He keep on gwine fus' ter one, den ter de
uth'r twell dey wusn't er han' full lef on
bofe sides."

251



BYPATHS IN DIXIE

"Why didn't they turn in and beat old
Mister Grab-All?" Willis bristled.
" 'Caze bof e uv 'em think Grab-All wus on
der side. Grab-All ain' lef no tracks ter
pint out whar he bin — nor, suh, he so full
er dat spid'r web biznes' er his'n dat he kin
swing hisse'f fum ennywhar, — an' fo' yer
kin kitch 'im, he done swing 'roun' in er-
nuth'r place onti'ly."

"Captain Yellow Jacket's side beat the
fight, didn't they, Mammy?" Mary Van de-
sired the hornets vanquished.
"No, they didn't," contradicted Willis, "a
hornet can beat a Yellow Jacket every
time !"

"Jes' hole on darl" Phyllis steadied the
hammock. "I'm de onlies' one dat seen who
'twas whup'd."

"I want Captain Yellow Jacket's side to
252



MISTER GRAB-ALL SPIDER

kill all of the hornets," whimpered Mary
Van.
"But they can't," persisted Willis
vehemently.
Once more Phyllis held the hammock.
"You dunno nuthin' tall erbout hit, suh,"
as she saw the little girl about to cry,
"Hawnits is got mo' pow'r en Jackits is got,
but er Jackit is mo' smart' r en er Hawnit.
I 'speck ef Grab- All had er belt his mouf
out'n de fracus, de Jackits wud er outfit
de Hawnits, but es hit wus, Grab-AU keep
'em fightin' tell dem whut wusn't kilt wus
hit so hard dat hit 'twan' long 'fo' de ve'y
las' one uv 'em died. Atter dat hap'n Grab-
All, he got de cid'r I

"He spin erlong b'ildin' on some houses
he fixin' ter rent tell bimeby Mist'r Blue
Bot'le Fly an' his fambly come erlong.
