Note 23 — THE SNAKE AND THE PORCUPINE
Reading edition
The Indian who told this tale explained it as being the story of the white man and the red man. The white man is the Porcupine who came from afar with an army of swords. He promised fairly; he had everything; the Indian had only his arrows and his land. He thought it was wisest to say: “Take what you will.” But the white man killed him, and took all his land.