Atondido Stories
and they wanted to see what kind of a merchant Rabbit would
make. Rabbit explained to them that he was only an agent, that
they must pay him their money, and he would take it to the
farmer, and deliver their grain at his house one week from that
day. The buyers paid him the money and went away, for they
were afraid the farmer would kill them if they went themselves
for the corn. They left a great store of money with Rabbit. That
night when the moon rose over the hills Rabbit went to the field
of corn near-by. But the farmer had spied him thieving that af-
ternoon, and he had placed around his corn a fence of strong
netting which poor Rabbit could not get through. And he had al-
so placed around the field many watch-dogs which growled and
snarled and frightened thieves away. Night after night Rabbit
tried to slip into the field, but without success, and the week
passed and still he had no corn for the customers who, he knew,
would soon be arriving for their goods. And meanwhile he had
spent all their money and he knew they would all fall upon him
and kill him if he failed to keep his word and deliver their pur-
chases.
At last when the day agreed on arrived, he saw his customers
coming for their grain. And he hoped that his tricks would save
him as they had saved him many times before. He sat in his yard
playing his flute, when Earth-Worm, the first customer arrived.
"Good day," said Rabbit. "Good day," said Earth-Worm, "I have
come for my corn, for a week has gone by." "Very good," said
Rabbit, "but first we shall have dinner. It will be ready in a few
minutes. You must be hungry after your long journey." As they
sat waiting for their dinner they saw Duck, another customer,
waddling up the path with her basket on her neck. And Rabbit
said, "Will not old Duck who comes here want to eat you up?"
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