Page:The Pima Indians.pdf/241

236 with Sandy Coyote, taking with him beads, deerskins, and other things to wager. As he journeyed he sang:

As he went along he took some white stones, which he made to resemble white birds' eggs. These he put in a little nest which he made. When he reached his uncle's house he told Sandy Coyote that he had come to play ki$n$ts with him. They got ready to play and put up their wagers, but the young man said, "It is about time the birds laid their eggs."

"No," said Sandy Coyote, "it will be two or three months from now before they begin to build their nests."

"As I came along I saw that the dove had already laid her eggs."

"No; you are lying to me."

Then the young man said, "Well, if I go and bring those eggs to you and show you that I was telling the truth I shall win our wager, if I do not bring them you shall win." So the young man went out and brought the eggs. After the wager had been paid they prepared for another game and another wager was laid. When they were ready the young man cut his toe nail and threw it into the west, where it hung, looking like the rim of the new moon.

"Look at the moon there in the west," said he.

"No; we are having a full moon now," said Sandy Coyote, "it is in the east; you are lying to me. How could the full moon be in the west in the evening?"

"Well, suppose you look. If you find any moon you shall pay me the wager, and if you do not then I shall pay you." So Sandy Coyote looked and saw the supposed moon and came back and said, "You win."

Again and again they played and again and again the young man won.

When they were ready to play ki$n$ts Sandy Coyote said, "Sit there; it is your father's place."

But the young man answered, "No; I shall sit here and you may sit there. If you wish me to sit there you must carry me there. If you can carry me there you will win all we have wagered this game; if you can not, then I shall win."

So Sandy Coyote thought he could do it easily, and took hold of the young man to carry him to the other side, but he found the man so heavy that he could not move him. So Sandy Coyote lost again, and was compelled to admit that he had lost all that he had. The young man said he would like to have Sandy Coyote wager himself, if he had nothing else, and the other agreed to this.