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贝隆先生从山里一回来，就到他的菜园里去看自己的玉米和瓜。他盘算着一定会有个好收成过冬了。可他发现一半的玉米都被掰光了，玉米棒子被偷走了，瓜蔓上最大的瓜都不见了，他非常生气。 “是谁偷了我的玉米和瓜呢？"他咕囔道，“不管小偷是谁，我一定要抓到他。”他秘密策划起来。第二天他在菜园周围搭起了篱笆，但是篱笆不管用，每天早上贝隆先生都会发现又有玉米被掰走了。 终于，他想到了一个抓住小偷的妙计。他拣来一大团松脂，把它做成人的样子，放在玉米地里站着然后他就回家了。 当天晚上，臭鼬来到菜园想偷一点儿玉米做晚餐，因为他听獾说贝隆先生出门去山里了。他蜷着身子从篱笆下钻过去，慌慌张张地钻进一丛玉米里，正要掰一个圆滚滚的大玉米棒，却发现有个人站在篱笆旁边，臭鼬吓得赶紧松开了手中的玉米棒。月光下他认出那个人不是贝隆先生，就磕磕绊绊地走到篱笆旁去和那个人说话。 “你是谁，为何站在贝隆先生的玉米地里？”臭鼬问。那个人没有回答。 “你是谁？"臭鼬走近了一些又问道。那个人还是没有回答。 “说话啊"臭鼬粗鲁地说，“否则我打扁你的脸。”那个人一句话也不说，一动也不动。 “告诉我，你是谁。”臭鼬举起拳头，第四次问道，"否则我打扁你的脸。” 那个人还是一个字也不说。月光下的玉米地非常安静，甚至连一丝风都没有。臭鼬砰地一拳重重地打在松脂人的脸上。拳头陷进了软软的，像胶水一样黏的松脂里，被粘住了。臭鼬把手往外拉了又拉，就是拔不出来。 “你不放开我的手的话，”他叫道，“我就用左手更狠地揍你。” 但是松脂抓得更紧了。臭鼬砰地挥出了左手，这时两只手都被粘紧了。 "放开我的手，不然我踢你了，”臭鼬大叫，这时他都要疯了。松脂人就是不放手。臭鼬抬起右脚砰地狠狠踢过去，脚也像手一样被粘住了。 “我要更加用力地踢你。”臭鼬说着抬起左脚，砰地用尽全身力气踢了过去，结果这只脚也被松脂人粘住了。臭鼬拼命挣扎，但就是松不开。现在他真是陷入了绝境，四肢都被粘得紧紧地，只剩下一样武器，那就是他的牙齿。 "我要咬断你的喉咙，”他叫喊着一口咬向松脂人的喉咙。 “呜！"臭鼬嘴里咕噜着，一句话也说不出来，舌头和牙齿都牢牢地粘在松脂里了。第二天早上，贝隆先生来到玉米地，发现臭鼬被粘在松脂人上，只有尾巴没被粘住，在身后摇摆着。 “啊！”贝隆先生说道，"原来是你啊，臭鼬，是你偷了我的玉米。” “呜！"臭鼬回答说，嘴里灌满了松脂。 贝隆先生把臭鼬从松脂人身上拽下来，在他的脖子上拴了根绳子，带回家里。贝隆先生放了一大罐水在炉子上烧，然后解开臭鼬脖子上的绳子。 '‘现在，臭鼬”他说，“去取些柴火来。” 臭鼬走进后院，正好碰见狐狸从那儿经过，要去贝隆先生的玉米地偷玉米。臭鼬开始放声大哭，狐狸停下脚步，竖起尖尖的耳朵听。 “谁在哭？”他问。 “是我。”臭鼬说。 "为什么哭？”狐狸问道。 “因为贝隆先生让我给他搬柴火，说我要多少玉米他就给我多少，但是我不想给他搬柴火。” 狐狸饥肠辘辘，他知道如果去偷玉米，可能会被抓住。“这种方法得到玉米多简单呀，"他想，"我才不介意搬柴火呢！” 狐狸大声说：“老弟，咱俩换换吧。你回家，我来给贝隆先生搬柴火。我喜欢干这个活，而且我正要去地里偷玉米呢。" “好吧，”臭鼬说，‘‘但别吃太多玉米，我吃得肚子都疼了。”他摸着自己圆滚滚的肚子呻吟着，然后高兴地摇摇摆摆地走了。狐狸拾了满满一大抱松木，急急忙忙地走进贝隆先生的木屋。贝隆先生看着他非常惊讶。 "好啊，好啊，臭鼬，你变成一只狐狸了，是不是？这可真有意思！” 狐狸没吭声，他害怕说错话会吃不到玉米。贝隆先生用原先拴臭鼬的绳子拴在狐狸脖子上。 狐狸坐下来耐心地等着，一会儿大罐里的水就开始翻滚冒气了。狐狸终于忍不住了，问：‘'玉米已经煮好了吧，贝隆先生？•’ "玉米？”贝隆先生问，“什么玉米？” “你给我煮的玉米呀？”狐狸说，“臭鼬说假如我给你搬柴火，我能吃多少玉米，你就会给我多少。” "这个无赖，”贝隆先生说道，"他耍了你，也耍了我。好吧，狐狸，你得为此付出代价。”说着贝隆先生抓住狐狸的耳朵，把他拎起来放进了沸腾的水中。水太热了，把狐狸浑身的毛都烫光了。贝隆先生把狐狸放在开水中煮了一会儿，然后扯着耳朵把他拉出来，拿到门外放了。 "别想用诡计骗走我一棒玉米。”贝隆先生说。 狐狸尖叫着向自己的窝跑去，浑身疼痛难忍。半路上他经过红石碑，红石碑是孤零零立在山谷中的一块高高的红色砂岩石板。乌鸦正在石板顶上坐着吃从玉米地里偷来的玉米。石板底下，郊狼用爪子扒着石板在那儿守着，等乌鸦掉下几颗玉米粒。狐狸过来时，郊狼往身后瞥了一眼，爪子始终没放开石板，因为担心狐狸会抢走自己的位置，狐狸的模样让他大吃一惊。 "你的毛呢，狐狸？"他转头问道。 “都怪我吃了太多玉米，”狐狸伤心地说，"可不能吃太多玉米啊，郊狼。这非常痛苦。”狐狸摸着他的肚子呻吟道，"玉米对毛很不好，它毁了我。" "但是你从哪儿得到那么多玉米的，老弟？”郊狼依旧扒着石板问。 “你没听说吗？"狐狸问道，“哎呀，所有的动物，只要给贝隆先生搬柴火，他就给玉米吃。你能吃多少他就给多少，甚至给得更多。只要抱一捆松树枝，直接送进他家就行。” 郊狼想了一会儿，贪心的他决定去贝隆先生的木屋，但是他不想让狐狸和他一起去，他希望所有的东西都归自己。 "老弟，”郊狼说，“你能帮我个忙吗？我去贝隆先生那里拿一点儿玉米，你帮我守着石板好吗？我非常饿，却不敢离开这块岩石，它会倒下来砸死别人。” "好吧，”狐裡说，心里暗自发笑。‘‘我会抱着这块石板，但是你、不要吃太多玉米哦。”狐狸把爪子放在石板的背面，郊狼就离开了。接着，郊狼以最快的速度朝贝隆先生的木屋跑去。狐狸大笑起来，但是过了一会儿，他抱着石板抱累了，决定让它倒下来算了。 “小心，乌鸦老弟，"他大喊，“岩石要倒了。”狐狸松开爪子，跳得远远的，头也没回地跑了，生怕石板砸着他的尾巴。如果狐狸往后看一眼的话，他会发现石板还像山一样稳稳地立在那里呢！ 不一会儿，郊狼从贝隆先生家回来了。他一边狂奔，一边痛哭地嚎叫，浑身上下一根毛也没剩下。他来到红石碑，看到乌鸦还高高地坐在上面一粒一粒地吃着玉米。 "狐狸去哪儿了？”郊狼满腔怒火地嚎道。 乌鸦低下头看看郊狼。“狐狸？”他说，“哦，我想狐狸回家了吧。你的毛怎么了，郊狼？” 郊狼没有回答。