Shunka Manitour, Coyote, came walking along, scrounging, as usual. he met Mastincala, Rabbit, who was carrying a leather pouch on his back. "Hau, kola," Coyote said, "toniktuka hwo? How are you?"

"Middling well," said Mastincala.

Coyote wanted to know what was in the pouch. He guessed: "Oh, you have chanshasha (tobacco) in that pouch on your back. I sure would like something to smoke. Give me some. You've got more than you need for your size. You are small, I am big."

Rabbit did not answer. "Come on, you greedy, no good, Hlete, don't be stingy." Rabbit walked on.

"Hey, you long-eared fellow, let me see what you got there on your back!"

"Nothing you would want," Rabbit finally answered.

"Well, let me see that nothing."

"No, you would be sorry. You would be angry with me."

Coyote was dying with curiosity. "If it's not tobacco, what, then?" he insisted.

"I said already that you would not want what is in this pouch," said Rabbit.

Then, in a big rage, Coyote tore the pouch from Rabbit's back and opened it. The pouch was full of fleas, so many nobody could count them. They all went on Coyote. He ran off in a frenzy, scratching himself, howling.

Rabbit yelled after him: "I told you so!" Ever since that time you can hear Coyotes howling all over the place. They howl because the fleas are biting and make them itch. That's why they howl.

-- Anonymous, June 04, 2001