e, in a hurry to get back
to de dwala. `Go 'way, or I'll blow you away wid de wind of a wink o'
my eye.'

"`Oh, dat's it, is it?' ses young Tink. `Well, I was comin' to see you
about dis King o' de bird business. But if dat's de sort you is, why I
reckon I'll do it on my own, an' den I shan't owe nawtin' to no such a
fathead as you.'

"`King o' de birds,' ses Ou' Jackalse, an' he squot on his haunches an'
laugh till he fair wobble. `You!' ses he, an' he laugh agen till he
fall on his side an' beat de ground wid his tail. `Oh, do go an' be
King o' de rest o' de birds. Be King over Ole Baldy an' de big White
Owl an' all dat lot.'

"`All dat lot o' big fatheads, like you,' ses young Tinky, an' he yust
flick down an' tweak a beakful o' hair out of Ou' Jackalse tail. `What
price dat?' ses he, as he fly up out o' reach.

"Ou' Jackalse yump up like lightnin' struck him. `You young squirt!'
yell' he. `I'll gi'e you King o' de birds if I gets hold o you.'

"`An' I'll show you all about King o' de birds 'fore I's done wid you,'
ses Tinky. `You tinks you's yust too smart for common everyday. But
I'll show you yust how smart you ain't. You wait an' see.' An' off he
flick for where he seen Ole Baldy fly up. He knows Ou' Jackalse come
f'm dere too.

"Now when Ou' Jackalse an' Ole Baldy was a-talkin' togeder, dey ain't
needer on 'em seen de Hokhi-Khee (dat's de ladybird) a-sittin' under a
grass blade close by. An' de Hokhi-Khee she on'y want to keep out o'
sight till dey's gone, 'cause all de brown lace of her wings is all
ruffle down her back, an' it won't lie nice an' straight under dat yella
cloak o' hers wid de black spots. `Goodness gracious o' me,' ses she to
herse'f, `I yust ain't fit to be seen! I hope dese two ole buffers 'll
get away soon.'

"So she kept dat close out o' sight dey never seen her, an' as soon as
dey's gone she hop down an' start to get dat lace straighten' out an'
tucked away nice an' neat under her cloak, an' she's all in a shake an'
a fluster, when down pops young Tink Tinky.

"`Well, I yust do declare!' ses she. `What do you drop down on a body
like dat for? You's got as much imperence as if you was de biggest
bird, instead o' de smallest.'

"`All right,' ses young Tinky. `I may be de littlest bird, an' Ole
Baldy may be de biggest, an' he may a-bin here talkin' soft to you. But
I can yust dust him down any day,' an' you should a-seen dat young Tinky
stretch-in' out first on