hoots wid dat beef.'

"Brer Rabbit, he up'n ax Brer Wolf how all his folks. Brer Wolf say:

"'You'll fin' out how dey all is 'fo' dis day gone by. You took'n took
de beef, un now I'm a-gwine ter take'n take you.'

"Wid dis Brer Wolf make a dash at Brer Rabbit, but he des lack a little
bit uv bein' quick 'nuff, un Brer Rabbit he des went a-sailin' thoo de
woods. Brer Wolf, he tuck atter 'im, un yer dey had it--fus' Brer Rabbit
un den Brer Wolf. Brer Rabbit mo' soopler dan Brer Wolf, but Brer Wolf
got de 'vantage er de win', un terreckly he push Brer Rabbit so close
dat he run in a holler log.

"Brer Rabbit bin in dat log befo' un he know dey's a hole at de t'er
een', un he des keep on a-gwine. He dart in one een' un he slip out de
udder. He aint stop ter say goo'-bye; bless you! he des keep on gwine.

"Brer Wolf, he see Brer Rabbit run in de holler log, un he say ter
hisse'f:

"'Heyo, dey bin callin' you so mighty cunnin' all dis time, un yer you
done gone un shot yo'se'f up in my trap.'

"Den Brer Wolf laugh un lay down by de een' whar Brer Rabbit went in, un
pant un res' hisse'f. He see whar Brer B'ar burnin' off a new groun', un
he holler un ax 'im fer ter fetch 'im a chunk er fier, un Brer B'ar he
fotch it, en dey sot fier ter de holler log, un dey sot dar un watch it
till it burn plum up. Den dey took'n shuck han's, un Brer Wolf say he
hope dat atter dat dey'll have some peace in de neighborhoods."

Uncle Remus smiled a knowing smile as he filled his pipe, but Aunt Tempy
continued with great seriousness:

"One time atter dat, Brer Wolf, he took'n pay a call down ter Miss
Meadows, un w'en he git dar un see Brer Rabbit settin' up side uv one er
de gals, he like to 'a' fainted, dat he did. He 'uz dat 'stonish'd dat
he look right down-hearted all endurin' uv de party.

"Brer Rabbit, he bow'd his howdies ter Brer Wolf un shuck han's 'long
wid 'im, des like nothin' aint never happen 'twixt 'um, un he up'n
say:

"'Ah-law, Brer Wolf! Youer much mo' my fr'en' dan you ever 'speckted ter
be, un you kin des count on me right straight 'long.'

"Brer Wolf say he feel sorter dat a-way hisse'f, un he ax Brer Rabbit
w'at make 'im change his min' so quick.

"'Bless you, Brer Wolf, I had needs ter change it,' sez Brer Rabbit,
sezee.

"Brer Wolf, he ax 'im how come.

"'All about bein' burnt up in a holler log, Brer Wolf, un w'en you gits
time I wish you be so good ez ter bu'n me up some mo',' sez Brer Rabbit,
sezee.