curiousest man about always betting on anything that turned up you ever
see； if he could get anybody to bet on the other side； and if he couldn't
he'd change sides。 Any way that suited the other man would suit him any
way just so's he got a bet； he was satisfied。 But still he was lucky；
uncommon lucky； he most always come out winner。 He was always ready and
laying for a chance； there couldn't be no solit'ry thing mentioned but
that feller'd offer to bet on it； and take any side you please； as I was
just telling you。 If there was a horse…race； you'd find him flush or
you'd find him busted at the end of it； if there was a dog…fight； he'd
bet on it； if there was a cat…fight； he'd bet on it； if there was a
chicken…fight； he'd bet on it； why； if there was two birds setting on a
fence； he would bet you which one would fly first； or if there was a
camp…meeting； he would be there reg'lar to bet on Parson Walker； which he
judged to be the best exhorter about here； and so he was too； and a good
man。 If he even see a straddle…bug start to go anywheres； he would bet
you how long it would take him to get toto wherever he was going to；
and if you took him up； he would foller that straddle…bug to Mexico but
what he would find out where he was bound for and how long he was on the
road。 Lots of the boys here has seen that Smiley； and can tell you about
him。 Why； it never made no difference to himhe'd bet on any thingthe
dangdest feller。 Parson Walker's wife laid very sick once； for a good
while； and it seemed as if they warn't going to save her； but one morning
he come in； and Smiley up and asked him how she was； and he said she was
considerable betterthank the Lord for his inf'nite mercyand coming on
so smart that with the blessing of Prov'dence she'd get well yet； and
Smiley； before he thought； says； 'Well； I'll resk two…and…a…half she
don't anyway。'
〃Thish…yer Smile） had a marethe boys called her the fifteen…minute nag；
but that was only in fun； you know； because of course she was faster than
thatand he used to win money on that horse； for all she was so slow and
always had the asthma； or the distemper； or the consumption； or something
of that kind。 They used to give her two or three hundred yards' start；
and then pass her under way； but always at the fag end of the race she
get excited and desperate like； and come cavorting and straddling up；
and scattering her legs around limber； sometimes in the air； and
sometimes out to one side among the fences； and kicking up m…o…r…e dust
and raising m…o…r…e racket with her coughing and sneezing and blowing her
noseand always fetch up at the stand just about a neck ahead； as near
as you could cipher it down。
〃And he had a little small bull…pup； that to look at him you'd think he
warn't worth a cent but to set around and look ornery and lay for a
chance to steal something。 But as soon as money was up on him he was a
different dog； his under…jaw'd begin to stick out like the fo'castle of
a steamboat； and his teeth would uncover and shine like the furnaces。
And a dog might tackle him and bully…rag him； and bite him； and throw him
over his shoulder two or three times； and Andrew Jacksonwhich was the
name of the pupAndrew Jackson would never let on but what he was
satisfied； and hadn't expected nothing elseand the bets being doubled
and doubled on the other side all the time； till the money was all up；
and then all of a sudden he would grab that other dog jest by the j'int
of his hind leg and freeze to itnot chaw； you understand； but only just
grip and hang on till they throwed up the sponge； if it was a year。
Smiley always come out winner on that pup； till he harnessed a dog once
that didn't have no hind legs； because they'd been sawed off in a
circular saw； and when the thing had gone along far enough； and the money
was all up； and he come to make a snatch for his pet holt； he see in a
minute how he'd been imposed on； and how the other dog had him in the
door； so to speak； and he 'peared surprised； and then he looked sorter
discouraged…like and didn't try no more to win the fight； and so he got
shucked out bad。 He give Smiley a look； as much as to say his heart was
broke； and it was his fault； for putting up a dog that hadn't no hind
legs for him to take holt of； which was his main dependence in a fight；
and then he limped off a piece and laid down and died。 It was a good
pup； was that Andrew Jackson； and would have made a name for hisself if
he'd lived； for the stuff was in him and he had geniusI know it；
because he hadn't no opportunities to speak of； and it don't stand to
