Native American Legends
Why the Bat has short legs
A Chiricahua Apache Indians of New Mexico Legend
Long ago, Killer-of-Enemies vowed to save his people from the terror
of monster eagles that roamed the skies and carried off children.
Killer-of-Enemies tricked one monster eagle into carrying him up
to the eagle nest on the cliff, where he killed the monster eagle
and its family. But Killer-of-Enemies did not know how to get down
from the cliff. Just then, he saw an old woman approaching. It was
Old Woman Bat.
"Grandmother, help me. Take me down," Killer-of-Enemies
said. Old Woman Bat looked all around, but did not see him. Killer-of-Enemies
called out again, and again, and again. Finally, Old Woman Bat saw
him high in the eagle's nest. She came over to the cliff and began
to climb.
"What are you doing here?" she asked, when she reached
the top.
"Monster eagle carried me up here," he said. "Please
take me down."
"Climb in my basket," Old Woman Bat said. Killer of Enemies
looked at the burden basket on the old woman's back. Its carrying
strap was made of spider's silk.
"That strap is too fine," he said. "It will break
and I shall fall."
"Nonsense! I've carried a bighorn sheep in this basket,"
Old Woman Bat said. "Get in and close your eyes. If you look,
we will fall."
Old Woman Bat clambered down the rock, singing a strange song.
Her burden basket swayed wildly from side to side. Killer-of-Enemies
thought the spider thread would surely break, so he opened his eyes
to look.
As soon as Kill-of-Enemies opened his eyes. He and Old Woman Bat
crashed down from the cliff. Old Woman Bat landed first and broke
her legs. Killer-of-Enemies fell on top of her and was safe. Old
Woman Bat's broken legs soon mended but from that day on her legs
were short.
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