The Cairo bulletin., 1906-05-21

to keep the boat in order and to pull
the captain ashore or aboard when the
ship was in harbor
This was the first time the gig had
been lowered since The Rajah had
sailed from Liverpool. and the boys
wondered what on earth the old man"
was after John Campbell suggested
that the gig was going to tow the ship
to the Hooghly and wished his mates
joy of the job
The skipper came down the side lad
der, stepped into the boat, and shoy-
ing off. oars were manned and the boat
headed away from the ship to a point
astern. The boys wondered where
their skipper was bound but ii was
no part of their business to question
sea captain, and ii they had they would
not have received an answer.
Soon came the order: Way enoughl"
The boys ceased rowing. The gig
helm was showed hard a-starboard, the
boat described a semicircle, the skip.
per leaned over The side, seized some
thing. hauled ii aboard and dropped il
into the stern sheets where it Topped
with great vigor
The animal was large turtle, which
the shippers keen eye had discovered
asleep on the water. The catching of
a turtle while sleeping requires a kind
of knack gained only by practice. You
must approach him with caution, as
we'll as celebrity. and you must grab
him by the hind fipper and yank him
aboard before he awakens OF your
quest will be in vain. II you catch
him by one of his fore fippers the
chances are that he will bite your hand
before you get him in the boat. and
bite of a turtle is by no means a Joke
When the skipper grabbed the tur-
tie and landed him in the gig he handled
him 50 rs to let him fall back down
ward in the boat. A turtle is not
able to turn over; SO when once on
his back he is at the mercy OF his cap
tors. The captain tied his beak TO,
gether with rope yarn. and thus dis
abled he was taken alongside the Rajah
where he was hauled up on deck ant
turned over TO the cook, an African
of great skill in the cooking of all kinds
of birds. beasts, fishes and reptiles.
The capture of the turtle excited the
steward. who was cockney, and hac
never seen the animal as he appears
in his native element his only deal
ings with him being after he was killed
cooked and canned The skipper OF
dered the steward 10 Kill the turtle and
prepare him for dinner next day. This
command upset the steward terribly
for he had not the slightest idea how
to go about the job And worst of all
he and the cook were not on good terms
and he hated 10 ask a favor from an
African.
But his fear Of the skipper was SO
great that he pockcted his pride, and,
going forward 10 the galley with a
huge piece OF tobacco slowed away un-
der his coat. he opened peace negotia
tions with the cook.
VIII you ave chew OF baccy doc
tor?" asked the steward. In his softest
society voice.
We'll. sab. being as it's you and yoa
axes me SO kindly. don't mind If
do. This is hot weather sab, and the
last chew you gave me was so long ago
1t never seems TO have happened, " re
piled the cook
"Elp yourself. doctor. dear" said
the steward. passing the piece TO the
cook. who took a big bite A beam
of smiling happiness played over his
shining features, Illuminating them with
joy.
ITS about that ere turtle. doctor
guess you krow all about EN- Never
afore did I set eyes on the beast. and
sech a object to look at swear"
~Mebbe he amt pretty to look at.
sab. but hes simpis gorgeous TO eat
Many a turtle I've cooked for the Phila-
delphia Turtle club. and if any help Of
mine is needed. I'm yah man. sab. can
kill EN-. cook en- and when cooked
can cat 'em. sab When do sou calcu-
late to SERVE him up
The old man wants it for dinner to-
MORROW evening. an he's SIGH a epicure.
he'll break my bach II il amt served
jist so. list you help me out Of this
little difficulty and you shall ave all
the bsccy you can chew between here
and Saugur Island
I'm your man. sab, suah Eye me