A Dine` tale:

There are a lot of rabbits and prairie dogs in Navajo Country. Coyote was hungry and too lazy to hunt. Skunk lived close by, so Coyote devised a plan to get all the meat he wanted for supper. So Coyote said to Skunk, “If we work to together we could catch all the critters we could want to eat”. Coyote told Skunk “go fetch me slime grass as when it gets wet it looks like maggots”. Skunk did just that. Coyote said for Skunk “to round up all the critters in the valley and tell them that Coyote is dead”. Coyote would be found floating on some drift wood looking to the entire world as if he were dead. Skunk said, “the wash is dry, there is no water in the wash”, and Coyote said, “do not worry little brother I will take care of that”. Coyote found a large log in the middle of the wash and took a nap. Coyote dreamed that clouds were slowly covering the sky and they did. Coyote dreamed that there would come a gentle female rain and moisten the slime grass that he placed around his eyes, nose mouth, ears, and anus. This is what happened. Coyote dreamed the male rain would come and fill the wash, and it did.  Finally, Coyote dreamed the rain would stop and the stream would slow to a trickle.

Meanwhile Skunk told the rabbits and the prairie dogs, that Coyote was dead.  These creatures supposed the news was to good to be true. Skunk said “follow me and I will show you” and they did. When the crew found Coyote he was still asleep and he did not notice. Prove to us he is really dead said the rabbits. Skunk threw rocks at the sleeping Coyote. The rocks bounced off of Coyote and he did not move. The rabbits jumped for joy and started dancing. The prairie dogs said that they still did not believe Coyote was dead. Skunk grabbed a stick in his mouth and swam over to the log where Coyote was sleeping on. Skunk climbed on the log and began beating Coyote, Coyote did not move. “Coyote is dead,” sang the prairie dogs and they too danced for joy. While the animals danced, Skunk sprayed them and blinded every one of them. The smell woke Coyote. Together Coyote and Skunk killed every rabbit and every prairie dog. Skunk dug a large pit and placed all the animals in the hole in the ground and filled with wet sand and dry dirt was placed on top of that. Next a large fire was built over the pit and burned until only hot coals remained to cook the meat. Coyote who had done none of the work came up with another idea. “Even though there is more than enough meat for the both of us lets have a race to Ship Rock and back and winner takes all”. Skunk said, “Lets not be greedy”. Coyote said “are you afraid you will lose”. Skunk said, “my legs are short and I am a slow runner it would not be a fair race”. Coyote laughed, “You are afraid”. Skunk said “I will race only if you give a head start, when I disappear over that first hill you will start to run”.

Coyote said “no way”, Skunk laughed and “it is Coyote who is afraid”. Of course with that Coyote agreed. Skunk ran over the top of the horizon. This is where Badger lived. Badger was Skunks clan brother. Skunk hid in Badger den. Coyote ran all the way from Red Mesa to Ship Rock and Back. Mean while Skunk slowly went back to the cooking meat and dug it up and ate it all; the Skunk climbed Red Mesa and went to sleep.

When Coyote returned he was very tired and hungry and feeling good because he beat Skunk. But, when he went back to the fir pit all the meat was gone. “I will kill Skunk because he tricked me”. But, Coyote was too weak from exhaustion and hunger and could not climb Red Mesa. Skunk slept soundly undisturbed.