Once Big Ears was coming alone from the farm of his master to Isleta, 
carrying a load of curd cheeses done up in buckskin bags.  As he came 
through the hills he met a Coyote, who said:  "Friend Big Ears, what 
do you carry on your back?"

"I carry many cheeses for my master, friend Too-whay-deh," answered the 
Burro.

"Then give me one, friend, for I am hunger-dying."

"No," said the Burro.  "I cannot give you one, for my master would 
blame me -- since they are not mine, but his, and a man of the pueblo 
waits for them."

Many times the Coyote asked him with soft words; but Big Ears would 
not, and went his way.  Then the Coyote followed him behind, without 
noise, and slyly bit the bag and stole a cheese.  But Big Ears did 
not know it, for he could not see behind.

When he came to the pueblo, the man who awaited him unloaded the 
cheeses and counted them.  "There lacks one," he said.  "For your 
master said he would send so many.  Where is the other?"

"Truly, I know not," answered Big Ears, "but I think Too-whay-deh 
stole it, for he asked me on the way to give him a cheese.  But wait 
-- I will pay him!"

So Big Ears went back to the hills and looked for the house of 
Too-whay-deh.  At last he found it, but the Coyote was nowhere.  So 
he lay down near the hole, and stretched his legs out as if dead, 
opened his mouth wide, and was very still.

Time passing so, the Old Woman Coyote came out of the house to bring 
a jar of water.  But when she saw the Burro lying there, she dropped 
her tinaja, and ran in crying:

"Old Man!  come out and see!  For a buffalo has died out here, and 
we must take in some meat."

So Old Man Coyote came out and was very glad, and began to sharpen 
his knife.

But his wife said:  "But before you cut him up, get me the liver, for 
I am very hungry" -- and the liver is that which all the foxes like 
best.

Then the Old Man Coyote, thinking to please her, went into the 
Burro's mouth to get the liver; but Big Ears shut his teeth on 
Too-whay-deh's head, jumped up and ran home.  The Old Woman Coyote 
followed, running, crying:  "Ay, Nana!  Let go!"  But Big Ears would 
not listen to her, and brought the thief to his master.  When the 
master heard what had been, he killed the Coyote, and thanked Big 
Ears, and gave him much grass.  And this is why, ever since, Big Ears 
strikes with his hind feet if anything comes behind him slyly; for he 
remembers how Too-whay-deh stole the cheese.