avec une cuiller a the l’emplit de menu plomb de chasse, mail l’emplit
jusqu’au menton, puis il le pose par terre. Smiley pendant ce temps
etait a barboter dans une mare. Finalement il attrape une grenouille,
l’apporte cet individu et dit:–Maintenant, si vous etes pret, mettez-la
tout contra Daniel, avec leurs pattes de devant sur la meme ligne, et je
donnerai le signal; puis il ajoute:– Un, deux, trois, sautez!
“Lui et l’individu touchent leurs grenouilles par derriere, et la
grenouille neuve se met h sautiller, mais Daniel se souleve lourdement,
hausse les epaules ainsi, comma un Francais; a quoi bon? il ne pouvait
bouger, il etait plante solide comma une enclume, il n’avancait pas plus
que si on l’eut mis a l’ancre. Smiley fut surpris et degoute, mais il ne
se doutait pas du tour, bien entendu. L’individu empoche l’argent, s’en
va, et en s’en allant est-ce qu’il ne donna pas un coup de pouce par-
dessus l’epaule, comma ca, au pauvre Daniel, en disant de son air
delibere:–Eh bien! je ne vois pas qua cette grenouille ait rien de muiex
qu’une autre.
“Smiley se gratta longtemps la tete, les yeux fixes Sur Daniel; jusqu’a
ce qu’enfin il dit:–je me demande comment diable il se fait qua cette
bite ait refuse, . . . Est-ce qu’elle aurait quelque chose? . . . On
croirait qu’elle est enflee.
“Il empoigne Daniel par la peau du coo, le souleve et dit:–Le loup me
croque, s’il ne pese pas cinq livres.
“Il le retourne, et le malheureux crache deux poignees de plomb. Quand
Smiley reconnut ce qui en etait, il fut comme fou. Vous le voyez d’ici
poser sa grenouille par terra et courir apres cet individu, mais il ne le
rattrapa jamais, et ….
[Translation of the above back from the French:
THE FROG JUMPING OF THE COUNTY OF CALAVERAS
It there was one time here an individual known under the name of Jim
Smiley; it was in the winter of ’89, possibly well at the spring of ’50,
I no me recollect not exactly. This which me makes to believe that it
was the one or the other, it is that I shall remember that the grand
flume is not achieved when he arrives at the camp for the first time, but
of all sides he was the man the most fond of to bet which one have seen,
betting upon all that which is presented, when he could find an
adversary; and when he not of it could not, he passed to the side
opposed. All that which convenienced to the other to him convenienced
also; seeing that he had a bet Smiley was satisfied. And he had a
chance! a chance even worthless; nearly always he gained. It must to say
that he was always near to himself expose, but one no could mention the
least thing without that this gaillard offered to bet the bottom, no
matter what, and to take the side that one him would, as I you it said
all at the hour (tout a l’heure). If it there was of races, you him find
rich or ruined at the end; if it, here is a combat of dogs, he bring his
bet; he himself laid always for a combat of cats, for a combat of cocks
–by-blue! If you have see two birds upon a fence, he you should have
offered of to bet which of those birds shall fly the first; and if there
is meeting at the camp (meeting au camp) he comes to bet regularly for
the cure Walker, which he judged to be the best predicator of the
neighborhood (predicateur des environs) and which he was in effect, and a
brave man. He would encounter a bug of wood in the road, whom he will
bet upon the time which he shall take to go where she would go–and if
you him have take at the word, he will follow the bug as far as Mexique,
without himself caring to go so far; neither of the time which he there
lost. One time the woman of the cure Walker is very sick during long
time, it seemed that one not her saved not; but one morning the cure