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Chiricahua Apache - Coyote Misses Real Rabbit
He was walking (along) a road. He again saw a Rabbit lying on the edge of the road. As he went along quite close to it, he spoke thus: "Who'd meddle with a rock Rabbit?" he said.
That one was a real Rabbit but he paid no attention to it. He passed on right by it.
A little further on, he looked back. He saw that Rabbit jumping up.
Then he cursed himself: "No good Coyote! Child of a Coyote! He goes about without a bit of sense!" he said.
He ran after the Rabbit who had jumped up. He had run from him into a dead tree that lay there. (Coyote) lay toward (the hole in the tree). He tried again and again in vain to reach into the hole. (Then) he caught (hold of) the Rabbit.
Then the Rabbit spoke thus: "Oh my grandmother! Give me the knife! Right now I'm going to cut off his wrist!" he said, holding Coyote by the wrist.
Then Coyote also spoke thus: "Oh my grandmother! I beg of you, don't give him the knife!" he said. Then (Rabbit) got away from Coyote.
Chiricahua and Mescalero Apache Texts,1938, Harry Hoijer, principal author. Ethnological Notes by Morris Opler.
Told by Sam Kenoi
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