； so as the young man walked away the Unktomi shot him
with a very tiny arrowhead。 This produced a hemorrhage； which
caused his death。 So now； my friends； if you will fill and pass
the peace pipe； we will part good friends and my tribe shall always
furnish you with plenty of flint arrowheads。〃 So saying； Unktomi
Tanka finished his peace smoke and returned to his tribe。
Ever after that； when the Indians heard a ticking in the grass；
they would go out of their way to get around the sound； saying；
Unktomi is making arrowheads； we must not disturb him。
Thus it was that Unktomi Tanka （Big Spider） had the respect of this
tribe； and was never after disturbed in his work of making
arrowheads。
THE BEAR AND THE RABBIT HUNT
BUFFALO
Once upon a time there lived as neighbors； a bear and a rabbit。
The rabbit was a good shot； and the bear being very clumsy could
not use the arrow to good advantage。 The bear was very unkind to
the rabbit。 Every morning； the bear would call over to the rabbit
and say： 〃Take your bow and arrows and come with me to the other
side of the hill。 A large herd of buffalo are grazing there； and
I want you to shoot some of them for me； as my children
are crying for meat。〃
The rabbit；