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Source: Myths and Tales of the
Southeastern Indians, By John R. Swanton, 1929
"In the old days," said Fixco, the Seminole, "all the animals
determined upon a big ball play. The four-footed animals, with the
Alligator for their chief, challenged the fowls, with the Eagle at their
head, for a game."
"Sides were chosen, the poles put up, the ground measured off, and the
medicine men conjured the balls."
"The day came and they all met on the ground."
"The animals ran around their poles, all painted and dressed up, while the
birds flew and screamed around their poles."
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"At last the ball was tossed into the air and the game began."
"The Alligator caught the ball as it came down and, grhtmling it in his
teeth, ran toward the poles. The birds in vain attempted to snatch it from
him and at last gave it up in utter despair."
"The Eagle, however, soared aloft and circled in the air till almost out
of sight, and then like an arrow he swooped to the earth and struck the
Alligator on the nose and broke it. The Alligator's wife had run along
with her old man and was shouting at the top of her voice: 'Look at the
little striped alligator's daddy, just look at him,' while all the animals
shouted in triumph."
"But when the Eagle struck the Alligator all was changed. The Alligator's
teeth opened on the ball and the Turkey poked his head in among the teeth,
pulled it out, and ran to the poles of the birds and threw the ball
between them."
"The fowls won the game and ever since that time the Alligator has had a
sunken place on his nose where the Eagle broke it."
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