Post by Okwes on Apr 9, 2008 16:07:40 GMT -5
Fox and Crawfish - Natchez
Fox was trotting along the riverbank and saw Crawfish walking along ahead of
him. Fox had not eaten since morning, so he licked his lips and said to
himself, "Hai! A little taste of crawfish would do me nicely until
dinnertime."
He crept ahead silently, his mouth open and ready to snap, but just as he
was about to pounce, Crawfish turned and saw him. "I s-see you!" Crawfish
called out in surprise and fear. He swung around and raised his claws ready
to pinch Pox's nose.
Now, "I see you" was also the polite way to greet a friend or visitor, so
Fox quickly put on his best smile and gave a polite reply "I am here. Are
you well, friend Crawfish?"
"Well enough," said Crawfish. "Come, put away your smile. Fox. I know you
mean to eat me. You are big enough and strong enough to do it, but do not
try unless you want a sore nose."
Fox hesitated. He was very fond of his nose. It was a sharp, neat little
nose, and an excellent sniffer. But he was very hungry. Crawfish saw Fox's
hungry look, and said quickly, "All right, how about this? We run a race. If
you can beat me to the finish, you can eat me. If I win, you don't."
Fox was delighted, for he was sure that he could outrun an awkward little
fellow like Crawfish. When Crawfish suggested that the race be run over the
seven hills to the west, and that the finish mark would be the stream beyond
the seventh hill. Fox agreed, and drew a line in the earth for their
start-ing point. Fox's tail twitched in excitement as they crouched down
together behind the line, and he stared eagerly ahead. Crawfish swiveled one
eye around as Fox's tail come to rest beside him, and reached out a claw to
clamp on to it. , "Let's go!" he shouted.
Fox sprang away in a flash of red fur, with little Crawfish flying along at
his tail. He was so small that Fox could not feel him there. Over one hill,
two, three, four-Fox was panting as he raced up and over the seventh hill.
When he reached the bottom of the hill, he whirled around to see whether
Craw-fish was coming. Not a claw in sight! But-as Fox whirled, his tail
whisked around and Crawfish was thrown on ahead.
Fox turned to trot on to the river finish line, and stopped, for there was
Crawfish, waving a claw to greet him.
"I knew that you could never run fast enough!" called Crawfish. And he
jumped into the river.
Taken from the book The Wonderful Sky Boat and Other Native American Tales
of the Southeast retold by Jane Louise Curry
www.realduesouth.net/WolfsRetreat/N/Natchez-Fox2.htm
Fox was trotting along the riverbank and saw Crawfish walking along ahead of
him. Fox had not eaten since morning, so he licked his lips and said to
himself, "Hai! A little taste of crawfish would do me nicely until
dinnertime."
He crept ahead silently, his mouth open and ready to snap, but just as he
was about to pounce, Crawfish turned and saw him. "I s-see you!" Crawfish
called out in surprise and fear. He swung around and raised his claws ready
to pinch Pox's nose.
Now, "I see you" was also the polite way to greet a friend or visitor, so
Fox quickly put on his best smile and gave a polite reply "I am here. Are
you well, friend Crawfish?"
"Well enough," said Crawfish. "Come, put away your smile. Fox. I know you
mean to eat me. You are big enough and strong enough to do it, but do not
try unless you want a sore nose."
Fox hesitated. He was very fond of his nose. It was a sharp, neat little
nose, and an excellent sniffer. But he was very hungry. Crawfish saw Fox's
hungry look, and said quickly, "All right, how about this? We run a race. If
you can beat me to the finish, you can eat me. If I win, you don't."
Fox was delighted, for he was sure that he could outrun an awkward little
fellow like Crawfish. When Crawfish suggested that the race be run over the
seven hills to the west, and that the finish mark would be the stream beyond
the seventh hill. Fox agreed, and drew a line in the earth for their
start-ing point. Fox's tail twitched in excitement as they crouched down
together behind the line, and he stared eagerly ahead. Crawfish swiveled one
eye around as Fox's tail come to rest beside him, and reached out a claw to
clamp on to it. , "Let's go!" he shouted.
Fox sprang away in a flash of red fur, with little Crawfish flying along at
his tail. He was so small that Fox could not feel him there. Over one hill,
two, three, four-Fox was panting as he raced up and over the seventh hill.
When he reached the bottom of the hill, he whirled around to see whether
Craw-fish was coming. Not a claw in sight! But-as Fox whirled, his tail
whisked around and Crawfish was thrown on ahead.
Fox turned to trot on to the river finish line, and stopped, for there was
Crawfish, waving a claw to greet him.
"I knew that you could never run fast enough!" called Crawfish. And he
jumped into the river.
Taken from the book The Wonderful Sky Boat and Other Native American Tales
of the Southeast retold by Jane Louise Curry
www.realduesouth.net/WolfsRetreat/N/Natchez-Fox2.htm