wdashus vilyun! Des
hit 'im a surbinder, en ef he dast ter run, I boun' you I'll ketch 'im.'

"Brer Fox, he went up little nigher. Cousin Wildcat stop rubbin' on de
tree, en sot up on he behime legs wid he front paws in de a'r, en he
balance hisse'f by leanin' 'gin' de tree, but he aint sayin' nothin'.
Brer Rabbit, he squall out, he did:

"'Oh, you nee'nter put up yo' han's en try ter beg off. Dat de way you
fool my ole gran'daddy; but you can't fool we-all. All yo' settin' up en
beggin' aint gwine ter he'p you. Ef youer so humble ez all dat, w'at
make you come pesterin' longer we-all? Hit 'im a clip, Brer Fox! Ef he
run, I'll ketch 'im!'

"Brer Fox see de creetur look so mighty humble, settin' up dar lak he
beggin' off, en he sorter take heart. He sidle up todes 'im, he did, en
des ez he 'uz makin' ready fer ter slap 'im ole Cousin Wildcat draw'd
back en fotch Brer Fox a wipe 'cross de stomach."

Uncle Remus paused here a moment, as if to discover some term strong
enough to do complete justice to the catastrophe. Presently he went
on:

"Dat ar Cousin Wildcat creetur fotch Brer Fox a wipe 'cross de stomach,
en you mought a yeard 'im squall fum yer ter Harmony Grove. Little mo'
en de creetur would er to' Brer Fox in two. W'ence de creetur made a
pass at 'im, Brer Rabbit knew w'at gwine ter happen, yit all de same he
tuck'n holler:

"'Hit 'im ag'in, Brer Fox! Hit 'im ag'in! I'm a-backin' you, Brer Fox!
Ef he dast ter run, I'll inabout cripple 'im--dat I will. Hit 'im
ag'in!'

"All dis time w'iles Brer Rabbit gwine on dis a-way, Brer Fox, he 'uz
a-squattin' down, hol'in' he stomach wid bofe han's en des a-moanin':

"'I'm ruint, Brer Rabbit! I'm ruint! Run fetch de doctor! I'm teetotally
ruint!'

"'Bout dat time, Cousin Wildcat, he tuck'n tuck a walk. Brer Rabbit, he
make lak he 'stonish' dat Brer Fox is hurted. He tuck'n 'zamin' de
place, he did, en he up'n 'low:

"'Hit look lak ter me, Brer Fox, dat dat owdashus vilyun tuck'n struck
you wid a reapin'-hook.'

"Wid dat Brer Rabbit lit out fer home, en w'en he git out er sight, he
tuck'n shuck he han's des lak cat does w'en she git water on 'er foots,
en he tuck'n laugh en laugh twel it make 'im sick fer ter laugh."

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FOOTNOTES:

[57] Gnaws the bark from the trees.

[58] Drain or ditch.
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XLV

BRO