Why The Antelope Lost His Dew-Ciaws And The Deer His Gall-Bag

Why The Antelope Lost His Dew-Ciaws And The Deer His Gall-Bag [Red Folk And Wild Folk]

Many, many years ago the antelope and the deer used to visit one another, but whenever they met they always quarreled as to who could run the faster.

 In those days the little red people used to play at games with the animal people, and whenever they heard the deer and the antelope quarrelling they would hurry along, hoping to see the two friends run a race, and so settle the dispute; but they were always disappointed, and never dared suggest a race, for it would be very wrong, so Indian mamas and papas say, for little people to tell their elders what to do.

 The antelope always lived on the prairies, and the deer had his home in the wooded lands and in the mountainous country, where he was regarded as very fleet of foot. He knew he could outrun any of the animal people living near his home, so why could he not beat the antelope?

One day the antelope went to visit the deer. They were enjoying each other's company very much, when, by some unhappy accident, or, perhaps intentionally, one of the red children who had gathered around them brought the race into the conversation.

“I know I can beat you," said the deer.

 The antelope answered: "That is all foolishness; I can run much faster than you. I will bet my dew-claws that I can beat you in a race." "That is well; let us run," said the deer.

So off they started, over mountains and through the thick timber and brush.

The little red people, who had always been beaten in races with the deer, knew their friend would win! Had they not lived in his home all their little lives, and had they not seen him run races with all the animal people and all the little red people? The antelope could not beat the deer! But this race was the very thing they had hoped for so long; now, everyone should know who could run the faster, and perhaps the trouble between the antelope and the deer would stop forever.

The race was shorter than the little people had expected. The antelope was not used to such thick brush and dense timber, and it seemed to hold him back. Perhaps the brush and timber did not want their friend the deer beaten, and made it hard for the antelope to push through. At any rate, he was left way behind and lost the race.

"You have won," he said, turning to the deer, "and here are my dew-claws; but come and visit me in my home on the prairie. There I can beat you!"

Since that day the antelope has no dew-claws.

The little people did wish they could go with the deer when he went to visit the antelope, for it would be such fun to see another race. But they had to be satisfied to leave the next race for the little red people who lived on the plains to see.

When the antelope reached home, he was very sad and told his little red brothers and his little animal brothers just what had happened. They were all very sorry for the poor antelope, and, they knew something; must have been wrong; for no animal or boy had ever beaten him. The friends watched every day for the deer, and soon they saw him coming over the prairie to visit the antelope.

As soon as the antelope had welcomed his friend to his home, he began making excuses for having lost, declaring that he could outrun the deer easily. The deer, because he had beaten the antelope once, thought it would be an easy task to do so again.

"Very well," he said. “I will bet my gall-bag that I can run faster than you."

"Let us start!" cried the antelope.

The little red people were very desirous of seeing their antelope friend beat the deer, for they were sure he could.

Away they raced over the prairies. Poor little deer, he was not used to running over the flat prairies, and in the open country, where he was not hindered by brush and trees; the antelope was the fleeter. The deer became very tired and lost the race; for, in his own country, the antelope could outrun any animal. The deer handed his gall-bag to the antelope, and to this day he has none.

The little red brothers were happy again, and their antelope friend was no longer sad. His people had seen him outrun the deer.

Since that day the antelope and the deer have not quarreled about fleetness; for each knows that he can outrun the other in his own home.