I
Many hundreds of moons ago, there was a great drought. The streams and lakes were drying up. Water was so scarce that the animals held a council to decide what they should do.
"I hope it will rain soon and fill the streams and lakes," Great Bear said. "If it does not, all the animals will have to go to a land where there is more water."
"I know where there is plenty of water," said Wild Goose.
"I do, too," said Wild Duck.
Most of the animals did not wish to go away. "It is well enough for the ducks and geese to go," said Wild Cat; "they like to move about. It is well enough for Great Bear to go; he can sleep through the winter in one hollow tree as soundly as in another. But we do not wish to leave our hunting grounds."
"If we go to a new country," said Gray Wolf, "we shall have to make new trails."
"And we shall have to clear new land," said Big Beaver, who had to cut down the trees when land was cleared.
All this time the Rabbit said nothing. "Brother Rabbit," Great Bear asked, "what do you think about this matter?"
Brother Rabbit did not answer. His eyes were shut, and he seemed too sleepy to think about anything.
Great Bear asked again, "What do you think about it, Brother Rabbit? Shall we go to the place the ducks and geese have found, where there is plenty of water?"
"Oh," answered Brother Rabbit, "I do not mind the drought. I drink the dew on the grass in the early morning; I do not need to go where there is more water."
And he shut his eyes again.
"Well," said Red Deer, "if there is dew enough for Brother Rabbit every morning, there is dew enough for us. We need not go to another country."
"Those are wise words, my brother," said Brown Terrapin.
All the others said, "Those are wise words, my brother," and the council was over. The animals were happy because they thought they need not go away from their homes.
Days passed, and still it did not rain. The animals found that the dew did not keep them from suffering from thirst. They were afraid that, after all, they would have to go to another country.
Still the Rabbit looked sleek and fat. He declared that he got all the water he needed from the dew on the grass in the early morning.
"You sleep too late," he said. "By the time you get up, the sun has dried the dew."