“What do you want, my grandson?”
“I have come for some flint to make arrows,” answered the rabbit.
The bear chief grunted, and laid aside his pipe. Leaning back he pulled off his robe and, sure enough, one half of his body was flesh and the other half hard flint.
“Bring a stone hammer and give it to our guest,” he bade his wife. Then as the rabbit took the hammer he said: “Do not strike too hard.”
“Grandfather, I shall be careful,” said the rabbit. With a stroke he struck off a little flake of flint from the bear’s body.
“Ni-sko-ke-cha? So big?” he asked.
“Harder, grandson; strike off bigger pieces,” said the bear.
The rabbit struck a little harder.
“Ni-sko-ke-cha? So big?” he asked.
The bear grew impatient. “No, no, strike off bigger pieces. I can’t be here all day. Tanka kaksa wo! Break off a big piece.”