"Howdy, folks." "Ever see anything beat this canyon country?" "Yes, sir." "Old Mother Nature has sure carved out some mighty pretty scenery." "Just look at them rocks over yonder." "The Indians tell me some of the dag-gondest legends about 'em you ever listened to." "For instance, you take this here coyote rock over there." "Well, sir, it seems as how, a long time ago, certain coyote lived in these parts." "Old Bent Tail." "And a mighty powerful critter he was, with a voice that would turn an opera star green with envy." "Now, this here hombre had one weakness." "Lamb chop." "Fat, juicy, plump lamb chop." "His favorite dish:" "lamb chops on the hoof." "But this flock of potential chops was bein' looked after by man's faithful and trusted friend, the sheepdog... a steady critter who never failed to count his sheep as they bedded down for the night." "His sense of responsibility had taught him to be wide awake and ever-alert." "His keen eyes kept a sharp lookout." "Nothin' could swerve him from his vigilant watch." "But this frisky little rascal, Blackie, wanted to romp around a bit, but the old dog headed him off." "You could almost hear him say," ""Now, look here, son." ""There's a sheep-eatin' coyote lurking' in them hills," ""just waitin' to wrap his jaws around a critter like you." "Get back in the corral and stay there. "" "Well, sir, nearby, a certain lamb chops-eatin' varmint was up to no good." "He was a-gettin' closer and closer." "Old Bent Tail was a clever one, all right." "That varmint had a whole passel of tricks for luring' a sheepdog away from a corral." "All of a sudden, the dog realized what had happened." "With little lambs left unguarded and a hungry coyote on the loose, he'd better hightail for home before too late." "But Old Bent Tail knew all the shortcuts." "He got there first." "The old dog had picked up the trail, but would he get there in time?" "Once again, the lambs were all safely back in the corral." "All but one:" "Blackie." "And was he excited." "He'd just seen the fiercest, meanest, biggest coyote you ever laid eyes on, and he's sittin' on that rock right over there." "The old dog told that little critter," ""Shucks." "That coyote won't hurt you." "He's made of stone. "" "So help me, folks, that's the story behind Coyote Rock, just as I heared it from the Injuns."