Indian Why Stories | Page 8

long time before the Mice-people found anybody, but they finally found the Coyote, and told him what had happened. Coyote didn't like OLD-man very much, but he said he would go and see what he could do, and he did. The Mice-people showed him the way, and when they all reached the spot--there was OLD-man deep in the mud, with the big rock on his back. He was angry and was saying things people should not say, for they do no good and make the mind wicked.
"Coyote said: 'Keep still, you big baby. Quit kicking about so. You are splashing mud in my eyes. How can I see with my eyes full of mud? Tell me that. I am going to try to help you out of your trouble.' He tried but OLD-man insulted Coyote. and called him a name that is not good, so the Coyote said, 'Well, stay there,' and went away.
"Again OLD-man began to call for helpers, and the Curlew, who was flying over, saw the trouble, and came down to the ground to help. In those days Curlew had a short, stubby bill, and he thought that he could break the rock by pecking it. He pecked and pecked away without making any headway, till OLD-man grew angry at him, as he did at the Coyote. The harder the Curlew worked, the worse OLD- man scolded him. OLD-man lost his temper altogether, you see, which is a bad thing to do, for we lose our friends with it, often. Temper is like a bad dog about a lodge--no friends will come to see us when he is about.
"Curlew did his best but finally said: 'I'll go and try to find somebody else to help you. I guess I am too small and weak. I shall come back to you.' He was standing close to OLD- man when he spoke, and OLD-man reached out and grabbed the Curlew by the bill. Curlew began to scream--oh, my--oh, my--oh, my--as you still hear them in the air when it is morning. OLD-man hung onto the bill and finally pulled it out long and slim, and bent it downward, as it is to-day. Then he let go and laughed at the Curlew.
"'You are a queer-looking bird now. That is a homely bill, but you shall always wear it and so shall all of your children, as long as there are Curlews in the world.'
"I have forgotten who it was that got OLD- man out of his trouble, but it seems to me it was the bear. Anyhow he did get out some- how, and lived to make trouble, until Mani- tou grew tired of him.
"There are good things that OLD-man did and to-morrow night, if you will come early, I will tell you how OLD-man made the world over after the water made its war on the land, scaring all the animal-people and the bird- people. I will also tell you how he made the first man and the first woman and who they were. But now the grouse is fast asleep; nobody is stirring but those who were made to see in the dark, like the owl and the wolf.-- Ho!"

OLD-MAN REMAKES THE WORLD
The sun was just sinking behind the hills when we started for War Eagle's lodge.
"To-morrow will be a fine day," said Other- person, "for grandfather says that a red sky is always the sun's promise of fine weather, and the sun cannot lie."
"Yes," said Bluebird, "and he said that when this moon was new it travelled well south for this time of year and its points were up. That means fine, warm weather."
"I wish I knew as much as grandfather," said Fine-bow with pride.
The pipe was laid aside at once upon our entering the lodge and the old warrior said:
"I have told you that OLD-man taught the animals and the birds all they know. He made them and therefore knew just what each would have to understand in order to make his living. They have never forgotten anything he told them--even to this day. Their grandfathers told the young ones what they had been told, just as I am telling you the things you should know. Be like the birds and animals--tell your children and grandchildren what I have told you, that our people may always know how things were made, and why strange things are true.
"Yes--OLD-man taught the Beaver how to build his dams to make the water deeper; taught the Squirrel to plant the pine-nut so that another tree might grow and have nuts for his children; told the Bear to go to sleep in the winter, when the snow made hard travel- ling for his short legs--told him to sleep, and promised him that he would need no meat while he slept. All