Read Online American Indian Trickster Tales (Myths and Legends) by Richard Erdoes - Free Book Online Page B

his tail had grown long. He said: “What is this strange thing sticking out in front of my face?” He felt it and found that it was his nose. He did not like it. “Could it be that flat-faced fellow, Bobcat?” he wondered. He went home, his long tail dragging behind him. When his wife saw Coyote’s long nose, she had a good laugh.

THE ADVENTURES OF A MEATBALL
    {Comanche}

    Long ago, it is said, there somewhere, a big pounded meatball went loping. As it went loping along the road, one (Coyote) was lying there beside the road. That loping one said: “That’s Coyote. Are you lying there?” That Coyote said: “Yes, I am lying here. I am about to die from hunger.” That big meatball said to him: “You must take one big bite of me.” That one Coyote took a big bite of it. Then Coyote said: “I am going.” Coyote ran along the road, again stopped and lay down over there in front of the meatball.
    That big meatball was rolling here along the road. Coyote again was lying here in front of it. The big meatball said to him: “Are you lying there?”
    “Yes,” said Coyote, “I am about to die of hunger.”
    Meatball said to him: “Take a big bite from me, once.”
    Coyote, along there, took a big bite of it. Coyote said: “I am going.”
    Meatball said: “Along here it is this way, one after another.” Big meatball was rolling off again at this place. Coyote stopped and lay down here in front of it again. Big meatball said to him: “Are you lying there?”
    Coyote said: “Yes, I am lying here. I am about to die of hunger.”
    Big meatball said: “You must take a big bite from me.”
    Coyote, along here, took a big bite of it. Coyote ran.
    Meatball said: “Along this road, it is this way, one after another.”
    Here again Coyote stopped and lay down in front of it. As he lay down here, big meatball came, rolling toward him. Meatball said to him: “Are you lying here?”
    “Yes,” said Coyote, “I am about to die of hunger.” He was about to take a big bite of it. When he opened his mouth wide, big meatball saw it, Coyote had meat between his teeth.
    Big meatball said to him: “Oh, you are the same one, moving along, cheating me.” At this place, when meatball recognized him, Coyote ran.

COYOTE GETS STUCK
    {Shasta}

    Stories of Trickster stuck in tar or pitch occur among many
tribes. Indian legends were possibly the source of Uncle
Remus’s “Tar Baby” stories.
     
    Coyote was roaming. He encountered Pitch. Coyote greeted him: “How are you, uncle?” Pitch did not answer. Coyote said: “Did you not hear me?” Pitch remained silent. Coyote was annoyed: “Hey, I am speaking to you. Why don’t you answer?” Pitch said nothing.
    Now Coyote was really angry: “You rude, impolite fellow, don’t you hear me? Are you deaf?” There was still no answer. Coyote was furious. “I’ll teach you a lesson!” he cried. Coyote struck Pitch with his right fist. It got stuck.
    Coyote growled: “Let me go or I’ll kick you.” Pitch did not move.
    Coyote kicked him with his right foot, which got stuck. Coyote tried to balance himself on one leg.
    He shook his left fist into Pitch’s face and threatened: “You evil, no-good fellow, I’ll knock you senseless!” He gave Pitch a good whack, but now his left hand was stuck.
    Coyote got more and more frustrated. “I’ll knock you with my other foot,” he shouted. He got no reaction. He kicked with all his might and his left foot was stuck.
    Coyote shouted: “You nasty lump! I shall whip you with my tail!” He struck Pitch with his tail, but it, too, got stuck.
    Finally Coyote threatened Pitch: “My teeth are sharp. I will bite you to death!” Pitch still did not react. Coyote sank his teeth deep into Pitch and, of course, his mouth got stuck. He was helpless, glued to Pitch, unable to move. He could hardly breathe. He croaked: “Oh, my aunt! Help me!”
    Coyote’s aunt was powerful. She came running to his aid. “Set fire to him! Set fire to him!”