他在石板底下坐了下来，抬起嘴巴继续等乌鸦掉下几粒玉米来。 “改天我一定要逮到狐狸。”他自言自语地说道。 As soon as Big Long Man got back from the mountains he went to his garden to admire his com and melons. He had planted a big crop for the coming winter. When he saw that half of the com stalks had been shucked and the ears stolen, and that the biggest melons were gone off of the melon vines, he was very angry. ”Who stole my corn and melons?” he muttered to himself. ”I，11 catch the thief, whoever he is.” He began to scheme. The next day he built a fence around the garden. But the fence did no good. Each morning Big Long Man found more com stalks stripped. At last he thought up a scheme to catch the thief. He gathered a great ball of pine pitch and molded it into the shape of a man. He set the figure up in the com field and then went to his hogan. That night Skunk came along to get a bit of com for his dinner. He had heard from Badger that Big Long Man was away in the mountains. He squeezed his body under the fence and waddled up to a clump of com. He was just about to shuck a fat ear when he noticed a man standing by the fence. Skunk let go of the ear of com in fright. He could see in the moonlight that the man was not Big Long Man. He waddled over to the fence and spoke to the figure. “Who are you, in Big Long Man’s com patch?” asked Skunk. The figure did not answer. “Who are you?” said Skunk again, moving closer. The figure did not answer. “Speak!” said Skunk boldly, “or I will punch your face.” The figure did not say a word. It did not move an inch. “Tell me who you are,” said Skunk a fourth time, raising his fist, “or I will punch your face.” The figure said not a word. It was very quiet in the moonlit com field. Even the wind had gone away. Plup went Skunk’s fist into the pine gum face. It sunk into the soft pitch, which is as sticky as glue, and there it stuck. Skunk pulled and pulled. “If you don’t let go my hand,” he shouted, “I will hit you harder with my left hand.” But the pine pitch held tight. Plup went Skunk’s left hand. Now both hands stuck fast. “Let go my hands, or I will kick you,” cried Skunk, who was by this time getting mad. The pine gum man did not let go. Plup, Skunk gave a mighty kick with his right foot. The foot stuck too, just like the hands. “I will kick you harder，” said Skunk and Plup he kicked with all of his strength with his left foot. Pine gum man held that foot too. Skunk struggled but he could not get loose. Now he was in a fine plight1. Every limb was held tight. He had only one more weapon, his teeth. “I will bite your throat.” he shouted and he dug his teeth into the pine gum throat. “Ugh!” he gurgled for he could