NIGHTS WITH UNCLE REMUS 
hardly knew whether to claim an acquaintance with Daddy 
Jack’s ’Gater. 
“Dem all sem,” continued Daddy Jack. “Big mout’, pop-eye, 
walk on ’e belly; ’e is bin got bump, bump, bump ’pon ’e bahk, 
bump, bump, bump ’pon ’e tail. ’E dife ’neat’ de water, ’e do 
lif ’pon de lan’. 
I “One tarn Dog is bin run B’er Rabbit, tel ’e do git tire; da* 
Dog is bin run ’im tel him ent mos’ hab no bre’t’ in ’e body; ’e 
hide ’ese’f by de crik side. ’E come close ’pon B’er ’Gater, en 
B’er ’Gater, ’e do say: — 
“‘Ki, B’er Rabbit! wut dis is mek you blow so? Wut mekky 
you’ bre’t’ come so?’ 
“‘Eh-eh! B’er ’Gater, I hab bin come ’pon trouble. Dog, ’e 
do run un-a run me.’ 
“‘Wey you no fetch ’im ’long, B’er Rabbit? I is bin git fat on 
all da’ trouble lak dem. I proud fer yeddy Dog bark, ef ’e is bin 
fetch-a me trouble lak dem.’ 
“‘Wait, B’er ’Gater! Trouble come bisitin’ wey you lif; ’e 
mekky you’ side puff; ’e mekky you’ bre’t’ come so.’ 
“’Gater, he do flup ’e tail un ’tretch ’ese’f, un lahff. ’E say: — 
“‘I lak fer see dem trouble. Nuddin’ no bodder me. I ketch-a 
dem swimp, I ketch-a dem crahb, I mekky my bed wey de sun 
shitin hot, un I do ’joy mese’f. I proud fer see dem trouble.’ 
‘“’E come ’pon you, B’er ’Gater, wun you bin hab you’ eye 
shed; ’e come ’pon you fum de turrer side. Ef ’e no come ’pon 
you in da’ crik, dun ’e come ’pon you in da’ broom-grass.’ 
“‘Dun I shekky um by de han’, B’er Rabbit; I ahx um howdy.’ 
“‘Eh-eh, B’er ’Gater! you bin-a lahff at me; you no lahff wun 
dem trouble come. Dem trouble bin ketch-a you yit.’ ” 
Daddy Jack paused to wipe his face. He had reported the dia¬ 
logue between Brother Rabbit and Brother Alligator with con¬ 
siderable animation, and had illustrated it as he went along with 
many curious inflections of the voice, and many queer gestures of 
120 
