n 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 'miration 'bout how col' he water is. He flinch,
he did, en 'low:

"'Ow, Brer Mink! Dish yer water feel mighty col' and 't aint 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.'

"Wid dat, down dey went, but Brer Tarrypin aint mo'n dove 'fo' up he
come, en w'iles Brer Mink 'uz down dar honin' fer fresh a'r, he tuck'n
gobble up de las' one er de fish, ole Brer Tarrypin did. He gobble up de
fish, en he 'uz fixin' fer ter pick he toof, but by dis time Brer Mink
bleedz ter come up, en ole Brer Tarrypin, he tuck'n slid down in de
water. He slid so slick," said Uncle Remus, with a chuckle, "dat he
aint lef' a bubble. He aint stay down long, n'er, 'fo' he come up en
he make lak he teetotally out er win'.

"Ole Brer Tarrypin come up, he did, en look 'roun', en 'fo' Brer Mink
kin say a wud, he holler out:

"'Youer nice man, Brer Mink! Youer mighty nice man!'

"'W'at I done now, Brer Tarrypin?'

"'Don't ax me. Look up dar whar you bin eatin' dem fish en den ax
yo'se'f. Youer mighty nice man!'

"Brer Mink look 'roun' en, sho' 'nuff, de fish done gone. Ole Brer
Tarrypin keep on talkin':

"'You tuck'n come up fust, en w'iles I bin down dar in de water,
nat'ally achin' fer lack er win', yer you settin' up chawin' on de fish
w'ich dey oughter bin mine!'

"Brer Mink stan' 'im down dat he aint eat dem fish; he 'ny it ter de