THE RABBIT STEALS A COAT. 167 



all, but no one knew just what it was like, because it was 

 a long time since an3^one had seen him. The}^ did not 

 even know exactly where 'he lived — only the general di- 

 rection ; but they knew he would come to the council when 

 the word got out. 



Now the Rabbit wanted the verdict for himself, so when 

 it began to look as if it might go to the Otter he studied 

 up a plan to cheat him out of it. He asked a few sly 

 questions until he learned what trail the Otter would take 

 to get to the council place. Then, without saying any- 

 thing, he went on ahead and after four days' travel he 

 met the Otter and knew him at once by his beautiful coat 

 of soft dark-brown fur. The Otter was glad to see him 

 and asked him where he was going. " O," said the Rab- 

 bit, " the animals sent me to bring you to the council ; be- 

 cause you live so far away they were afraid you mightn't 

 know the road." The Otter thanked him, and they went 

 on together. 



They traveled all day toward the council ground, and 

 at night the Rabbit selected the camping place, because 

 the Otter was a stranger in that part of the country, and 

 cut down bushes for beds and fixed everything in good 

 shape. The next morning they started on again. In the 

 afternoon the Rabbit began to pick up wood and bark as 

 they went along and to load it on his back. When the 

 Otter asked what this was for the Rabbit said it was that 

 they might be warm and comfortable at night. After a 

 while, when it was near sunset, they stopped and made 

 their camp. 



When bupper was over the Rabbit got a stick and 

 shaved it down to a paddle. The Otter wondered and 

 asked again what that was for. 



" I have good dreams when I sleep with a paddle under 

 my head," said the Rabbit. 



When the paddle was finished the Rabbit began to cut 



