The miners' express. (Dubuque, Iowa) 1849-1854, 1850-07-17


THE cAY1AN. s.. ..,..
Within lay circular tank or basin, of crystal
water, several rods in diameter, and walled in
on every side by the high screen of glossy plan.
tains, whose giant leaves, stretching out hori.
zontally, sheltered it from the rays Of the noon.
day sun. A low parapet of mason work ran a.
round, forming the circumference of the circle
This was jappanned with a species of porcelain
whose deep coloring of blue, and green, and
yellow was displayed in variety of grotesque
figures. A strong jet boiled up in the centre
BY the refraction Of whose ripples, the gold and
red fish seemed multiplied into myriads At g
distant point, a bed of water lilies hung out from
the parapet; and the long thin neck Of swan
rose gracefully over the leaves. Another, his
mate, stood upon the bank, drying his snowy
pinions in the sun. A different object attracted
me, depriving me for time of the power of &C
ton. In the water and near the jet were two
beautiful girls, clothed in u sort of sleeveless
green tunic, loosely girdled. They were i'm.
mersed to the waist. So pellucid was the waite,
that the little feet were distinctly visible at the
down in broad fakes, partially shroudng the
snowy development of the arms and shoulders
Their forms were sirkingly similar. Tall, grace
full, fully developed, and characterized by thai
eliptical line ofbeauty, that, in the female form
more than any other earthly object, illustrates
the far.famed curve of Hogarth. Their features
too were alike. "Sisters! ~ one would exclaim
land yet their compilations were strikinelv dis.
similar. The blood mantlng darker i'll the veins
OF one, lent an orange-tnge to the soft and wax
like surface OF her skin; while the red upon her
cheeks and lips presented an admixture of pur-
Pile. Her hair too was black and dark shad-
ing along the upper lip, soft and slken as the
tracery OF crayon, contrasted with the dazzle.
ing whiteness of her teeth. Her eyes were
black, large and diamond shaped-with that ex-
preston which looks over one; and her whole
appearance formed type of that beauty which
We associate with the Abencerage and the AL.
hambra. This was evidently the elder.
The other was style of distinct class OF
beauty-the golden-haired blonde. Her ewes
were large, globular and blue as turquoise
Her hair Of chastened yellow, long and luxu1i.
ant; while her skin, less soft and waxen than
that OF her sister, presented an effusion of rose
ate bushes, that extended along the snowy
Wilderness of her arms. These, in the sun ap
peared as bloodless and transparent as the tiny
goldfish that quivered in her uplified hand. I
was riveted to the spot. My first impulse was
TO retire silently and modesty, but the power of
strange fascination for moment prevented
me. Was it dream' ".4h! que barbara! pro-
brscito-ito-ito!" (Ah! what barbarian you
are poor little thing y "Coeremos." eve will
eat 1t J "Por dos! no! echato, o tirare la aqua
en- lus cjus de T.') Goodness! no! fling it in,
Luz, or Will throw water in your eyes.) And
the speaker stopped as if to execute the threat
"Ya-no!" No will not,) said Luz resolute-
~. "Guarda ter Look out.) The brunette
placed her little hands close together, forming
with their united palms concave surface, and
commenced dashing water upon the perverse
blonde. The latter instantly dropped the gold
fish and retaliated. An exciting and animated
contest ensued. The bright globules flew around
their heads, and rolled down their glistening
tresses, as from the pinions Of swan while
their laughter rang out at intervals, as one or
the other appeared victorious. hoarse voice
drew my attention from this interesting specta-
Gle. Looking whence it came, my eye rested
on huge negress, stretched under cocoa nut
tree, who had raised herself on one arm and,
was laughing at the contest. 1t was her voice.
then, had mistaken for that of man! Be-
coming sensible Of my intrusive position, turn
ed to retreat, when shrlll cry reached me from
the pond. The swans, with frightened ener-
gy, shrieked and tapped over the surface-the
goldfish shot to and fro like sunbeams, and leap
ed out the water, quivering and terrified and
the birds on all sides, screamed and chartered
sprang forward, to ascertain the cause of this
strange commotion. My eye fell upon the me-
parapet, with uplifted arms, shouted in terrified
accents: "Vatgame dios-nigas, Ell cayman,
q cGymGn!" looked across the other side Of
the pond. A fearful object met my eyes-the
cayman of Mexico! This hideous monster was
slowly crawling over the low wall, drawing his
heightened body from bed Of aquatic plants
Already his short fore arms, squammy and cur
rugated, rested on the inner edge of the parapet
his shoulders projecting as in the act to spring
His scale covered back, with its long serated
ridge, glitterng with slippery moistness; and
10 dull MI !
from their prominent sockets. / had brought |
with me light rife. II was but the work Of
to unsling and level it. The sharp
crack followed, and the ball impinged harmless
~ between the monsters eyes-glancing from
his hard skin as though it had been plate of
steel. The shot was an idle one-perhaps worse
--foE, stnng with madness by the stunning shock,
the reptile sprang far out into the water, and {
made directly for his victims.
The girls, who had long since aiven over ,ho;r
rnirthful contest, seemed to have lost ali the;r
presence Of mind. and instead Of maxine for nc
bank, stood locked in each others arms. terr;fedl
and trembling. Their symetrical forms fell IN
70 an agonized embrace, and their rounded arms
olive and roseate, laced each other and ,wined
acEoss their shivering bodies. Their faces were
turned to Heaven, A. though they expected sue
cor from above-a group that rivalled the La
coon With q spring, cleared the parapet, and
drawing my sword, dashed across the basin
The girls were near the centre; but the caymaI
had got the start Of me, and the water three fee
I deep, impeded my progress. The bottom Of the
tank, too, was slippery, and fell once or twice
ON my hands. rose again, and with ffanti,
energy plunged forward-all the while calm,
supOnthe bathers TO make for the parapet. Not
withstanding my shouts, the terrified girls mad
noencrt 70 save themselves. They were inca
psbies from terror. On came the cayman, witt
Tie velocity Of vengeance. II was d fearful mo
ment. Already u the distance Of less than si
PAGES from his prey, his long snout projectin
Il from The water, his gaunt jaws displaying thei
quadruPle rows Of sharp glistening teeth.
shouted despairngly. was bafied by dee
NatsSl had nearly twice the distance before
1871 intetpo6e NY self between the monster an
TN shall Be two lste!" SUDDEN
2 ~ NJ ~ ~ lyman had sweryed. In his q
V nseel ~ ~ slruek subaaueous pipe off,