The coon then told the fox how to find the apple tree. He must follow the trail along the river, down to the pine bluff. Then he must climb the bluff and run toward the setting sun, until he came to an open field. In the center of that field stood a great apple tree. It was filled with juicy yellow apples.
"But you can climb the tree and pick your own apples. How can I get them off the tree?" whined the fox.
"Oh, that's easy," said the coon. "Just back off two bow shots from the tree, then lower your head,—so. Run hard and butt the tree with your head. You have such a big head, it will shake the tree so hard that all the apples will fall at once. Do as I tell you, and you will have all the apples you want for a long time."
The fox thanked the coon and started at once.
He found the apple tree, just as the coon had said.
"What a fine open place to run in," thought the fox. "I will get such a fine start that when I hit the tree it will shake the world."
Already he began, in his mind, to see the apples falling, like pine needles, and to feel the earth shake under his feet.
The fox did as the coon had told him. One arrow flight he backed off, then another. Then he closed his eyes, lowered his head, and ran swiftly over the thick grass. He struck the tree as hard as ever he could, with his big head.