Post by Okwes on Apr 9, 2008 16:08:56 GMT -5
Fox and Mountain Lion - Apache / Jicarilla
Fox could find nothing to eat for a long time, so that he grew weak and
thin. While on a journey in search of food he met the Mountain Lion, who,
taking pity upon his unhappy condition, said, "I will hunt for you, and you
shall grow fat again." The Fox agreed to this, and they went on together to
a much-frequented spring. Mountain Lion told Fox to keep watch while he
slept; if a cloud of dust was to be seen arising from the approach of
animals Fox was to waken him. Fox presently beheld the dust caused by the
approach of a drove of horses.
Fox wakened Mountain Lion, who said, "just observe how I catch horses." As
one of the animals went down to the spring to drink, he sprang upon it, and
fastened his fangs in its throat, clawing its legs and shoulders until it
fell dying at the water's edge. Mountain Lion brought the horse up to the
rock, and laid it before the Fox. "Stay here, eat, drink, and grow fat,"
said he.
Fox thought he had learned how to kill horses, so when the Coyote came along
he volunteered to secure one for him. Fox jumped upon the neck of the horse,
as Mountain Lion had done, but became entangled in its mane and was killed.
Frank Russell, Myths of the Jicarilla Apaches, 1898
Fox could find nothing to eat for a long time, so that he grew weak and
thin. While on a journey in search of food he met the Mountain Lion, who,
taking pity upon his unhappy condition, said, "I will hunt for you, and you
shall grow fat again." The Fox agreed to this, and they went on together to
a much-frequented spring. Mountain Lion told Fox to keep watch while he
slept; if a cloud of dust was to be seen arising from the approach of
animals Fox was to waken him. Fox presently beheld the dust caused by the
approach of a drove of horses.
Fox wakened Mountain Lion, who said, "just observe how I catch horses." As
one of the animals went down to the spring to drink, he sprang upon it, and
fastened his fangs in its throat, clawing its legs and shoulders until it
fell dying at the water's edge. Mountain Lion brought the horse up to the
rock, and laid it before the Fox. "Stay here, eat, drink, and grow fat,"
said he.
Fox thought he had learned how to kill horses, so when the Coyote came along
he volunteered to secure one for him. Fox jumped upon the neck of the horse,
as Mountain Lion had done, but became entangled in its mane and was killed.
Frank Russell, Myths of the Jicarilla Apaches, 1898