Myths and Tales of the Southeastern Indians: Title Page

60. TERRAPIN RACES (57)
(FIFTH VERSION)
(Tuggle collection)
One day the Deer was lying in the grass chewing his cud, when a Terrapin crawled near. The Deer looked at him moving slowly along,
and said: "Why, brother Terrapin, you crawl as though you are sick. Why don't you go faster?"
"Oh, brother Deer, I like to go this way. I can run fast, and I can beat you running," replied the Terrapin. The Deer laughed.
p. 55
[paragraph continues] "When do you want to try it?" he asked. "Any time. How will tomorrow suit you?" responded the Terrapin.
So it was agreed that they should have the race the following day. They selected the ground and chose the Rabbit as judge. The Terrapin
went to see all his friends that evening and told them that the honor of the family was at stake and appealed to them to aid in maintaining
it. All having said they would, he continued, "Now here is my plan. I will meet the Deer to-morrow on the ground we picked out, and tell
him I prefer to run through the grass and let him run along the trail. Well, this is the way we can beat him. I will start off at the word
through the grass and you will be stationed in the grass along the way, and when you hear the Doer running on the trail, you can run a little
way and stop. If the Deer calls out 'Oh, brother Terrapin, where are you?' you can tell him 'Here I am crawling along in the grass,' and the
last one can crawl up to where the Rabbit will be sitting, when he hears the Deer coming, and claim the race." They all agreed that this was
a fine plan, except the Terrapin who was assigned to the last station, and he said the Deer would know he was not the same Terrapin and
would suspect some trick. So the first and the last Terrapin exchanged places, the last being cautioned to hide in the grass near the starting
place so that the Deer could not see him plainly. They separated and the Terrapins all took their places along the race course.
The next day the Deer galloped over the prairie and, reaching the starting point, called out: "Oh, brother Terrapin, where are you?" "Here I
am," answered the Terrapin hiding in the grass. "Well, are you ready?" asked the Deer. "Yes," said the Terrapin, and at the word the Deer
leaped forward. Hearing no sound in the grass after going some distance, he called out, "Where are you, brother Terrapin?" One of the
Terrapins answered, "Here I am down in the grass crawling along."
The Deer was surprised, so he ran faster and called out, "Oh, brother Terrapin, where are you?" Another Terrapin answered, "Here I am,
just a-crawling through the grass." So the Deer ran with all his might and did not stop till he reached the Rabbit. But just as he thought he
had won the race, he saw the Terrapin crawl up to the end of the course. The Rabbit decided that the Terrapin had won.
61. THE BUNGLING HOST (58)
(Tuggle collection)
The Bear invited the Rabbit to dinner. When he came the Bear called his wife and said: "Have peas for dinner. The Rabbit loves peas."
"But there is no grease with which to cook them," said the Bear's wife.
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Myths and Tales of the Southeastern Indians: Title Page
"Oh," said the Bear, "that's no trouble. Bring me a knife." She brought the knife and the Bear took it and split between his toes, while the
Rabbit looked on in wonder. "No grease between my toes," said the Bear. "Well, I know where there is some." So he cut a gash in his side
and out ran the grease. His wife took it and cooked the peas, and they had a fine dinner and vowed always to be good friends.
The Rabbit invited the Bear to take dinner with him the next day.
"Where do you live?" asked the Bear. Pointing to an old sedge-grass field, the Rabbit replied, "Way over yonder in that big white house."
The Bear started the next morning and sought in vain for the big white house, but while wandering in the sedge came near stepping on his
new friend who was sleeping in his bed.
"What's that! What are you tramping over me for?" cried the Rabbit as he was awakened by the footsteps of the Bear.
"Oh, I am trying to find your big white house." Laughing at the joke, the Rabbit invited the Bear to be seated, and said he would have
dinner ordered. He called his wife and told her to have peas for dinner. "But there is no grease." "That's a small matter. Bring me a knife,"
proudly exclaimed the Rabbit. When his wife came with the knife, he held up one of his forefeet and split between his toes. "What, no
grease? Then I know where I can find it," and he gave a thrust into his side. But the blood gushed out, and he fell to earth with a scream.
The Bear cried, "You little fool, your side is not like mine," and, lifting his friend all covered with blood, he put him on his bed. "Send for
the doctor, Doctor Turkey Buzzard," said the Bear to the Rabbit's wife, who was weeping bitterly, while the little Rabbits gathered around
in tears. "Run for the doctor," she said to one of the little Rabbits, and away he ran at the top of his speed.
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