In these parts dwelt many a soul, yet fire was a thing unknown to them. A heated stone alone provided succour against the chill. Ever were the folk engaged in the chase of rabbits. Thus it befell that Coyote stood upon the hunter's line, espying ashes from a fire descending from some distant locale. He gave forth a cry, summoning the others, who gathered in a ring to observe this marvel. As they watched, they declared, 'One amongst us shall ascend into the heavens to ascertain the source of this phenomenon'.
Eagle then spoke, saying, 'Allow me to venture forth first, to test whether I possess the strength to reach sufficient height to perceive its origin'. He soared aloft, disappearing from view, only to return having gained no knowledge. Next, Chickenhawk essayed the ascent, though he did not vanish from sight. Woodpecker, too, made an attempt, yet attained but a modest altitude; he remained within their gaze. Each bird, in turn, strove mightily, but none could achieve the necessary height. Fish alone remained untried.
They questioned him, saying, 'Thou art without wings, how then dost thou propose to ascend?'. 'Permit me merely to attempt it for amusement' he replied 'to discover whether I might perchance take flight'.
He commenced his ascent, vanishing from their view. Upon his return, he declared, 'Not far hence, flames of fire may be found, nigh unto a snow-capped mountain peak'.
Coyote then proclaimed, 'Let us journey forth and procure it; the distance is but small'. And so they commenced their expedition, with Coyote leading, followed by Woodpecker, Chickenhawk, Blue Jay, Road-runner, Jackrabbit, and sundry others. They proceeded towards the place where the fire had been observed, bearing with them fire-drills, so as to deceive the fire-owners and prevent them from surmising the true purpose of their visit.
Upon their arrival, Master Coyote delivered a pronouncement: 'We have ventured hither solely for amusement, to partake in games of chance and revelry with yourselves'. The hosts, in their hospitality, furnished each creature with sustenance befitting its natural predilections; to each avian species, a distinct assortment of seeds, and to the Crested Jay, the more robust pinenuts. For Master Coyote, cedar berries were provided. Subsequent to their repast, they commenced their diversions, constructing three mounds of earth, within one of which an object was concealed. Should the guesser strike the correct mound with a stone, victory would be his. Throughout the night, they engaged in this pastime. The hosts, however, observed, 'These individuals have not arrived to merely gamble; their true intent is to purloin our fire'. Master Coyote retorted, 'Nay, we possess fire of our own', and demonstrated their firedrills for their edification. As the dawn approached, Master Coyote affixed cedar bark to his coiffure, allowing it to protrude conspicuously. As he secured it, all present observed him circumambulating the gathering. 'We are now cognisant of their objective', they declared. At the break of day, Master Coyote stooped over the flames, whereupon the bark ignited, and he leaped forth, traversing the throng, and fled, pursued by his retinue. Ere long, the Crested Jay was apprehended and dispatched by the pursuers. One after another bore the fire in turn. Upon reaching the Colorado River, the company, weary from their exertions, entreated the Roadrunner, 'Permit me to bear the fire'. He duly placed it upon each side of his cranium.
Thereafter, he deliberately distorted his footprints, so as to obfuscate the direction of his passage, and created a surfeit of sand. The pursuers, in their pursuit, traced his steps, some backwards, others forwards, and were left confounded as to the proper route to follow. He arrived within the Shivwits territory, yet they persisted in their tracking of him. He kindled a grand conflagration atop a mountain peak. The pursuers, gazing upwards, espied the immense fire, and, perceiving the futility of their quest, retraced their steps.
As evening descended, the kindred of Coyote observed the gathering of clouds, foretelling the advent of rain. With prudent foresight, Coyote diligently amassed a considerable store of timber. His people sought refuge within a cavern, a sanctuary against the impending tempest. Upon the arrival of darkness, the heavens unleashed their watery torrents. A grand conflagration was kindled, yet the relentless deluge extinguished its flames, save for a solitary ember which they preserved. At the dawn of the morrow, Jackrabbit was entrusted with the stewardship of this precious relic.
He conveyed the ember into the rain, Coyote enjoining him, under threat of dire consequence, to ensure its preservation. With ingenuity, Jackrabbit concealed the ember beneath his tail, thus safeguarding it from the elements. The rain abated, and Jackrabbit returned the coal, still imbued with life. Yet, all was saturated, rendering the acquisition of tinder an impossibility. Whereupon Rat proclaimed, 'I possess a desiccated nest, fit for the generation of fire'.
This he relinquished, enabling the rekindling of a substantial fire. Coyote then addressed his adherents, proclaiming, 'Let us bestow warmth and fire upon all trees and shrubs, and upon all rocks', thus endowing each with the capacity to burn henceforth. Thereupon, he desiccated his bow and arrows, and summoned Rat forth by mimicking his peculiar vocalisation. As Rat emerged, Coyote discharged his arrow, slaying him forthwith, and roasted his remains in the flames. Subsequently, he extinguished the life of Jackrabbit, flayed his skin, and fashioned therefrom a covering. He wrought the demise of nearly all...
