Native American Legends
The theft of fire
A Truhohi Yokut Legend
There was no fire. It was very cold. Then the eagle told the roadrunner
and the fox to go out. These two were good runners. Coyote said:
"Let the crow go. He is good at looking about."
The eagle said: "They are better;" but he let the crow
go. Then Coyote said: "I am going too," though the eagle
wanted him to stay.
Then the eagle told the crow: "Start early. If you see fire
anywhere tell us."
Late in the day the crow saw fire in the west. He came back and
said: "They have fire there." Then the eagle sent out
the roadrunner and the fox. Coyote and the crow went with them.
They went directly north along the Coast Range. Before, when the
crow had gone alone, he first went eastward and then north and then
to the west and back south. Now Coyote said: "Wait until the
sun is down. Then we will steal it." They agreed.
Now it was dark in the west. Then Coyote said: "Now they are
all asleep." The crow said: "We will not all go there.
Let one who can jump well take the fire. You, fox, go."
Coyote said: "I will go too. I am a good jumper too."
The crow said: "No, we will be killed." But Coyote said:
"No, we are all good runners. And I will take the fire. Even
if you come with me it is I who will take the fire."
Then they came to one end of the village. "Here is good fire,"
they said. They took fire, and put it in a net-sack. Then Coyote
told them: "Run ahead. I am going to kill this little one."
"No, do not," said the fox.
"Yes, I will," said Coyote. Then the fox and the others
went ahead.
Coyote took the child, threw it in the fire, and killed it. Then
he leaped out of the house and ran. It was another coyote who was
living there. He called out: "Take care! Someone has come!"
Now as the fire-stealers ran, their path was the San Joaquin river.
The fog, gumun, and a duck, wolwul, pursued them. Coyote jumped
from side to side and the pursuers ran here and there after him.
That is why the river is crooked.
They kept on running southward. Then Coyote reached his sweat-house.
He entered and closed it. They could not catch him. He had the fire
inside. He had succeeded in taking it away from them. Then in the
morning they made fire there.
From that day they had fire and were well off.
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