Myths and Legends of British North America/79
RABBIT AND FROG
ONE day Rabbit wandered over the hillside, and came near an Indian wigwam. Now Rabbit was very timid. He crept close to the lodge and peered through a small hole. There was Frog, sitting near the fire.
"Brother," said Rabbit, "what are you doing?"
"I am playing with the ashes," said Frog.
"Come live with me," said Rabbit.
Frog said, "I have a lame leg. That is why I am sitting here while my brothers are out hunting."
Rabbit went into the lodge and tossed Frog on his back. "This is the way I will carry you," he said.
When Rabbit reached home, he went out to hunt for food. Suddenly he spied smoke curling up from among the willows along the river bank. Rabbit became frightened, and started home, exclaiming, "I have forgotten my crooked knife! I must go quickly and get it." Rabbit rushed home and dashed excitedly into his lodge. He exclaimed, "I have forgotten my crooked knife! I came home to get it."
Frog said calmly, " Brother, why are you frightened?"
Rabbit said, "I saw a large smoke."
"Where was it?" asked Frog.
"Among the willows by the river," said Rabbit.
"Pooh!" said Frog. "The smoke came from Beaver's lodge. He lives down there. You're very brave to be so afraid of Beaver! I can hunt him."
Rabbit felt better. He said, "I'll carry you to Beaver's lodge. We'll break it in and catch him." So he carried Frog to Beaver's lodge down among the willows by the river.
Rabbit built a dam of stakes across the stream, and told Frog to watch, while he broke in the top of Beaver's lodge. While Rabbit was doing this, Frog pulled up some stakes, and therefore Beaver escaped. When Rabbit saw this, he shook Frog roughly and pushed him into the water under the ice.
And this was just what Frog wanted.