THE JUMPING FROG. 39 



qui en etait, il fut comme fou. Vous le voyez d'ici poser sa grenouille par terre et courir apris cet 

 individu, mais il ne le rattrapa jamais, et. . . 



[Translation of the above back from the French]. 



THE FROG JUMPING OF THE COUNTY OF CALAVERAS. 



It there was one time here an individual known under the name of Jim Smiley: 

 it was in the winter of '49, possibly well at the spring of '50, I no me recollect not 

 exactly. This which me makes to believe that it was the one or the other, it is that 

 I shall remember that the grand flume is not achieved when he arrives at the camp 

 for the first time, but of all sides he was the man the most fond of to bet which one 

 have seen, betting upon all that which is presented, when he could find an adversary; 

 and when he not of it could not, he passed to the side opposed. All that which 

 convenienced to the the other, to him convenienced also; seeing that he had a bet, 

 Smiley was satisfied. And he had a chance! a chance even worthless: nearly 

 always he gained. It must to say that he was always near to himself expose, but 

 one no could mention the least thing without that this gaillard offered to bet the 

 bottom, no matter what, and to take the side that one him would, as I you it said 

 all at the hour (tout a I'heure). If it there was of races, you him find rich or ruined 

 at the end; if it there is a combat of dogs, he bring his bet; he himself laid always 

 for a combat of cats, for a combat of cocks; — by-blue! if you have see two birds 

 upon a fence, he you should have offered of to bet which of those birds shall fly the 

 first; and if there is meeting at the camp {meeting au camp) he comes to bet regu- 

 larly for the cure Walker, which he judged to be the best predicator of the neigh- 

 borhood (pre;dicateur des environs) and which he was in effect, and a brave man. 

 He would encounter a bug of wood in the road, whom he will bet upon the time 

 which he shall take to go where she would go — and if you him have take at the 

 word, he will follow the bug as far as Mexique, without himself caring to go so far; 

 neither of the time which he there lost. One time the woman of the cur^ 

 Walker is very sick during long time, it seemed that one not her saved not; but 

 one morning the curd arrives, and Smiley him demanded how she goes, and he said 

 that she is well better, grace to the infinite misery (lui demande comment elle va, 

 et il dit qu'elle est bien mieux, grace k I'infinie misfericorde) so much better that 



