The Arkansaw traveler., 1885-02-28
IN A CATFISH.
Old Ike, in the Defense of Jonah's Experience, Tells . Marvellous
 Story of Escape.

Story of Escape.
 "Uncle Ike," said the youngster when he had found the old negro sitting by his cabin fire. "I heard a man say that the whale didn't swallow Jonah, but he did, didn't he ?"
 "Neber mine whut de whale done. knows all eriout it, but rse gwine ter keep nsy mouf shet tell l sees some O dem sweet pertaters comin' inter de house. Oh, yer needn' look s'prized. l seed de man when he lif' 'em out de wagon. Wander da is now CT settin' on de back po'ch, jes' CT snug like dar wa'nt waterin' mouf in dis heah neigh borhood."
 "If I'll get you some will you tell me about Jonah3"
 "Neber mine tryin' ter temp CT ole man like | is. Dat sack is tied so tight, yer couldn' undo de string. I'm gwine ter stick my knife in dis heah box an shet my eyes, an' l bet yer dat when l opens lem de knife will dun be gone"
 He shut his eyes. The boy said some thing, but the old man began to snore. The boy took the knife, ran to the gallery, cut the bag string and returned with several large potatoes. The old man continued to snore until the child had pu. the potatoes on the floor and re- placed the knife. Then he opened his eyes and said:
 "Los' de bet. Heah lays dis onery lookin' knife yit. Er man kain be sartin' O nuthin' in dis heah kentry."
 He looked all around but pretended not to see the potatoes. The boy clapped his hands and laughed.
 "Whut yer laughin' 'boutS Kain' CT ole man doze an wake up widout bein' haw-hawed at? Wy, whar'd desc 'taters come frum2 Bless my life, neber seed de like. Doze of an wake up all s'rounded wid 'taters. I'se gwine ter put lem right in de fire an make lem waller in dar sweetness. Uh, likes ter make a mouf at lem. Hearn a man say dat de whale didn' swsller Jonah, eh? Dat man is pizen, chile, an yer'd better keep outen his way. knows all erbout Jonah, but femme tell yer whut happened ter me. When l wuz CT young man 1 wuz CT mighty reckless pusson an didn't kere whuder de spring went dry UT not. hal been feelin' mighty cu'is fur some time an lowed dat wuz bilious, but Lawd CT massy, dat want de case. I wuz gwine Tong through de woods one bright Sunday mawnin' when all O CT student, bip, suthin' tuck me side de head. 'Who dat hittin' mer sI. Jis' den, bip, suthin' tuck me on de udder side. Miae whar yer Hingin' dem brick sats,' s'I, but airter lookin' all CT 'roun' couldn' see no pusson. Den hearn CT strange voice say, Go ober ter Zion church an preach fur de niggers ter day. No, thank yer, sah,' s'I, an Il dodged berhin' CT tree an runned erway. didn't feel like preachin' dat day, case [ wanted ter go ter CT hoss race whut de boys wuz gwine ter hab. Wall struck out fur de hess race, runnin' like CT pusson whut's skeerd. got ter de rih5er an hopped in de canoe an 'gunter paddle ercross, but Lawd bless me. Bout de time got half way cross, CT monstrous catfish rig outen de water an swallered me, canoe am all. Neber seed sich CT fish sence de day wuz borned. Arter got ober my skeer, tuck CT match outen my pocket an lit CT piece O can'le whut happened ter hab wid me. Den l sot down on de canoe an looked. De ribs O dat fish looked like de rafters Q CT con crib. Neber seed de like. Whut wux gwinteT come O me I didn' know, 1 an dreaded ter think erbout de dark 1 ness what wuz gwine ter come when de 1 can1e burned out. thought erbout ole 1 Jonah an whut fools bof O us had been. | De can'le kep' gittin' shorter. prayed l ter de Lawd but it didn' peer ter do no | good. l got in de canoe an sot dar in | misery. De can1e kep' gittin' shorter. l Itried ter sing CT hymn, but choked- | De can'le kep' gittin' shorter. At las it got % short dat it burnt my fingers an drapped il oa 6s bottom . ds ssas sz | ! den, Lawd, ~hut founcin' das wuz. My ~~~~:-~.~ | -~S~~~ ~->S S~ IT,. (--S l- k.