MR. LION’S SAD PREDICAMENT 
“‘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 cornin’. 
’E say: — 
“‘I skeer da Pa’tridge. Wun me bin walk in da bushside, da 
Pa’tridge ’e hoi’ 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 hoi’ you’ eye ’pon da Buckra Man. 
Da Pa’tridge, ’e no hab no gun fer shoot-a you wit’; da Buckra, ’e 
is bin hab one gun two tarn . 1 Let da Pa’tridge fly, B’er Lion; but 
wun da Buckra Man come you bes’ keep in de shady side. I tell 
you dis, B’er Lion.’ 
“Da Lion, ’e stan’ um down ’e no skeer da Buckra Man, en 
bimeby ’e say goo’-bye; ’e say ’e gwan look fer da Buckra Man 
fer true. 
1 One gun two times is a double-barrelled gun. 
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