[From Notes on the Folklore of the Fjort by Richard Dennett, 1898. See item #68
[From Notes on the Folklore of the Fjort by Richard Dennett, 1898. See item #68 in the Bibliography.]
It was during an almost rainless hot season when all who had no wells were beginning to feel the pangs of thirst that the rabbit and the antelope formed a partnership to dig a deep well so that they could never be in want of water.
“Had we not better keep the food for later on, when we are tired and hungry after our work?”
“Very well, hide the food, rabbit, and let us go to work; I am very thirsty.”
They arrived at the place where they purposed having the well and worked hard for a short time.
“Listen!” said the rabbit. “They are calling me to go back to town.”
“No, I do not hear them.”
“Yes, they are certainly calling me, and I must be off. My wife is about to present me with some children, and I must name them.”
“Go then, dear rabbit, but come back as soon as you can.”
The rabbit ran off to where he had hidden the food, and ate some of it, and then went back to his work.
“Well,” said the antelope, “what have you called your little one?”
“Not-Done-Yet,” said the rabbit.
“A strange name,” said the antelope.
Then they worked for a while.
“Again they are calling me,” cried the rabbit. “I must be off, so please excuse me. Can’t you hear them calling me?”
“No, said the antelope, “I hear nothing…”
Away ran the rabbit, leaving the poor antelope to do all the work, while the rabbit ate some more of the food that really belonged to them both. When he had had enough, he hid the food again and ran back to the well.
But come, get on with the digging; see how hard I have worked.”
Then they worked hard for quite a long time.
“Listen, now!” said the rabbit. “Surely you heard them calling me this time!”
“No, dear rabbit, I can hear nothing, but go and get back quickly.”
Away ran the rabbit, and this time he finished the food before going back to his work.
“Well, little one, what have you called your third child?”
“All-Done,” answered the rabbit.
Then they worked hard, and as night was setting in, they returned to their village.
“I am terribly tired, rabbit; run and get the food, or I shall faint.”
The rabbit went to look for the food, and then, calling out to the antelope, told him that some horrid cat must have been there, as the food was all gone and the pot quite clean. The antelope groaned and went hungry to bed.
The next day the naughty little rabbit played the antelope the same trick. And the next day he again tricked the antelope. And the next, and the next, until at last the antelope accused the rabbit of stealing the food. Then the rabbit got angry and dared him to take casca.
“We’ll both take it,” said the antelope, “and let him whose tail is the first to become wet be considered the guilty one.”
So they took the casca and went to bed. And as the medicine began to take effect upon the rabbit, he cried out to the antelope, “See, your tail is wet!”
“No, it is not!”
“Yes, it is!”
“No, but yours is, dear rabbit; see there!”
Then the rabbit feared greatl