Burlington hawk-eye. [volume] (Burlington, Iowa) 1845-185?, 1849-07-12

and, as Lieut.. Linch says, their great,
pulpy, india-rubber splay feet are equally
useful upon the yielding sand and tlinty
stones. The impression that they cannot
pass over rocky countries, is not correct.
All intelligent travellers fully sustain the
statements of the spondent upon this
point, as well as upon that of their almost
incredible speed upon long journeys.
The Lion and the Turtle.
THE SNOWMAN OUrwITTED.-The
menagerie was in town. A rare occur
renee was an exhibition oft wild beasts,
lions, tigers, polar bears, and ichneumons,
in Baltimore, at the early days of which
we are writing yet they came OCCASION
ally, and this time We're visited by old
Nat Wheatly jolly weather-beaten boat
man, well known in Baltimore as an in
veterate joker, who never let any one get
to the windward Of him. He was, fur
thermore, sufferer of the first class.
Nat visited the menagerie. As he en-
tered, the Snowman was stirring up the
monkeys, and tormenting the lion, giving
elaborate descriptions Of the various pro-
pensities and natural peculiarities of each
and all. ...-. ........t ...-....
This, ladies and gentlemen, this, l say,
is the Afrikin Lion. A noble beast, he
is, ladies and gentlemen, and is called the
King of the Forest. | have often heard
that he makes nuthin' of devouring crea-
lures, of every description, when at home
in the woods. Certing it is, that no other
beast can whip him!'
M -mister?' interrupted Wheatly,
do yon s-say he c-ca-can't be wh-whip-
ped?' a.. ...~ -.r-~.. -...''.
Il duz,' said the man of lions and tigers.
'What w-will you b-b-bet / can't fetch
a c-c-crtter what'll whip him ? aa.s
Il amt bettn' man at all, but don't
object to taking small bet to that effect.
'Pll b-bet | can 'f-fetch something that
will whip him. Wha-at s-say to hu-hun-
bred d-dollars p @7 's.@27'
Now there were several merchants in
the crowd who knew Wheatly well, and
were fully convinced that if the bet was
uaue, was W Irrrr1rrs. . = iro' ''sT
no difficulty in finding hackers one o
whom told him he would give him ten gal
Ions of rum. if he won. The menagerit
man glanced al his lion. There he crouch.
ed in his cage, his shaggy name bristline
and his tail sweeping, the very picture oil
grandeur and majesty. The bride was
tempting and he felt assured. @.
Certain, sir, certain; have no objec-
ton TO old Hercules taking bout with
any cretur you may fetch
sV~ve-very w-well,' said Nat, it is
BIB et.' .....
The money was planked up, and the
next night was designated for the terrible
conflict. The news was spread over Bal
timore, and at an early hour the boxes OF
the spacious theatre were filled-the pit
being cleared for the aiiray.
Expectation was on tip-toe, and it was
with great Impotence that the crowd
awaited the arrival of Wheatly. He at
length entered bearing large bag or sack
on his shoulders, which as he let it fall
upon the floor, was observed to contain
some remarkably hard and heavy sub
stance. The keeper looked on with in
diguation. .-a.
sWhere's your animal p he inquired.
sTh-there,' said Nat, pointing with his
finger at the bag.
well. what is it p asked the man with
astonishment. -,
sTh-that, l-ladies and ggentlemen,' said
Nat, gesticuating like the Snowman, lis
wh-whimbampern ............-y
a whimbamper : echoed the astonish-
ed keeper. >ss
That's certainly new feature in ZOO
logical anatomy. A whimbamper Well,
let him ont, and clear the ring, or old
Hercules may make but one mouthlu! OF
both of you.
The Keeper wa, excited. Accordingly
Nat raised the bag. holding the aperture
downwards, and out rolled huge snap
ping turtle, while The cheers and laughter
Of the audience made the arches ring.
There he is = said Wheat!y as he :ilted
the 'whimbamper' over with both hands,
and set him on his legs. The snapper
seemed unconscious Of his peril.
Wheatly was about leaving the ring,
when the keeper swore that his hon
should not disgrace himself ny hehohs
such pitiable foe.
.V-ve-very WE'LL said Nat, IF you
choose TO give me the hundred dollars,
But it is unfair, cried the exasperated
Snowman.
The audience interposed, and insisted
upon the fight. There was no escape, and
the Snowman reluctantly released the hon,
making himself secure on the top OF the
cage.
The majestic beast moved slowly around
the ring, snufTlng and Iashing, while eve
nv person held his breath in suspense
Lions are prying beasts, and this one was
not long in discovering the tn'tle, which
Law on the floor, huge inanlmate mass
The lion soon brought his nose IN close
proximity to it, which the turtle not l'k-
inc popped out his head and rolled its eyes,
while a sort of whecze issued from its
savaperoas month. The lion jumped back,
turned, and made spring at the turtle,
which was now fully prepared Tor his re-
cep,ion. As the lion landed on him, the
turtle fastened his terrific jaws on Inc
him DOWerieSS