reason that a dog could make such a fight as he could under them
circumstances if he hadn't no talent。 It always makes me feel sorry when
I think of that last fight of his'n； and the way it turned out。
〃Well； thish…yer Smiley had rat…tarriers； and chicken cocks； and tomcats
and all them kind of things； till you couldn't rest； and you couldn't
fetch nothing for him to bet on but he'd match you。 He ketched a frog
one day； and took him home； and said he cal'lated to educate him； and so
he never done nothing for three months but set in his back yard and learn
that frog to jump。 And you bet you he did learn him； too。 He'd give him a
little punch behind； and the next minute you'd see that frog whirling in
the air like a doughnutsee him turn one summerset； or maybe a couple；
if he got a good start； and come down flat…footed and all right； like a
cat。 He got him up so in the matter of ketching flies； and kep' him in
practice so constant； that he'd nail a fly every time as fur as he could
see him。 Smiley said all a frog wanted was education； and he could do
'most anythingand I believe him。 Why； I've seen him set Dan'l Webster
down here on this floorDan'1 Webster was the name of the frogand sing
out； 'Flies； Dan'l； flies！' and quicker'n you could wink he'd spring
straight up and snake a fly off'n the counter there； and flop down on the
floor ag'in as solid as a gob of mud； and fall to scratching the side of
his head with his hind foot as indifferent as if he hadn't no idea he'd
been doin' any more'n any frog might do。 You never see a frog so modest
and straightfor'ard as he was； for all he was so gifted。 And when it
come to fair and square jumping on a dead level； he could get over more
ground at one straddle than any animal of his breed you ever see。
Jumping on a dead level was his strong suit； you understand； and when it
come to that； Smiley would ante up money on him as long as he had a red。
Smiley was monstrous proud of his frog； and well he might be； for fellers
that had traveled and been everywheres all said he laid over any frog
that ever they see。
〃Well； Smiley kep' the beast in a little lattice box； and he used to
fetch him down…town sometimes and lay for a bet。 One day a feller
a stranger in the camp； he wascome acrost him with his box； and says：
〃'What might it be that you've got in the box？'
〃And Smiley says； sorter indifferent…like； 'It might be a parrot； or it
might be a canary； maybe； but it ain'tit's only just a frog。'
〃And the feller took it； and looked at it careful； and turned it round
this way and that； and says； 'H'mso 'tis。 Well； what's HE good for。
〃'Well；' Smiley says； easy and careless； 'he's good enough for one thing；
I should judgehe can outjump any frog in Calaveras County。
〃The feller took the box again； and took another long； partiular look；
and give it back to Smiley； and says； very deliberate； 'Well；' he says；
'I don't see no pints about that frog that's any better'n any other
frog。'
〃'Maybe you don't；' Smiley says。 'Maybe you understand frogs and maybe
you don't understand 'em； maybe you've had experience； and maybe you
ain't only a amature； as it were。 Anyways； I've got my opinion； and I'll
resk forty dollars the he can outjump any frog in Calaveras County。'
〃And the feller studied a minute； and then says； kinder sad…like； 'Well；
I'm only a； stranger here； and I ain't got no frog； but if I had a frog；
I'd bet you。
〃And then Smiley says； 'That's all right0…that's all right if you'll hold
my box a minute； I'll go and get you a frog。' Any so the feller took the
box； and put up his forty dollars along with Smiley's； and set down to
wait。
〃So he set there a good while thinking and thinking to himself and then
he got the frog out and prized his mouth open and took a teaspoon and
filled him full of quail…shot…filled him pretty near up to his chinand
set him on the floor。 Smiley he went to the swamp and slopped around in
the mud for a long time； and finally he ketched a frog； and fetched him
in； and give him to this feller and says：
〃'Now； if you're ready； set him alongside of Dan'l； with his fore paws
just even with Dan'l's； and I'll give the word。' Then he says； 'One…two…
threegit' and him and the feller touches up the frogs from behind； and
the new frog hopped off lively but Dan'l give a heave； and hysted up his
shoulders…so…like a Frenchman； but it warn't no usehe couldn't budge；
he was planted as solid as a church； and he couldn't no more stir than if
he was anchored out。 Smiley was a good deal surprised； and he was
disgusted too； but he didn'