Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1892-12-14

~ stood up and pulled on the hdlter OF
my big turtle"
the ground sunk in the great earthquakes
of eighteen hundred and eleven and
twelve. asked him how was to git
this 'tarrapin king and the ole man
said he'd git him for me. asked how
much he'd charge and when he'd bring
him. The ole feller said that If I'd give
him one of my tarrspin that he'd pick
out and little niger boy that ! had
I'd find the tarrapin king standin be-
side my tent at daylight In the mornin.
81 agreed to this, for the little niger
was sich q devil that could do nothin
with him. and as for the one tarrapin it
didn't signeriy liner snsp Of finger.
But how the king Of the tarrapin was to
travel 80 far in q few hours I couldn't
see. The ole doctor said that was his
business; all he wanted was for me to
shake hands on the bargain. reached
out my hand and shook, and feelin in
the palm of my hand somethin sharp,
like claws, I looked and swar the ole
fel1er had hands Like the fore feet Of q
big snappin turtle.
'Soon as the bargain was clinched the
ole critter went to the door Of the tent
and began to shake his rattle. In bout
q minute tarrapin come marchin In
and set up on end before the ole doctor.
''The ole man told me this was the
tarrapin I must give him. I said, AL
right, take the darn thing for you see l
was skeered Of 1t when seed 1t set up ON
end
'sThe ole man took the tarrapin up In
bis hands and began talkin to it in some
kind Of hoodoo lingo. Turnin to me he
told me he was instructin the tarrapin
to 60 and bring the king d.
".If that's it, said I, he'll git him
here bout this time next year
"The ole mig said nothin; jist made
motion for me to come outside the tent.
"a full moon was shinin bright as
day. The ole man held the tarrapin out
on his open right hand and began talkin
to it. All at once, as I'm ivin sinner,
there come out from the sides of that
tarrapin's shell two wings like the wings
Of bat, only ten times bigger, and away
1t sailed like bird.
"When I seed this thought I'd drap.
was jist divin into the tent when the
ole man grabbed me by the collar and
hauled me back. Again he began to
shake his rattle and soon heard the
sound Of q bell. Nearer and nearer it
come till it sounded clear and beautiful
close BY. A little black cloud passed
onto the moon, a dark shadder rushed
toards Us from somewar and the bell
fell at the feet of the ole doctor.
1T was bout the size Of sheep bell,
round in shape and bright as silver.
The sound Of it had set all the tarrapin
In motion. They came toards the tent
from all quarters, climbin on one an
others backs till they were three tara
pin deep round the ole hoodoo doctor.
1.-THE ole feller then took from among
the 'possum skins at his waist long
line of twisted har, and takin the COL
lar Of snake heads from his neck he tied
the cord to it and hung on the bell. He
then told me to put the bell and collar
on the king of the tarrapin when no
arrived and to lead him by the cord
when was ready to move out with my
drove.
II asked if he would take the little
Niger, seein he was startin off. Hesaid
no; he'd take him when he wanted him;
meantime he'd leave him to bring upthe
rear Of my drove. said the boy was Of
no account. I'll make him some. count
said the ole doctor, and, haulin the little
mig out'n the corner Of the tent whar
he was snoozin or pretendin to snooze.
he buzzed in his ear for awhile, then
told me the boy would be all right. This
done, he passed out at the door Of my
tent, and closin it behind him ordered
me not to look out till heard great
noise.
II turned In for nap, and had been
asleep couple Of hours when noise
like the fight Of millions Of wild pig
cons or the rosrin Of the sea walked me.
I got up and found it was broad day
light. Ny fust look was at the sky, for
Thought a cyclone was comm. All
was clear overhead, but the roarin kept
on. Looking to the ground l then saw
thousands of acres Of tarrapin standin
on end clappin their hands.
'Says to myself, it must be that
the king Of tarrapins has just arrived
Coin back Of the tent. what do / see but