Deer walked along by the great river into the forest: ‘Oh, but what a life have I got? No home. Perhaps I will build myself a house. Here is as good a place as any.’

Deer went on.

Along came Jaguar by the great river, padding along into the forest. He came to the same place: ‘Oh, what is my life? Perhaps one day I will settle down and make myself a home. Here would be as good a place as any.’

And Jaguar went on.

Deer returned, and with his fine antlers he cleared the brush, he cleared the trees and made the ground level to build his house, and then went on into the forest.

Now Jaguar came: ‘This is the place I was to build my house, but the ground has been cleared and flattened. Clearly, the God Tupan has blessed this. Here I will make my house.’ And with enthusiasm, the Jaguar flattened the ground and smoothed the ground and made himself a floor – hard and shiny with his teeth aiding him – and then went on into the forest.

Deer returned: ‘A floor has been made, shiny and hard. Clearly the God Tupan is assisting me.' And with renewed energy, Deer built walls for the house. When he had finished, Deer went on into the forest.

Now came Jaguar: ‘The God Tupan has built walls for my house. Now I will make a roof.’ And strong Jaguar made a roof, and when it was complete he went on into the forest. Deer saw that the roof had been made: ‘Tupan has blessed me indeed.’

Inside the house, Deer made two rooms: One for himself and one for Tupan. He went into one room, rested and slept as it grew dark.

And now Jaguar returned and saw there were two rooms in the house: ‘Tupan has made a room for himself to share the house with me.’

He went into the other room and slept.

Deer and Jaguar slept through the night in the same house. At dawn, both woke.

Deer saw Jaguar. Jaguar looked at Deer: ‘Did you help build my house?’

‘I did. Did you help build my house?’

‘I did.’

So it was that Jaguar and Deer shared the house i

n harmony ... for a short time.