he ain't
yust a-yearnin' fo' dinner nohow. He look over de top o' de wall o' de
hock, but he know it ain't no manner o' use to try an' run for it,
'cause Ou' Mensefreiter 'll snap him back 'fore he get into his stride
har'ly. It ain't yust sich a fat time, bein' fat, ahter all, tinks he,
an' he sort o' wish he had Ou' Wolf dere wid him somehow. He look dis
way an' he look dat way, but dere ain't nawtin', on'y de little pat'
a-runnin' down to de drift, and de drift a-risin' an' a-risin' wid it
keepin' on a-rainin' an' a-rainin' up de river. It look mighty like Ou'
Jackalse's name's goin' to be `mud' dis time, an' his tail yust drop
flop.

"Den he feel a sort o' quiet little twitch at his tail. He look roun'
sharp, an' dere he see little Kleinkie Mousie. `What you bite me fo'?'
ses Ou' Jackalse, kind o' big, 'cause it kind o' give him a start wid
makin' him tink it was Ou' Mensefreiter had him.

"`You's got all dese pampoene, ain't you? An' I want to talk to you
about de seeds for my dinner,' ses Kleinkie, his eyes a-shinin' black
an' his paws yust ready to off 'fore you can swip you' tail.

"Ou' Jackalse he know he can't eat de seeds hisse'f, an' besides he
ain't yust dead gone on dem pun'kins nohow. He tink he might's well be
a fine fella an' get his name up wid Kleinkie. `A'right,' ses he, `if
you want a dinner, why, dere you is,' ses he, an' he sweep his hand up
like di'monds is dust an' he's yust scatterin' dust down de wind. Den
he lean up agen de corner o' de hock an' watch Kleinkie fair gnawin' dem
seeds, like it quite do him good to watch it.

"Well, dis went on till de sevent' day, an' to-morro' mawnin' Ou'
Jackalse is goin' to be shove in de pot an' roas'. He 'gin to look down
his nose some, 'specially when he look at de pun'kin Ou' Mensefreiter
drop in fo' him to eat dis day. It was yust one pun'kin, only one; but
it was de biggest old pun'kin you ever did see. `If I did get myse'f
wrop round de outside o' dat pampoene I'd be sort o' fat-lookin'
anyhow,' ses he, an' he smile kind o' mournful.

"Den up pops little Kleinkie. `What's de matter?' ses he. `You looks
like a location Kaffir when he bin had a night on Kaffir beer an' den
ha' to work next mawnin',' ses he.

"`Well,' ses Ou' Jackalse. `I never did work yet 'cept to get out o'
work. But if I don't find some way o' gettin' out o' dis 'fore night,
widout Ou' Mensefreiter seein' me, den it's mighty likely I'd be glad to
ha' de chance