In the beginning of the world, there was no fire. The animal
people were often cold. Only the Thunders, who lived in the
world beyond the sky arch, had fire. At last they sent Lightning
down to an island. Lightning put fire into the bottom of a
hollow sycamore tree. The animal people knew that the fire was
there, because they could see smoke rising from the top of the
tree. But they could not get to it on account of the water. So
they held a council to decide what to do. Everyone that could
fly or could swim was eager to go after the fire. Raven said,
"Let me go. I am large and strong." At that time Raven was
white. He flew high and far across the water and reached the top
of the sycamore tree. While he sat there wondering what to do,
the heat scorched all his feathers black. The frightened Raven
flew home without the fire, and his feathers have been black
ever since. Then the council sent Screech Owl. He flew to the
island. But while he was looking down into the hollow tree, a
blast of hot air came up and ne