ains people. Yet Iktomi sat silent. He
hummed an old dance-song and beat gently on the edge of the pot with his
buffalo-horn spoon. The muskrat began to feel awkward before such lack
of hospitality and wished himself under water.

After many heart throbs Iktomi stopped drumming with his horn ladle, and
looking upward into the muskrat's face, he said:

"My friend, let us run a race to see who shall win this pot of fish. If
I win, I shall not need to share it with you. If you win, you shall have
half of it." Springing to his feet, Iktomi began at once to tighten the
belt about his waist.

"My friend Ikto, I cannot run a race with you! I am not a swift runner,
and you are nimble as a deer. We shall not run any race together,"
answered the hungry muskrat.

For a moment Iktomi stood with a hand on his long protruding chin. His
eyes were fixed upon something in the air. The muskrat looked out of the
corners of his eyes without moving his head. He watched the wily Iktomi
concocting a plot.

"Yes, yes," said Iktomi, suddenly turning his gaze upon the unwelcome
visitor; "I shall carry a large stone on my back. That will slacken my
usual speed; and the race will be a fair one."

Saying this he laid a firm hand upon the muskrat's shoulder and started
off along the edge of the lake. When they reached the opposite side
Iktomi pried about in search of a heavy stone.

He found one half-buried in the shallow water. Pulling it out upon dry
land, he wrapped it in his blanket.

"Now, my friend, you shall run on the left side of the lake, I on the
other. The race is for the boiled fish in yonder kettle!" said Iktomi.

The muskrat helped to lift the heavy stone upon Iktomi's back. Then
they parted. Each took a narrow path through the tall reeds fringing the
shore. Iktomi found his load a heavy one. Perspiration hung like beads
on his brow. His chest heaved hard and fast.

He looked across the lake to see how far the muskrat had gone, but
nowhere did he see any sign of him. "Well, he is running low under the
wild rice!" said he. Yet as he scanned the tall grasses on the lake
shore, he saw not one stir as if to make way for the runner. "Ah, has he
gone so fast ahead that the disturbed grasses in his trail have quieted
again?" exclaimed Iktomi. With that thought he quickly dropped the heavy
stone. "No more of this!" said he, patting his chest with both hands.

Off with a springing bound, he ran swiftly toward the goal. Tufts of
re