[82] Mrs. H. S. Barclay, of Darien, who sends this story, says it was
told by a native African woman, of good intelligence, who claimed
to be a princess. She had an eagle tattoed on her bosom--a sign
of royalty.
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LXVII

OLD BROTHER TERRAPIN GETS SOME FISH

"Dat tale," said Uncle Remus, "puts me in min' er de time w'en ole Brer
Tarrypin had a tussel wid Brer Mink. Hit seem lak," he went on, in
response to inquiries from the little boy, "dat dey bofe live 'roun' de
water so much en so long dat dey git kinder stuck up long wid it.
Leasways dat 'uz de trouble wid Brer Mink. He jump in de water en swim
en dive twel he 'gun ter b'leeve dey wa'n't nobody kin hol' der han'
long wid 'im.

"One day Brer Mink 'uz gwine long down de creek wid a nice string er
fish swingin' on he walkin'-cane, w'en who should he meet up wid but ole
Brer Tarrypin. De creeturs 'uz all hail feller wid ole Brer Tarrypin, en
no sooner is he seed Brer Mink dan he bow 'im howdy. Ole Brer Tarrypin
talk 'way down in he th'oat lak he got bad col'. He 'low:

"'Heyo, Brer Mink! Whar you git all dem nice string er fish?'

"Brer Mink 'uz mighty up-en-spoken in dem days. He 'low, he did:

"'Down dar in de creek, Brer Tarrypin.'

"Brer Tarrypin look 'stonish'. He say, sezee:

"'Well, well, well! In de creek! Who'd er b'leev'd it?'

"Brer Mink, sezee: 'Whar I gwine ketch um, Brer Tarrypin, ef I aint
ketch um in de creek?'

"Ole Brer Tarrypin, sezee: 'Dat 's so, Brer Mink; but a highlan' man lak
you gwine in de creek atter fish! Hit looks turrible, Brer Mink--dat
w'at it do; hit des looks turrible!'

"Brer Mink, sezee: 'Looks er no looks, dar whar I got um.'

"Brer Tarrypin sorter sway he head fum side ter side, en 'low:

"'Ef dat de case, Brer Mink, den sho'ly you mus' be one er dem ar kinder
creeturs w'at usen ter de water.'

"'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 bi