ickies?'

"`Yust fine,' ses Ou' Jackalse--`for eatin'.'

"`What's dat?' ses de leopard, tail a-wavin'.

"`Well, deir eatin's drinkin',' ses Ou' Jackalse. `An' here's de
first,' ses he, handin' out one.

"Well, dey hands 'em out an' dey hands 'em in, an' dat's t'ree cubses.
De leopard's a-waitin' for de fourt', an' dat's de one Ou' Jackalse
cahnt hand out 'cause it's inside him. But he don't turn a hair; he
yust wink to hisse'f an' hand out de first agen. `Extra dose for you,'
ses he when he take it in agen. `Extra yuice for me.'

"So when de leopard's gone a-huntin' agen Ou' Jackalse eat de cub what
had de two drinks, an' when de leopard come back he hands out de cubses,
one, two, an' den number one agen for number t'ree, and number two for
number four. An' he feel dat tickled wid hisse'f he stan' on his head
inside dere. Den de leopard go huntin' agen, an' Ou' Jackalse eat
anoder cub, an' when de leopard come back dere's on'y one lef. `How's
de cubickies?' ses de leopard.

"`Fine,' ses Ou' Jackalse. `Dey yust is fine!' an' he wink to hisse'f.
`On'y dere's one make like he ain't so well. But it'll be a' right
ahter it's had a drink.'

"Den he pass out de one last cub, an' it take it's milk, an' de leopard
hand it back. Den he pass it out agen an' it have anoder feed. Same
way de nex' time, an' den de last time it's yust so full it cahnt drink
no more, an' its little tummy's all swell out. `Dat's de one what ain't
so well,' ses Ou' Jackalse.

"`It do look like it's a bit sickie,' ses de leopard. `I wonder what's
de matter wid it?'

"`I tink dis stone stop up all de air,' ses Ou' Jackalse. `You might
yust pull it a little way back; not de hool way out, else Ou' Wolf might
try to get in agen.'

"So de leopard pull out de stone a bit; not too far, but yust far enough
for Ou' Jackalse to squeeze out if he want to. `Look ahter dat sick
'un,' ses de leopard, an' off she go.

"Den Ou' Jackalse scoff de last cub. `Allah man!' ses he, `ain't it a
pity dey's all done. An' now I'll ha' to slant for home 'fore de
leopard come an' want to feed her cubses agen.'

"Den he squeeze hisse'f outside ready to go, an' he hadn't strid de fust
stride 'fore he sees de leopard comin' back. Dere he was, an' dere's de
leopard comin' for her cubses; but darie ou' skellum he ain't done yet.
He let a yell outen him, an' run an put his shoulder to de rock. `Make
hurry! make haste,' he shout `De rock's a-fallin' on you