In old times the Red Headed Woodpecker once went to visit the Rabbit. He saw the Rabbit was very poor, and had nothing to eat, so he thought he would help him out. He took a green withe, tied it round his waist, and said: “Now I will catch some eels.”

He went to the side of a rotten tree, and pick, pick; Rabbit saw him pull out eel after eel,[24] and string them on a stick. When the stick was full, he brought them to camp and cooked them. When they were cooked, he and Rabbit ate supper, and felt happy. Then the Woodpecker took his leave, inviting Rabbit to return the visit soon.

In about three weeks Rabbit thought it was time he should accept this invitation, so he went to see Woodpecker. When he got there he said: “My turn now to get supper;” for he thought he could catch eels just as Woodpecker did.

He tied a withe about him, went to a tree, and pick, pick, pick, harder, then so hard that his nose was flattened and his lip split; but he caught no eels.

Old man Turtle was visiting Woodpecker at this same time. He took pity on Rabbit, tied the withe round his own body, and dived down into the lake, coming up with a back-load of eels.

Rabbit thought: “Well, I can do that. Turtle is a very good old fellow, I guess I will ask him to come over to see me.” So he said: “Come to see me where I live.”

Old man Turtle went to see Rabbit; but he is such a slow traveller, that when Rabbit saw him coming, he thought, “I shall have plenty of time to get the eels ready,” so he tied the withe round him, and jumped into the water, but every time he jumped, he bounced right back. He could not dive at all.

Turtle saw him, went to the lake. Rabbit said: “I have tried and tried; but I can’t get eels. I guess there are none here.”

The Turtle knew what the trouble was; but he only said: “Let me have the withe;” and in no time he brought up a back-load. They went home and cooked them; and Rabbit liked Turtle so well that they were good friends forever after.[25]