no longer say a word. His tongue and teeth were held fast in the pine pitch. The next morning Big Long Man came to his com patch and there was Skunk stuck onto the pine gum man. Only his tail was free, waving behind him. “Ah!” said Big Long Man. “So it’s you, Skunk, who has been stealing my com.” “Ugh,” replied Skunk. His mouth full of pine pitch. Big Long Man pulled him away from the gum figure, tied a rope around his neck and led him to his hogan. He put a great pot of water on the stove to boil, and then he took the rope off of Skunk’s neck. “Now，Skunk,” he said, “go fetch wood.” Skunk went out into the back yard. Just then Fox happened to pass by. He was on his way to Big Long Man’s com patch. Skunk began to cry loudly. Fox stopped running, and pricked up his sharp ears. “Who is crying?” he said. “I am crying，” said Skunk. “Why?” said Fox. “Because I have to carry wood for Big Long Man. He gives me all of the com I want to eat, but I do not want to carry wood.” Fox was hungry. He knew that if he stole com he was liable to get caught. “What an easy way to get com.” he thought. “I would not mind carrying wood.” Out loud he said, “Cousin, let us change places. You go home and I will carry wood for Big Long Man. I like the job. Besides, I was just on my way to steal an ear of com down at the field.” “All right，，，said Skunk. “But don’t eat too much com. I have a stomach ache.” He felt his fat stomach and groaned. Then he waddled happily away. Fox gathered up an armful of pine wood. He hurried into Big Long Man’s hogan. Big Long Man looked at him in surprise. “Well，well, Skunk, you changed into a fox, did you? That’s flmny.” Fox did not say a word. He was afraid he might say the wrong thing and not get any com to eat. Big Long Man took the rope which had been around Skunk’s neck and tied it around Fox’s neck. Fox sat down and waited patiently. Soon the water in the big pot began to bubble and steam. At last Fox said, “Isn’t the com cooked yet, Big Long Man?” “Com?” asked Big Long Man. “What com?” “Why the com you are cooking for me.” said Fox. “Skunk said you would feed me all of the com I could eat if I carried wood for you.” “The rascal2.，，said Big Long Man. “He tricked you and he tricked me. Well, Fox, you will have to pay for this.” So saying he picked up Fox by the ears and set him down in the boiling water. It was so hot that it took off every hair on his body. Big Long Man left him in the pot for a minute and then he pulled him out by the ears and set him free out of doors. “Don’t be thinking you will ever get any of my com by tricks.” said Big Long Man. Fox ran yelping toward his den. He