beautiful coal of -oft dark-brown* fur.
The Otter wa- glad to see him and asked him where he was eroingr.
268 MYTHS OF THE CHEROKEE [eth.ann.ij
•■ ( )." said the Rabbit, " the animals sent me to bring you to the council;
because you live so far away they were afraid you mightn't know the
road.'" The Otter thanked him. and they went on together.
They traveled all day toward the council ground, and at night the
Rabbit selected the camping place, because the Otter wasa stranger
in that part of the country, and cut down bushes for beds and fixed
everything in good shape. The next morning they started on again.
In the afternoon the Rabbit began to pick up wood and bark as they
went along and to load it on his hack. When the Otterthe
water! " cried the Rabbit, and the Otter ran and jumped into the river,
and he has lived in the water ever since.
The Rabbit took the Otter's coat and put it on, leaving his own
instead, and went on to the council. All the animals were there, even-
one looking out for the Otter. At last they saw him in the distance,
and they said one to the other, "The Otter is coming!" and sent one
of the small animals to show him the best seat. They were all glad
to see him and went up in turn to welcome him. but the Otter kept
his head down, with one paw over his face. They wondered that he
was so bashful, until the Rear came up and pulled the paw away, and
there was the Rabbit with