268 MYTHS OF THE CHEROKEE [eth.ann.W 



" O," said the Raljbit, "the animals sent me to bring you to the coiuu'il; 

 because you live so far away they were afraid you mightn't know the 

 road." The Otter thanked him, and they went on togethei". 



Tiiey traveled all day toward the eouncil 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 Rabl>it began to pick up Mood 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 comfort- 

 able at night. After a while, when it was near sunset, they stopped 

 and made their camp. 



When supper was over the Rab})it 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 tinished the Rabbit began to cut away the 

 bushes so as to make a clean trail down to the river. The Otter won- 

 dered more and more and wanted to Icnow what this meant. 



Said the Rabbit, "This place is called Di'tatlaski'yi [The Place Where 

 it Rains Fire]. Sometimes it rains tire here, and the sky looks a little 

 that way to-night. You go to sleep and I'll sit up and watch, and if 

 the tire does come, as soon as you hear jue shout, you run and jump 

 into the river. Better hang your coat on a limb over there, so it won't 

 get burnt." 



The Otter did as he was told, and they both doubled up to go to sleep, 

 but the Ral)bit kept awake. After a while the tire burned down to red 

 coals. The Rabbit called, but the Otter was fast asleep and made no 

 answer. In a little while he called again, but the Otter never stirred. 

 Then the Rabbit tilled tiie paddle with hot coals and thre«' them up into 

 the air and shouted, "It's raining lire! It's raining fire!" 



The hot coals fell all around the Otter and he jumped up. "To the 

 water!" cried the Rabbit, and the Otter ran and jumped into the river, 

 and he has lived in the water ever since. 



The Rabbit took the Otter's coat and put it on, leaving his own 

 instead, and went on to the council. All the animals were there, every 

 one looking out for the Otter. At last they saw him in the distance, 

 and they said one to the other, "The Otter is coming!" and sent one 

 of the small animals to show him the best seat. They were all glad 

 to see him and went up in turn to welcome him, but the Otter kept 

 his head down, with one paw over his face. They wondered that he 

 was so bashful, until the Bear came up and pulled the paw awaj-, and 

 there was the Rabbit with his split nose. He sprang up and started to 

 run, when the Bear struck at him and pulled his tail off, but the Rabbit 

 was too quick for them and got away. 



