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.

Early the next morning, Brother Rabbit came running down the hill for
more water. He stopped when he saw the tar wolf by his spring.

"What are you doing here, Gray Wolf?" he asked. Of course there was no
answer.

"Has my brother no ears?" asked Brother Rabbit.

As the wolf was still silent, Brother Rabbit became angry. "Answer me,
Gray Wolf," he cried. But there was no answer.

Then Brother Rabbit slapped the tar wolf with his right front paw. It
stuck fast, and Brother Rabbit could not pull it away.

[Illustration: Brother Rabbit and the wolf]

"Let me go," he cried, "or I will slap you with the other paw."

He slapped the tar wolf with the left front paw. That too, stuck fast.

Now Brother Rabbit was very angry. "Let me go, Gray Wolf," he cried.
"Let me go, I say!"

As Grey Wolf did not let him go, Brother Rabbit kicked the tar wolf,
first with one of his hind paws and then with the other. Both stuck
fast, and so he was held by all four paws.

Just then Gray Wolf and Wild Cat came from their hiding place.

"We have caught you, Brother Rabbit," they said. "Now we are going to
take you to the council and tell how you tried to keep all the water for
yourself."

III

They took Brother Rabbit to the council house, and sent for Great Bear
and all the other animals. Soon all came, and the council began. Gray
Wolf told that he had seen Brother Rabbit go to the spring, uncover it,
get water, and cover the spring up again.

The animals said that Brother Rabbit must be punished, but how they
could not decide.

"Burn him alive," said Gray Wolf.

"I am quite willing," Brother Rabbit said, smiling. "Fire is my friend
and will not hurt me."

"We might cut off his head," said Brown Terrapin.

"Very well," said the Rabbit, quietly. "Try that. It will not hurt me,
for a better head will grow back."

He said he was not afraid of each thing that was mentioned.

"Is there nothing of which you are afraid?" asked Great Bear, at last.
"Is there nothing that can hurt you?"

"Of only one thing am I afraid," answered Brother Rabbit, in a low
voice. "I am afraid you will turn me loose in the brier patch. Please do
not throw me in the brier patch."

"Turn him loose in the brier patch!" cried all the animals.

How fright