Tildy," said the little boy.

"Well, 't ain't no tale, I tell you dat now. One time Brer Rabbit wuz
gwine 'long thoo de bushes singin' ter hisse'f, en he see a shadder pass
befo' 'im. He look up, en dar 'uz Mr. Hawk sailin' 'roun' en 'roun'.
Time he see 'im, Brer Rabbit 'gun ter kick up en sassy 'im.

"Mr. Hawk ain't pay no 'tention ter dis. He des sail all 'roun' en
'roun'. Eve'y time he sail 'roun', he git little closer, but Brer Rabbit
ain't notice dis. He too busy wid his devilment. He shuck his fis' at
Mr. Hawk, en chunk'd at 'im wid sticks;[81] en atter w'ile he tuck'n make
out he got a gun, en he tuck aim at Mr. Hawk, en 'low'd, 'Pow!' en den
he holler en laugh.

"All dis time Mr. Hawk keep on sailin' 'roun' en 'roun' en gittin'
nigher en nigher, en bimeby down he drapt right slambang on Brer Rabbit,
en dar he had 'im. Brer Rabbit fix fer ter say his pra'rs, but 'fo' he
do dat, he talk to Mr. Hawk, en he talk mighty fergivin'. He 'low he
did:--

"'I 'uz des playin', Mr. Hawk; I 'uz dez a-playin'. You oughtn' ter fly
up en git mad wid a little bit er man like me.'

"Mr. Hawk ruffle up de fedders on his neck en say:--

"'I ain't flyin' up, I'm a-flyin' down, en w'en I fly up, I'm a-gwine
ter fly 'way wid you. You bin a-playin' de imp 'roun' in dis settlement
long 'nuff, en now ef you got any will ter make, you better make it
quick, 'kaze you ain't got much time.'

"Brer Rabbit cry. He say:--

"'I mighty sorry, Mr. Hawk, dat I is. I got some gol' buried right over
dar in fence cornder, en I wish in my soul my po' little childuns know
whar 't wuz, 'kaze den dey could git long widout me fer a mont' er two.'

"Mr. Hawk 'low, 'Whar'bouts is all dis gol'?'

"Brer Rabbit low, 'Right over dar in de fence-cornder.'

"Mr. Hawk say show it ter 'im. Brer Rabbit say he don't keer ef he do,
en he say:--

"'I'd 'a' done show'd it ter you long 'fo' dis, but you hol' me so
tight, I can't wink my eye skacely, much less walk ter whar de gol' is.'

"Mr. Hawk say he fear'd he gwineter try ter git 'way. Brer Rabbit say
dey ain't no danger er dat, 'kaze he one er deze yer kinder mens w'en
dey er kotch once deyer kotch fer good.

"Mr. Hawk sorter let Brer Rabbit loose, en dey went todes de
fence-cornder. Brer Rabbit, he went 'long so good dat dis sorter ease
Mr. Hawk min' 'bout he gittin' 'way. Dey got ter de place en Brer Rabbit
look all 'roun', en den he frown up like he got some mighty bad
disap'intment, en he say:--