was sore all over. Half way home he passed Red Monument. Red Monument is a tall slab of red sand stone that stands alone in a valley. On top of the rock sat Raven eating com that he had stolen from the com patch. At the bottom was Coyote holding on to the rock with his paws. He was watching for Raven to drop a few kernels. He glanced behind him when Fox appeared. He did not let go of the rock, however, because he thought Fox might get his place. He was surprised at Fox’s appearance. Where is your fur，Fox?” he asked over his shoulder. “I ate too much corn.” said Fox sadly. “Don’t ever eat too much com, Coyote. It is very painful.” Fox held his stomach and groaned. “Com is very bad for one’s flir. It ruined mine.” “But where did you get so much corn, cousin?” asked Coyote, still holding on to the rock. “Didn’t you hear?” asked Fox. “Why，Big Long Man is giving com to all the animals who carry wood for him. He will give you all you can eat and more too. Just gather an armftil of pine sticks and walk right into his hogan” Coyote thought a moment. He was greedy. He decided to go to Big Long Man’s hogan but he did not want Fox to go with him. He wanted everything for himself. “Cousin，” he said, “will you do me a favor? Will you hold this rock while I go and get a bite of com from Big Long Man? I am very hungry and [ do not dare leave this rock. It will fall and kill somebody.” “All right.” said Fox, smiling to himself. “I will hold the rock. But do not eat too much.” He placed his paws on the back side of the rock and Coyote let go. The next minute Coyote was running away as fast as he could toward Big Long Man’s hogan. Fox laughed to himself, but after a bit he became tired of holding the rock. He decided to let it fall. “Look out, Cousin Raven.” he shouted. “The rock is going to fall.” Fox let go, and jumped far away. Then he ran and did not look behind. He was afraid the rock would hit his tail. If Fox had looked behind him he would have seen the rock standing as steady as a mountain. Presently, along came Coyote, back from Big Long Man's hogan. He was running at top speed and yowling fearfully. There was not a hair left on his body. When he came to Red Monument he saw Raven still sitting on his high perch3 nibbling kernels of com. “Where has Fox gone?” howled Coyote who was in a rage. Raven looked down at Coyote. “Fox?” he said. “Why, Fox went home, I suppose. What did you do with your hair, Coyote?” Coyote didn’t answer. He just sat down by the foot of the rock and with his snout up in the air waited for Raven to drop a few kernels of com. “I’ll get Fox some other day.” he muttered to himself. |
