not many animals liked coyote. some thought he was foolish and others thought he was boastful. the
mice didn't like him because he was mean to them.
one day when he was out walking, coyote saw the
mice * lots of noise and rushing around under
a tree.
"quick! quick! throw that rope over the branch!" cried one. "i need a bag! i need a bag now!" cried
another.
they scurried1 around, tripping and falling over each other as they tied small bags onto the ends of s*ral ropes, then threw the other ends over the branches.
"what are you stupid mice up to now?" asked
coyote. "we haven't got time to stop and talk mr coyote," squeaked2 one mouse, throwing a rope over another branch. "haven't you heard?
north wind is on his way. he's going to throw hailstones as *g as a bear's paw at all the animals! we're going to climb into these bags and pull ourselves up under the branches, so the hailstones can't hit us."
fearing the hailstones, coyote said "i'll join you." all the mice stopped
dead in their tracks. "ohhh! i don't know about that," they squeaked.
"if you don't let me, i'll be mean to you again," shouted coyote.
"alright. you can join us," squeaked the mice. "but you'll have to get your own bag and rope because we don't have anything *g enough or
strong enough to hold you." "no problem," said coyote. "i've got *rything i need at home". "then hurry mr coyote, because north wind will be here any minute."
coyote rushed off home. the mice waited until he was out of sight, then
fell over squeaking3 with laughter. when they saw him coming back they
picked themselves up and pretended to tie * bags.
"you must wait until last and pull yourself up, mr coyote, because you are too heavy," said the mice. "no. i'll go first," said coyote. "north
wind is fast and could get here before i'm protected. if all of you hold
the end of the rope you can pull me up."
the mice shook their heads doubtfully. coyote yelled4 "do it, or i'll be
mean to you!" "alright," said the mice. coyote got into the bag and the
mice tied the rope around the top of it. a mouse picked up a small stone
and threw it at the bag.
"ouch," said coyote "i felt a hailstone already. quick, get me up under
the tree!" the mice pulled on the rope until coyote swung off the ground. then they tied the end of the rope around the tree trunk.
the mice picked up stones and threw them at the bag. "ooowww!