"To Coyote? Why, what did a star do to Coyote?" and the children's interest was transferred from their play to the prospective story.
"Well, it was this way." Wantasson spread out his feet and rested his shoulders against the door, and then he began his story.
After Coyote had gotten fire and salmon for the animals and had destroyed their enemies, he began to feel proud of himself.
"I have more brains than any of the other animals," he said. "I ought to have more privileges than the rest of them."
Just then he noticed the stars glimmering above. "That 's what I want," he thought,—"a ride on a star. All the other animals can walk on the earth, or run on it. I ought to have something better. I ought to have a journey on a star."
He went to the top of a hill and called to the evening star: "Come here, Bright Star. I want to take a ride on you."
The evening star only winked one eye and did not move any nearer.
"Did you hear me, O Star? I am the great Coyote. I have obtained heat and food for the animals, and have killed their destroyers. Now I want to journey around the world. Come nearer so that I can jump on you."