NIGHTS WITH UNCLE REMUS 
“‘Dat’s me,’ sez Brer Mink, sezee. 
“‘Well, den,’ sez Brer Tarrypin, sezee, ‘I’m a highlan’ man 
myse’f, en it’s bin a mighty long time sence I got my foots wet, 
but I don’t min’ goin’ in washin’ ’long wid you. Ef youer de man 
you sez you is, you kin outdo me,’ sezee. 
“Brer Mink, sezee: ‘How we gwine do, Brer Tarrypin?’ 
“Ole Brer Tarrypin, sezee: ‘We ’ull go down dar ter de creek, 
en de man w’at kin stay und’ de water de longest, let dat man 
walk off wid dat string er fish.’ 
“Brer Mink, sezee: ‘I’m de ve’y man you bin lookin’ fer.’ 
“Brer Mink say he don’t wanter put it off a minnit. Go he 
would, en go he did. Dey went down ter creek en make der 
’rangerments. Brer Mink lay he fish down on der bank, en ’im en 
ole Brer Tarrypin wade in. Brer Tarrypin he make great ’mira¬ 
tion ’bout how col’ he water is. He flinch, he did, en ’low: — 
“‘Ow, Brer Mink! Dish yer water feel mighty col’ and’t ain’t 
no mo’n up ter my wais’. Goodness knows how she gwine feel 
w’en she git up und’ my chin.’ 
“Dey wade in, dey did, en Brer Tarrypin say, sezee: — 
“‘Now, den, Brer Mink, we’ll make a dive, en de man w’at 
stay und’ de water de longest dat man gits de fish.’ 
“ Brer Mink ’low dat’s de way he look at it, en den Brer Tarrypin 
gun de wud, en und’ dey went. Co’se,” said Uncle Remus, after 
a little pause, “Brer Tarrypin kin stay down in de water longer’n 
Brer Mink, en Brer Mink mought er know’d it. Dey stay en dey 
stay, twel bimeby Brer Mink bleedz ter come up, en he tuck’n 
kotch he breff, he did, lak he mighty glad fer ter git back ag’in. 
Den atter w’ile Brer Tarrypin stuck he nose out er de water, en 
den Brer Mink say Brer Tarrypin kin beat ’im. Brer Tarrypin 
’low: — 
“ ‘No, Brer Mink; hit’s de bes’ two out er th’ee. Ef I beats you 
dis time den de fish, deyer mine; ef I gits beated, den we kin take 
’n’er trial.’ 
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