Story Hour Readers, book 3 | Page 5

arrow sped onward in the forest, until it passed through the body of a bear. It held the bear fast to a tree.
Manitou and his wife went into the forest together. There they found the bear.
Then Manitou said, "We will have a feast and invite our friends."
The birds and beasts were glad to accept the invitation. A large company arrived.
The woodpecker was the first to taste the food. He began to eat greedily, for he was very hungry.
When he put the meat into his mouth, it turned to ashes.
The woodpecker began to cough. "This is very impolite; I must not let Manitou hear me cough," thought he.
The fox was the next to taste the meat. It turned to ashes, and he began to cough.
All the other guests began to cough as soon as they had tasted the meat. They tried very hard not to let Manitou hear them.
They kept on tasting, but the more they tasted the harder they coughed.
At last Manitou became very angry.
"I will make you remember this," said he.
In an instant, the woodpecker, the fox, and all the other guests had disappeared. In their place were many squirrels, running up and down the trees and coughing as squirrels always do when taken by surprise.
To this day, squirrels do not eat meat, but instead they nibble acorns and nuts.
"If you have sharp eyes," added the grandmother, "you will find hollow places in the trees, where the squirrels hide their acorns and nuts."

THE SWIFT RUNNER
In the olden times, the animals were fond of sports. They often held contests, with prizes for those that won.
Once a prize was offered for the animal who could prove himself the swiftest runner.
The reward was to be a pair of great antlers. Each animal was to carry the antlers on his head, while running the race. The animal that should win, would have the antlers for his own.
A path through the woods was chosen for the race course. There were many bushes and brambles along the way.
All the animals gathered at the place of meeting. They chose Black Bear to be judge of the race. It was decided that the rabbit and the deer alone should try for the prize.
"They are the best runners. None of the rest of us could hope to win," said the other animals.
White Rabbit was given the first chance.
"I am willing to try for the prize," White Rabbit said, "but I would like first to look over the ground where I am to run."
So White Rabbit disappeared in the woods. He was gone so long that Red Fox was sent to look for him.
Red Fox found the rabbit hard at work, cutting off twigs to clear a path along which to run.
Red Fox went back and told the other animals what White Rabbit was doing.
Pretty soon White Rabbit came out of the woods. He was all ready to put on the antlers and begin the race for the great prize.
"Oh, no!" said Judge Bear. "We cannot allow you to enter the great race. You are too fond of gnawing twigs. You may keep on gnawing twigs instead of trying for the prize."
So little White Rabbit was not allowed to run for the prize.
Red Fox placed the horns upon the head of the deer and said, "It is your turn to try to win the race."
Then the animals gave three loud cheers and told the deer to do his best.
The deer ran swiftly along the woodland path. He carried the antlers so skillfully that they were not once caught in the bushes.
When the deer returned to the place of meeting, Judge Bear proclaimed him winner of the race.
As Black Bear gave the prize to the deer, he said, "Henceforth you shall wear the antlers on your head. You shall always be called the Swift Runner."

BROTHER RABBIT
One autumn day in the long ago, Eagle Eye, the great Indian chief, was very sad.
All summer long there had been no rain. The prairie grass was crisp and brown. The little streams were dry.
The animals, finding neither water nor green grass, had gone to the mountains many miles away. The Indians of the plains had no food to eat.
"I will go and search for the place where the animals have gone, so that I may tell my hunters and save the lives of my people," said Eagle Eye.
So, carrying his canoe to the river, Eagle Eye paddled up the stream for many days and nights. He watched to see if any of the animals came to the river to drink, but there was not even a squirrel.
One night the clouds hung low in the sky.
"There will be snow before morning," said Eagle Eye.
Then the great chief hauled his canoe up the river bank. He made a shelter with branches of trees. Here he slept