The Wild-Fowlers 135 



'tickler es teh who I takes in th' bay, so 

 long es they don't preten'. I 'm jes' es 

 satisfied with a greenhorn es a right smart 

 crack shot, but I kent stan' th' know- 

 nothin' feller a-tryin' teh make me think 

 he 's all-firm' edecated 'bout shootin' 

 an' fishin'. I '11 treat a man es don' 

 know a gun from a clam rake jes' es 

 square es I treats th' 'sper'enced man, 

 but in a differen' way, an' it 's th' bes' 

 fer all concern'. I kent make up win' er 

 down win' wi' a feller es tries teh swindle 

 me 'bout knowin* things. Thar beant no 

 shame in ig'rance enyway, an' I kent 

 see sense in dece'vin' yer frien's, w'en by 

 jes' sayin' yer don' know an' yer 'd like 

 teh know yeh 'd gain some'in' I likes 

 teh 'commodate a hones' man w'en by 

 a-lyin' yer on'y makes trouble. 'T ain' 

 suppose I 'd be able teh run a locomotive 

 er figger up books like city fellers, an' 

 where 's th' harm in a-fessin* this ? Why 

 should ig'rant men come out 'ere an' 

 preten' teh know all 'bout th' natur' ef 



