“Oh,” said Rabbit, “I have good dreams when I sleep with a paddle under my head.”
When the paddle was finished, Rabbit began to cut a good trail through the bushes to the river.
“Why are you doing that?” asked Otter.
“This is called ‘The Place Where It Rains Fire,’ and sometimes it does rain fire here,” said Rabbit. “The sky looks a little that way tonight. You go to sleep and I will sit up and watch. If you hear me shout, you run and jump into the river. Better hang your coat on that limb over there, so it will not get burned.”
Otter did as Rabbit told him; then both curled up and Otter went to sleep. But Rabbit stayed awake. After a while the fire burned down to red coals. Rabbit called to Otter; he was fast asleep. Then he called again, but Otter did not awaken.
Then Rabbit rose softly. He filled the paddle with hot coals, threw them up into the air and shouted, “It’s raining fire! It’s raining fire!”
The hot coals fell on Otter and he jumped up.
“To the river,” shouted Rabbit and Otter fled into the water. So he has lived in the water ever since.
Rabbit at once took Otter’s coat and put it on, leaving his own behind. Then he followed the trail to the council.
All the animals were waiting for Otter. At last they saw him coming down the trail. They said to each other, “Otter is coming!” They sent one of the small animals to show him the best seat. After he was seated, the animals all went up in turn to welcome him. But Otter kept his head down with one paw over his face.