"O-reech-o!" began Screech Owl, when Coyote ordered: "Stop your screeching. You may all go home. I 'll make man myself."
Each animal echoed, "I 'll make man myself," and they all rushed quarreling and snapping to the clay bank. Each began to model a figure.
At sundown they stopped to sleep,—all but Coyote. He went on working. When he heard snores from every bush, he went among the models of the other animals and destroyed every single one. Then he returned to his own figure and worked steadily. As the morning star mounted in the heavens, the figure of man was finished.
"Shine bright on him, O Morning Star!" whispered Coyote. "Give him life from the heavens, for he is to be superior to us all."
The morning star flashed five rays on the figure. Man straightened himself up. His eyes brightened. He stretched out his arms. Coyote took his hand and said: "You were partly made in the light, so you will always love the sunshine. You were partly made in the night, so you will never fear the darkness. Your mind will be active under sun or stars. You must gather cunning from all times, for henceforth you are to be the ruler of the world."
