The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1892-09-09
here bout this time next year.

1.-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 a Hvin 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
it sailed like bird.
"When l seed this | thought I'd drap.
1was 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 bell. Nearer and nearer it
come till it sounded clear and beautiful
close by. A little black cloud passed
onto the moon, dark shadder rushed
toards us from somewar and the bell
fell at the feet of the ole doctor.
"It was bout the size of q sheep bell,
round in shape and bright s5 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 tarra-
pin deep round the ole hoodoo doctor.
''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 he
arrived and to lead him by the cord
when l was ready to move out with my
drove.
Il asked if he would take the little
niger, seein he was startin off. He said
no; he'd take him when he wanted him;
meantime he'd leave him to bring up the
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 i'll 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 l heard great
noise.
Il turned in for nap, and had been
asleep a couple of hours when noise
like the flight of millions of wild pig
cons OF the roarin of the sea walked me.
got up and found it was broad day
light. My fust look was at the sky, for
thought 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
q turtle with back shell ON him as big
as the top of an omnibus. Hearin my
step the monster rose upon his feet.
He stood five feet high, and his head
was as much higher when he stretched
up his neck and gazed at me. Eff I'd
seed nothing but the head of the critter
I'd have thought | was loollin the old
hoodoo doctor in the face.
''In my astonishment cried out, THE
king of the tarrapinsr If I'm not the
biggest liar in America the big turtle
nodded as much as to say, You've said
| it,
"Thinks l, now I'll just skeer that lit
| tie niger inter fits. l snaked the boy
outen his nest and on a sudden pushed
| him round the corner of the tent. In
stead of droppin down in a faint the
little devil gave yelp of delight, and
jumpin on the back of the big turtle put
his arms round its neck and began to
kiss it's ugly mouth. l expected every
minute to see the boys head snapped off,
but the big turtle seemed to rather like
! the foolin.
''While was at breakfast the cheerin
of the acres Oh acres or tarrapin sub
sided. Takin the collar and bell out, |
went up to the tarrapin king. He held
down his neck and fastened on the col
lar. Thinks l, 'Ole feller, you've been
well trained The big turtle give him.
SELF shake, and at the sound of the
bell all the tarrapin for miles round
raised their heads.
''NeXt piled my tent and other traps
on the back of the big turtle, and takin
the hair rope, struck my course and led
out, tellin the darky boy to stand whar
he was and bring up the rear. Lookin
back after had gone some distance, the
| hioiO ItSO VI tIlO SHHAFfI HVCAAiOIt III Illo-
ton. -Four solid sections of tarrapin fol-
lowed the sound of the bell. Afore night
they'd formed in column twenty rods
wide and several miles long.
"The tarrapin moved at pretty fair
gait, grain and pickin up their feed as
they Travelled, which | was glad to see.
I'll not bother you with an account of
the trip day by day and week by week.
1t is enough to say that got along fine
till after | struck the deserts and dry
and gravelly plains OF Colorado. Then
my troubles began. The sharp stones
made my tarrapin footsore. Soon they
got so lame they could hardly travel.
Finally was obliged to stop at q big
foundry, have shoes cast for them and
git every mothers son of 'em shod. /
had a set of shoes cast for the big turtle,
but he wouldn' stand shoein. He raired
and pitched, snorted, bellered and kicked
the blacksmiths sprawlinG, SO we had to
let up on him.
''Next we got into great sandy plains
whar water was scarce and the sun aw-
full hot. There it was slow and lazy
travelin. Findin that my big lead turtle
was strong as an OK, used to get on his
back and ride most of the time.
"'Bout this time l noticed that my
little niger boy was allus a-slippin out
and packin his blanket. What he was
up to couldn't think. So one day got
off my bell turtle, tied the lead rope
bout his neck and told him to go ahead.