by Roy Lewis

illustrated by Cathy Shimmen

 by Roy Lewis
illustrated by Cathy Shimmen

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ISBN 10: 0-15-350682-2

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 Coyote had many troubles with Rabbit because
Rabbit always got the better of him. Coyote was
swift, but Rabbit seemed just a bit swifter. Coyote
was clever, but Rabbit was more clever. Coyote
was stronger, but Rabbit’s many cousins always
came to his aid.
The more Coyote thought about Rabbit, the
angrier he became. “He makes a fool of me,”
Coyote thought. Coyote decided then and there
to get the best of Rabbit once and for all.

3
 The next morning, as Coyote trotted along,
he heard voices and stopped in his tracks.
Hawk and Crow were chatting in the jack pines.
“What an incredible storm last night!”
exclaimed Crow.
“Yes, lightning struck an enormous rock on the
canyon rim,” Hawk continued. “The rock fell into
the canyon. You know the opening at the end?”
“Where the stream flows when there is a
big rain?” asked Crow.
4
 “Yes, that’s the place. It is blocked now,”
said Hawk.”The rock fell to the bottom, so the
opening is closed. It’s a box canyon now, so there
is only one way out for those without wings.”
Suddenly, Hawk turned and said to Coyote,
“You need not hide yourself, Coyote, because I’ve
seen you all along.”

5
 Coyote was very excited about what he
had overheard. He had once chased Rabbit up
that canyon, but then Rabbit had made a leap
sideways, and he had disappeared through a hole
too small for Coyote to get through. Now Coyote
could try this again, and this time the small hole
would be gone.
The very next day, Coyote leaped from behind
a rock as Rabbit tore into the canyon. “Rabbit
thinks he will fool me, but this time it will be he
who is the fool,” thought Coyote smugly.

6
 Coyote’s plan worked because when Rabbit
ran into the canyon, he did not know the way
was blocked. When he came to the place where
he had leaped sideways before, there was no
way out.
Rabbit looked this way and that, and he saw
that there was no longer an escape, but still he
sat calmly. “I must praise you, Coyote, because
it seems you have been smarter than I,” said
Rabbit. This remark pleased vain Coyote
because he liked to think of himself as wise.
7
 “I have an offer for you,” said Rabbit. “It is
true that you planned well, yet it was not you
who put this rock into my path.”
Coyote did not like this thought although he
knew it was true.
“Today you will eat by luck, not by your own
wisdom. I would like to make you an offer you
would be foolish to refuse. If you spare me today,
I will teach you our tricks, and then you will be
able to catch rabbits whenever you want.”
8
 “Why should I let you go?” snickered Coyote.
“Well, you can feed yourself today, or you can
learn how to eat well every day,” replied Rabbit.
“You will trick me, and you will surely flee,”
said unsure Coyote.
“No, I will not,” Rabbit promised, “and I will
show you how we trick you and get away.”
“How can I trust someone who has fooled me
so many times before?” asked Coyote.
“Rabbit always keeps his word,” said Rabbit.
“I accept your offer, so teach me what I must
know,” decided Coyote.

9
 Rabbit showed Coyote how he could hide in
the brush, but Coyote already knew this. Rabbit
showed Coyote how he often ran in circles, but
Coyote knew this, too. Rabbit showed him how
he stopped so quickly that Coyote would just run
right past him.
“I have seen these things many times, so show
me a trick I don’t know,” demanded Coyote.
“My best trick is a quick step
to the side,” said Rabbit. “Try it.”
Coyote tried it several times,
but could not do it like Rabbit.

10
 “I think the problem is that your eyes are in
the wrong place,” declared Rabbit.
“There’s absolutely nothing wrong with my
eyes,” said Coyote.
“Not for a Coyote, perhaps,” said Rabbit.
“I am a rabbit, so my eyes are on the sides of
my head, and I see well to the side. Your eyes
are in the front of your head, so you cannot
see to the side.”

11
 “Try turning your head to the side and keeping
it there,” suggested Rabbit. “Then you will be
able to see to jump to the side.”
“It’s really not very easy,” said Coyote.
“Let’s practice it a few times,” coaxed Rabbit.
Coyote turned his head and tried jumping to
the side several times slowly.
“There’s not enough space to practice here.
Let’s get out of the canyon,” suggested Rabbit.
They climbed out of the canyon and onto
the rim.

12
 Coyote and Rabbit practiced. Rabbit jumped
sideways, and Coyote jumped with him. Coyote
did not like holding his head to the side because
he could not see where he was going. Still, he
wanted to be able to catch Rabbit at any time.
“Let’s try it once more as fast as we can,”
said Rabbit.
They moved along the edge of the canyon
rim. Rabbit ran very fast. Coyote ran after him
even faster.
“Get ready!” hollered Rabbit. This time
Rabbit did not jump sideways but stopped short.
Coyote, who was looking to the side, did not see
him. He tripped over Rabbit, fell over the edge
of the canyon, and took a long, long fall.
13
 Rabbit peeked over the edge of the
canyon. Coyote was lying at
the bottom. “You have tricked
me again!” shouted Coyote.
“I have kept my word and
showed you my tricks,” replied
Rabbit. “There was just one more,
and now you have seen it.”
Rabbit laughed and ran away.
“Yes, I guess I have,”
said Coyote.
Coyote still chases Rabbit to
this day. When he does, he always
holds his head to the front. You
may see him move his head
quickly from side to side, but
he will not leave it there. He is
looking forward to a day when
he will catch clever Rabbit.

14
 Think Critically
1. What are two reasons that Coyote wants to
catch Rabbit?

2. How do you think Coyote felt about being

tricked by Rabbit yet again?

3. Why does Rabbit not seem afraid when Coyote

corners him?

4. How does Rabbit use Coyote’s cleverness

against him?

5. Did any other stories come to your mind when

you read this one? If so, which ones?

Social Studies
Make a List This story takes place in the southwestern
United States. Look up what states are in the Southwest, and
then make a list of them and their capitals.

School-Home Connection Many Native American

tales were handed down for years from parents to
children. Ask family members whether they know stories that
have been handed down from their parents. Ask them to tell
you those stories.

Word Count: 1,018