in keep he eye on de noggin er butter. He aint wait long 'fo' yer
come Wattle Weasel. Des ez he 'bout ter nibble at de butter, Brer Rabbit
holler out:

"'Let dat butter 'lone!'

"Wattle Weasel jump back lak de butter bu'nt 'im. He jump back, he did,
en say:

"'Sho'ly dat mus' be Brer Rabbit!'

"'De same. I 'low'd you'd know me. Des let dat butter 'lone.'

"'Des lemme git one little bit er tas'e, Brer Rabbit.'

"'Des let dat butter 'lone.'

"Den Wattle Weasel say he want er run a race. Brer Rabbit 'low he tired.
Wattle Weasel 'low he want er play hidin'. Brer Rabbit 'low dat all he
hidin' days is pas' en gone. Wattle Weasel banter'd en banter'd 'im, en
bimeby Brer Rabbit come up wid a banter er he own.

"'I'll take'n tie yo' tail,' sezee, 'en you'll take'n tie mine, en den
we'll see w'ich tail de strongest.' Little Wattle Weasel know how weakly
Brer Rabbit tail is, but he aint know how strong Brer Rabbit bin wid he
tricks. So dey tuck'n tie der tails wid Brer Rabbit twine string.

"Wattle Weasel wuz ter stan' inside en Brer Rabbit wuz ter stan'
outside, en dey wuz ter pull 'gin' one er n'er wid dey tails. Brer
Rabbit, he tuck'n slip out'n de string, en tie de een' 'roun' a tree
root, en den he went en peep at Wattle Weasel tuggin' en pullin'. Bimeby
Wattle Weasel 'low:

"'Come en ontie me, Brer Rabbit, 'kaze you done outpull me.'

"Brer Rabbit sot dar, he did, en chaw he cud, en look lak he feel sorry
'bout sump'n'. Bimeby all de creeturs come fer ter see 'bout dey butter,
'kaze dey fear'd Brer Rabbit done make way wid it. Yit w'en dey see
little Wattle Weasel tie by de tail, dey make great 'miration 'bout Brer
Rabbit, en dey 'low he de smartest one er de whole gang."

----------------------------------------------------------------------
FOOTNOTES:

[69] That is, could do no more than half the work of a man.

[70] Killdeers--a species of plover.
----------------------------------------------------------------------

LVI

BROTHER RABBIT TIES MR. LION

There was some comment and some questions were asked by the little boy
in regard to Wattle Weasel and the other animals; to all of which Uncle
Remus made characteristic response. Aunt Tempy sat with one elbow on her
knee, her head resting in the palm of her fat hand. She gazed intently
into the fire, and seemed to be lost in thought. Presently she
exclaimed:

"Well, de Lord he'p my soul!"

"Dat 's de promise, Sis Tempy," said Unc