“If we go to a new country,” said Gray Wolf, “we shall have to make new trails.”

“And we shall have to clear new land,” said Big Beaver, who had to cut down the trees when land was cleared.

All this time the Rabbit said nothing.  “Brother Rabbit,” Great Bear asked, “what do you think about this matter?”

Brother Rabbit did not answer.  His eyes were shut, and he seemed too sleepy to think about anything.

Great Bear asked again, “What do you think about it, Brother Rabbit?  Shall we go to the place the ducks and geese have found, where there is plenty of water?”

“Oh,” answered Brother Rabbit, “I do not mind the drought.  I drink the dew on the grass in the early morning; I do not need to go where there is more water.”

And he shut his eyes again.

“Well,” said Red Deer, “if there is dew enough for Brother Rabbit every morning, there is dew enough for us.  We need not go to another country.”

“Those are wise words, my brother,” said Brown Terrapin.

All the others said, “Those are wise words, my brother,” and the council was over.  The animals were happy because they thought they need not go away from their homes.

Days passed, and still it did not rain.  The animals found that the dew did not keep them from suffering from thirst.  They were afraid that, after all, they would have to go to another country.

Still the Rabbit looked sleek and fat.  He declared that he got all the water he needed from the dew on the grass in the early morning.

“You sleep too late,” he said.  “By the time you get up, the sun has dried the dew.”

II

After that, the animals came out earlier than before, but they could not get water enough from the morning dew.  They did not understand why the Rabbit looked so well.

One day Gray Wolf said to Wild Cat, “Let us watch the Rabbit and see where he gets so much dew that he is never thirsty.”

That night they stayed in the woods near Rabbit’s wigwam, so as to follow him on the trail.  They kept awake all night for fear that they might sleep too late.

Very early in the morning, Brother Rabbit came out of his wigwam and ran swiftly down the hill.  Wild Cat and Gray Wolf followed as fast and as quietly as they could.

The dew was on the grass and leaves, but Brother Rabbit did not stop to get it.  Instead, he ran down the hill and pushed away a heap of brush.  Wild Cat and Gray Wolf hid behind some bushes and watched him.

Brother Rabbit drank from a little spring.  Then he filled a jar with clear, fresh water, piled the brush over the spring again, and went up the hill to his wigwam.

Ah! now Gray Wolf and Wild Cat knew why Brother Rabbit did not mind the drought; and they made a plan to punish him for being so selfish.

They got tar and resin from the pine trees, and out of these they made a great wolf.  After placing it close to the spring, they hid again in the bushes, to see what would happen.