"EF I don't run inter no mistakes," remarked Uncle Remus, as the
little boy came tripping in to see him after supper, "Mr. Tukkey
Buzzard wuz gyardin' de holler whar Brer Rabbit went in at, en
w'ich he come out un."
The silence of the little boy verified the old man's
recollection.
"Well, Mr. Buzzard, he feel mighty lonesome, he did, but he done
prommust Brer Fox dat he'd stay, en he 'termin' fer ter sorter
hang 'roun' en jine in de joke. En he ain't hatter wait long,
nudder, kase bimeby yer come Brer Fox gallopin' thoo de woods wid
his axe on his shoulder.
"'How you speck Brer Rabbit gittin' on, Brer Buzzard?' sez Brer
Fox, sezee.
"'Oh, he in dar,' sez Brer Buzzard, sezee. 'He mighty still,
dough. I speck he takin' a nap,' sezee.
"'Den I'm des in time fer ter wake im up, sez Brer Fox, sezee. En
wid dat he fling off his coat, en spit in his han's, en grab de
axe. Den he draw back en come down on de tree--pow! En eve'y time
he come down wid de axe--pow!--Mr. Buzzard, he step high, he did,
en holler out:
"'Oh, he in dar, Brer Fox. He in dar, sho.'
"En eve'y time a chip ud fly off, Mr. Buzzard, he'd jump, en
dodge, en hol' his head sideways, he would, en holler:
"'He in dar, Brer Fox. I done heerd 'im. He in dar, sho.'
"En Brer Fox, he lammed away at dat holler tree, he did, like a
man maulin' rails, twel bimeby, atter he done got de tree mos'
cut thoo, he stop fer ter ketch his bref, en he seed Mr. Buzzard
laughin' behime his back, he did, en right den en dar, widout
gwine enny fudder, Brer Fox, he smelt a rat. But Mr. Buzzard, he
keep on holler'n:
"'He in dar, Brer Fox. He in dar, sho. I done seed 'im.'
"Den Brer Fox, he make like he peepin' up de holler, en he say,
sezee:
"'Run yer, Brer Buzzard, en look ef dis ain't Brer Rabbit's foot
hanging down yer.'
"En Mr. Buzzard, he come steppin' up, he did, same ez ef he wer
treddin' on kurkle-burs, en he stick his head in de hole; en no
sooner did he done dat dan Brer Fox grab 'im. Mr. Buzzard flap
his wings, en scramble 'roun' right smartually, he did, but
'twant no use. Brer Fox had de 'vantage er de grip, he did, en he
hilt 'im right down ter de groun'. Den Mr. Buzzard squall out,
sezee:
"'Lemme 'lone, Brer Fox. Tu'n me loose,' sezee; 'Brer Rabbit 'll
git out. You er gittin' close at 'im,' sezee, 'en leb'm mo'
licks'll fetch 'im,' sezee.
"'I'm nigher ter you, Brer Buzzard,' sez Brer Fox, sezee, 'dan
I'll be ter Brer Rabbit dis day,' sezee. 'W'at you fool me fer?'
sezee.
"'Lemme lone, Brer Fox,' sez Mr. Buzzard, sezee; my ole 'oman
waitin' fer me. Brer Rabbit in dar,' sezee.
"'Dar's a bunch er his fur on dat black-be'y bush,' sez Brer Fox,
sezee, 'en dat ain't de way he come,' sezee.
"Den Mr. Buzzard up'n tell Brer Fox how 'twuz, en he 'low'd, Mr.
Buzzard did, dat Brer Rabbit wuz de lowdownest w'atsizname w'at
he ever run up wid. Den Brer Fox say, sezee:
"'Dat's needer here ner dar, Brer Buzzard,' sezee. 'I lef' you
yer fer ter watch dish yere hole, en I lef' Brer Rabbit in dar. I
comes back en I fines you at de 'ole en Brer Rabbit ain't in
dar,' sezee. 'I'm gwineter make you pay fer't. I done bin
tampered wid twel plum' down ter de sap sucker'll set on a log en
sassy me. I'm gwineter fling you in a bresh-heap en burn you up,'
sezee.
"'Ef you fling me on der fier, Brer Fox, I'll fly 'way,' sez Mr.
Buzzard, sezee.
"'Well, den, I'll settle yo' hash right now,' sez Brer Fox,
sezee, en wid dat he grab Mr. Buzzard by de tail, he did, en make
fer ter dash 'im 'gin de groun', but des 'bout dat time de tail
fedders come out, en Mr. Buzzard sail off like one er dese yer
berloons; en ez he riz, he holler back:
"'You gimme good start, Brer Fox,' sezee, en Brer Fox sot dar en
watch 'im fly outer sight."
"But what became of the Rabbit, Uncle Remus?" asked the little
boy.
"Don't you pester longer Brer Rabbit, honey, en don't you fret
'bout 'im. You'll year whar he went en how he come out. Dish yer
col' snap rastles wid my bones, now," continued the old man,
putting on his hat and picking up his walking-stick. "Hit rastles
wid me monstus, en I gotter rack 'roun' en see if I kin run up
agin some Chris'mus leavin's."