The Tales of Uncle Remus / Сказки дядюшки Римуса. Книга для чтения на английском языке

“I would’ve ridden him over this morning,” said Brer Rabbit, “but I rode him so hard yesterday that he’s kinna lame in one leg this morning. I may be forced to sell him.”

Brer Turtle spoke up. “Well, Brer Rabbit, please sell him out of the neighborhood. Why, day before yesterday Brer Fox passed me on the road, and do you know what he said?”

Quite naturally nobody did, since they weren’t there.

“He looked at me and said, �Hello, Stinkin’ Jim!’”

“He didn’t![48 - He didn’t! – (зд.

) Да что вы говорите!]” exclaimed Miz Meadows. She and the girls were dismayed that Brer Fox would talk like that to a fine gentleman like Brer Turtle.

Now, while all this was going on, Brer Fox was standing in the back door, hearing every word. He sho’ heard more than he bargained for[49 - heard more than he bargained for – (разг.) услышал больше, чем хотел], which is always how it is with folks who put their ears in other folks’ conversations.

The talk about him got so bad that the only way to stop it was to walk in like he’d just got there.

“Good day, everybody!” he said, grinning, and having taken care of all the pleasantries, he made a grab for[50 - made a grab for – (уст.) попытался схватить] Brer Rabbit.

Miz Meadows and the girls commenced to hollering and screaming and carrying on. Brer Turtle was scampering around on the mantelpiece and he got so excited that he tripped, fell off, and landed right on Brer Fox’s head.

That brought all the commotion to a halt. Brer Fox rubbed the knot on his head, looked around, and Brer Rabbit was nowhere to be seen. Brer Fox looked and looked until finally, he saw some soot falling out of the chimney and into the fireplace.

“Aha!” says he. “I’m gon’ light a fire in the fireplace and smoke you out, Brer Rabbit.” He started stacking wood in the fireplace.

Brer Rabbit laughed.

“What’s so funny?”

“Ain’t gon’ tell[51 - Ain’t gon’ tell – (уст.

) Не скажу], Brer Fox.”

“What you laughing at, I said.”

“Well, nothing, except I just found a box of money hid up here behind a loose brick.”

Brer Fox wasn’t gon’ get fooled this time. “That’s a lie, and you know it.” He commenced to stacking the wood again.

“Don’t have to take my word for it,” Brer Rabbit said, just as calmly as he could be. “Look up here and see for yourself.