English Original
Long ago, the Fire Beings were the only ones who possessed fire. They guarded it jealously, refusing to share it with any other creatures.
This was especially dire in winter, when many young and old perished from the cold. Before another winter arrived, the animals held a council. "We must get fire to keep our families warm," declared Squirrel.
"But how?" asked Chipmunk. "They will never share."
"Let us ask Coyote," suggested Frog. "He is clever and cunning."
Coyote listened and devised a plan. He led the animals to the mountain-top camp of the Fire Beings. While the others hid, Coyote entered the camp.
"Who's there?" screeched a Being.
"It is only a scruffy coyote," hissed another, dismissing him.
Coyote pretended to sleep by the fire, watching three grotesque Fire Beings: one fat and slimy, two old hags with red eyes and claws.
A noise from the bushes, made by Coyote's friends, drew the Beings away to investigate. Seizing his chance, Coyote snatched a burning ember and fled.
The two hags gave chase with surprising speed. One clawed the tip of Coyote's tail, turning the hairs white forever. Coyote threw the fire to Squirrel, who caught it in her tail. The heat scorched her, curling her tail over her back. As she was nearly caught, she passed it to Chipmunk, whose back was clawed, leaving three permanent stripes.
Chipmunk threw the fire to Frog. A hag grabbed Frog's tail. With a mighty struggle, Frog broke free, but left his beautiful tail behind. He hurled the fire to Wood, who swallowed it.
The Fire Beings beat and cut Wood, but he refused to give up the fire. Defeated, the hags returned home, mumbling about broken nails and frog-tail soup.
Coyote then gathered all the animals. "Fire is a gift for all," he said. "Rub two dry sticks of Wood together swiftly. The friction will make Wood 'itchy' and release fire. Now, you will always be warm in winter."
"I told you Coyote was cunning," said Frog.
"Yes," replied Squirrel, "but I wonder what frog's tail soup tastes like?"
And so, to this day, Coyote's tail-tip is white, Squirrel's tail is curled, Chipmunk wears stripes, and Frog has no tail. But everyone stays warm in winter.
中文翻译
很久以前，火之生灵是唯一拥有火的存在。他们吝啬地守护着火种，拒绝与其他任何生物分享。
这在冬天尤为可怕，许多幼崽和老者死于严寒。在又一个冬季来临前，动物们召开了一次会议。"我们必须取得火种，让我们的家人温暖过冬，"松鼠宣布道。
"但是怎么做呢？"花栗鼠问道，"他们绝不会分享的。"
"让我们去请教郊狼吧，"青蛙建议道，"他既聪明又狡猾。"
郊狼听后，制定了一个计划。他带领动物们来到位于山顶的火之生灵营地。其他动物藏起来后，郊狼走进了营地。
"谁在那儿？"一个生灵尖叫道。
"不过是一只邋遢的郊狼罢了，"另一个生灵嘶嘶地说，打发了他。
郊狼假装在火边睡觉，暗中观察着三个丑陋的火之生灵：一个肥胖黏腻，两个是老巫婆，长着红眼睛和利爪。
灌木丛中传来一阵声响（是郊狼的朋友们制造的），引开了生灵们去查看。郊狼抓住机会，抢了一块燃烧的余烬就逃。
两个巫婆以惊人的速度追赶。其中一个抓到了郊狼的尾巴尖，将那里的毛永远变成了白色。郊狼将火扔给了松鼠，松鼠用尾巴接住了。火焰灼伤了她，使她的尾巴永远卷曲在背上。当她快要被抓住时，她把火传给了花栗鼠，花栗鼠的背部被巫婆抓伤，留下了三道永久的条纹。
花栗鼠把火扔给青蛙。一个巫婆抓住了青蛙的尾巴。经过一番激烈的挣扎，青蛙挣脱了，但他美丽的尾巴却留在了巫婆手中。他将火扔向了木头，木头吞下了火种。
火之生灵殴打、砍劈木头，但木头拒绝交出火种。战败的巫婆们嘟囔着断了的指甲和青蛙尾巴汤，回家去了。
随后，郊狼召集了所有动物。"火是给所有人的礼物，"他说，"快速摩擦两根干燥的木棍。摩擦会使木头'发痒'，从而释放出火。现在，你们冬天都能保持温暖了。"
"我告诉过你们郊狼很狡猾吧，"青蛙说。
"是啊，"松鼠回答道，"但我在想，青蛙尾巴汤是什么味道呢？"
因此，直到今天，郊狼的尾巴尖是白色的，松鼠的尾巴是卷曲的，花栗鼠身上带着条纹，而青蛙没有了尾巴。但每个人冬天都能保持温暖。