Envy will cause good friends to become
enemies. Ant was jealous of Yellow Jacket
eating salmon, even though he himself
had as much food and comforts of living.
Ant invaded his neighbor's privacy and
destroyed their friendship. Because
neither would listen to his warning,
Coyote turned them both into stone as
an example for the Human Beings who were
coming.
The Yellow Jackets and the Ants all lived
together on the hillside about ten miles
above Tse-me-na-kem (Lewiston, Idaho),
on the Clearwater River. The two families
were quite friendly, although every once
in a while members would get into an
argument , which is no more than natural.
There was quite a bit of jealousy between
the Chief of the Yellow Jackets and the
Chief of the Ants. This was not real
hatred, but each saw to it that his
rights were not harmed. On the whole, the
two bosses got along pretty well,
considering their gossiping wives and
their many children.
Chief Yellow Jacket was used to eating
his meals on top of a certain rock, and
he liked dried salmon the best. One day,
he was seated on this rock, calmly
eating a big dish of dried salmon which
his wife had set before him.
Along came Chief Ant, and seeing Chief
Yellow Jacket calmly eating his dinner,
he became very angry. It is true that
there were other rocks around for him to
use, and he could have had dried salmon
if he wished, but the sight of Chief
Yellow Jacket made him very angry.
"Hey there, you Yellow Jacket," he
shouted at him, "What are you doing on
the rock? I have as much right there as
you. You can't eat there without asking
me."
Chief Yellow Jacket looked up in surprise.
"Why, Ant, what are you shouting about?
I have always eaten my dinner on this
rock."
"That makes no difference," said the Ant.
"Why didn't you ask me about it?"
Yellow Jacket had by this time become
very angry too. He rattled his wings and
snapped his legs and yelled, "None of
your business, you little runt."
"Don't call me a runt," shouted Ant.
"Nobody can insult me that way."
So saying that, Ant climbed up the side
of the rock, and he and Yellow Jacket
began to fight all over it. They fought
face to face, and with arms locked about
each other, they reared up on their hind
legs, biting and poking for all they were
worth.
Suddenly a great voice boomed out, "Here,
you Ant and Yellow Jacket, stop that
fighting."
It was Coyote, who happened to be passing
down on the other side of the river. He
had seen them struggling, but neither of
them heard him because they were too busy
fighting.
Again Coyote shouted, "You, Ant, and you,
Yellow Jacket, I order you to stop
fighting. My subjects cannot fight. There
is plenty of room and plenty of food for
all of us, so why be foolish?"
This time they heard, but neither of them
would stop.
A third time Coyote warned them, "This
is the last time. I'm going to tell you
now. Stop fighting or I shall turn you
both into stone. You will no longer be
great, for the La-te-tel-wit (Human Beings)
are coming.
They paid no heed, so Coyote used his
magic medicine, waved his paws, and just
as Ant and Yellow Jacket were arched
together, Coyote turned them to stone.
To this day they remain for all to see,
locked in each others arms on top of the
big rock where Yellow Jacket ate his meals,
but which became a battle ground because
of greed.
