ddy Jack said:--

"Da Lion, 'e no hab bin sma't lak B'er Rabbit. 'E strong wit' 'e fut, 'e
strong wit' 'e tush, but 'e no strong wit' 'e head. 'E bery foolish,
'cep' 'e is bin hab chance ter jump 'pon dem creetur.

"One tam 'e bin come by B'er Rabbit in da road; 'e ahx um howdy; 'e ahx
um wey 'e gwan. B'er Rabbit say 'e gwan git fum front de Buckra Man wut
bin comin' 'long da road. B'er Rabbit say:--

"'Hide you'se'f, B'er Lion; da Buckra ketch-a you fer true; 'e is bin
ketch-a you tam he pit 'e y-eye 'pon you; 'e mekky you sick wit' sorry.
Hide fum da Buckra, B'er Lion!'

"Da Lion, 'e shekky 'e head; 'e say:--

"'Ki! Me no skeer da Buckra Man. I glad fer shum. I ketch um en I kyar
um wey I lif; me hab da Buckra Man fer me bittle. How come you bein'
skeer da Buckra Man, B'er Rabbit?'

"B'er Rabbit look all 'bout fer see ef da Buckra bin comin'. 'E say:--

"'Me hab plenty reason, B'er Lion. Da Buckra Man shoot-a wit' one gun.
'E r'ise um too 'e y-eye, 'e p'int um stret toze you; 'e say _bang!_ one
tam, 'e say _bang!_ two tam: dun you is bin git hu't troo da head en
cripple in da leg.'

"Lion, 'e shek 'e head; 'e say:--

"'Me no skeer da Buckra Man. I grab-a da gun. I ketch um fer me
brekwus.'

"B'er Rabbit, 'e lahff; 'e say:--

"'Him quare fer true. Me skeer da Buckra, me no skeer you; but you no
skeer da Buckra. How come dis?'

"Da Lion lash 'e tail; 'e say:--

"'Me no skeer da Buckra, but me skeer da Pa'tridge; me berry skeer da
Pa'tridge.'

"B'er Rabbit, 'e lahff tel 'e kin lahff no mo'. 'E say:--

"'How come you skeer da Pa'tridge? 'E fly wun you wink-a you' eye; 'e
run en 'e fly. Hoo! me no skeer 'bout dem Pa'tridge. Me skeer da
Buckra.'

"Da Lion, 'e look all 'bout fer see ef da Pa'tridge bin comin'. 'E
say:--

"'I skeer da Pa'tridge. Wun me bin walk in da bushside, da Pa'tridge 'e
hol' right still 'pon da groun' tel me come dey-dey, en dun 'e fly
up--_fud-d-d-d-d-d-e-e!_ Wun 'e is bin do dat me is git-a skeer berry
bahd.'"

No typographical device could adequately describe Daddy Jack's imitation
of the flushing of a covey of partridges, or quail; but it is needless
to say that it made its impression upon the little boy. The old African
went on:--

"B'er Rabbit, 'e holler un lahff; 'e say:--

"'Me no skeer da Pa'tridge. I bin run dem up ebry day. Da no hu't-a you,
B'er Lion. You hol' you' eye 'pon da Buckra Man. Da Pa'tridge, 'e no hab
no gun fer shoot-a you wit'; da Buckra, 'e is bin ha