The Young Man who was saved by a Rabbit and a Fox

In the woods, far from others, lived a couple with their son, who grew into a strong and clever young man. One day, he expressed his desire to meet other people, and though his parents were saddened, they allowed him to go. After traveling far, he lay on the ground for the night. In the morning, a Rabbit approached and asked where he was heading. The boy replied, “To find people.” The Rabbit, eager for the same, suggested they travel together. They journeyed until they heard distant voices and quietly approached a village. The Rabbit advised the boy to listen unseen, where he discovered the people were worried about a cannibal monster, a kewahqu’, set to devour the sagamore’s daughter. The Rabbit encouraged the boy to offer his help to the villagers.

Eventually, the young man was brought before the chief, who promised his daughter’s hand in marriage if he could save her. The boy returned to the Rabbit, who had a plan. As night fell, the young man brought the girl to a designated spot where the Rabbit awaited with a sled and two squirrels, which he transformed into large sled-dogs. They sped away to another village, where an old woman warned them of the monster’s pursuit and directed them to the river where they found an old man. The old man transformed into a canoe, ferrying them safely across. Upon reaching the other side, he revealed himself as an old Duck and directed them to a mountain, where the Rabbit awaited with a long pole for them to climb and escape the kewahqu’. As the monster climbed the pole, the young man pushed it over, killing the creature in the fall.

Returning to the girl’s village, the Rabbit bid farewell but promised to help again if needed. However, the village’s young men grew envious and plotted against him. They lured him to sea, claiming a whale was attacking, and knocked him overboard. A Crow appeared, promising aid and towing him to an island. There, a Fox offered assistance, transforming the youth into a moose to graze. Later, the Fox guided him across the sea back to his village, where he discovered preparations for his wife’s marriage to another. With great power and anger, the young man confronted the deceitful men, refusing violence. Instead, with the Fox’s help, he transformed them into animals, banishing them to the woods. Thus, the first hog and porcupine came into existence.

This retelling honors a living cultural tradition belonging to the Passamaquoddy people.

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