“Not waiting for the council to close, away sped the rabbit along the route described by the moose, who had lately found out where Nanahboozhoo was stopping.  The rabbit was such a timid creature that when he came near to Nanahboozhoo he was much afraid that he would not be welcomed.  However, his case was desperate, and although his heart was thumping within him with fear he hurried along to have the thing over as soon as possible.  To his great joy he found Nanahboozhoo in the best of humor and he was received most kindly.

“Nanahboozhoo saw how wearied and tired the rabbit was after the long journey, and so he made him rest on some fragrant grass in the sunshine while he went out and brought in for him to eat some of the choicest things from his garden.  Then afterward he had the rabbit tell of all his troubles and of how he was treated at the council.

“This part of the story, of how they acted at the council, made Nanahboozhoo very angry.

“’And that’s the way they treated this little brother at the council we have given them, where it is expected that the smallest and the weakest shall have the same right to have his case heard and attended to as the biggest and strongest!  It is high time that somebody was coming to me with council news if things are like this.  Look out, Mister Fox, and Wolverine, and Wild Cat, for if I get after you I will so straighten you out that you will be sorry that the rabbit had to go to Nanahboozhoo for the help you ought to have given him!’

“Nanahboozhoo had worked himself up into such a furious temper that the rabbit was almost frightened to death.  But when he saw this Nanahboozhoo only laughed at him, and said he was sorry to have scared him.

“‘I was so angry,’ said Nanahboozhoo, ’at those animals for ill-treating you that I forgot myself; and now, little brother, what do you want me to do for you?’

“They had a long talk about the matter and the decision was that there should be two great changes.  The first was that the eyes of the rabbit were to be so increased in power that they should in future be able to see by night as well as by day, and the second was that in all Northlands where much snow falls during many months of the year rabbits shall change into a beautiful white color, like the snow, and thus continue as long as the winter lasts.  And the rabbits now have a much better time than they had formerly.  They can glide away in the darkness from their enemies when in the woods, and when out in the snow they are not easily seen and often escape notice by remaining perfectly still.”

But long ere Souwanas had ended Jack had returned from the home with a note to say that dinner would soon be ready, and that no one could be more welcome than Souwanas.

“But what about the red eyes of the ducks?” said the two children, whose appetites for stories were simply—­well, like those of other boys and girls.

Here the father had to interfere and say that there had been quite enough for one day.  However, before the walk homeward began, Souwanas was pledged to tell the other story at the first convenient opportunity.