Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1907-02-26
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A Romance of the American Revolution
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well, / don't know, lieutenant; l
only know l amt happy, and can't
be happy in this world, and don't ex-
pect to be-"
"Oh! man Of little faith. 1t is be-
cause you won't use your senses, John
Davis-your eyes. You ask me what
l see Blind mote, that thou art!
Dost thou see nothing?"
Il see you, lieutenant, and the dark
pond and water. and the big expresses,
and the thick vine and bushes, and
just above. a little opening in the trees
that shows where the stars are peep
ing down. l don't see nothing else"
And what were the stars made for.
John Davis, but to show you the way
| to other things? Look for yourself,
now, and let me Show you the pleas
ATTEST prospect, for dark night, that
your eyes ever hungered over Stoop,
I say, and follow my finger, There!
See to the lagoon just beyond that old
cypress, see the dead tree half-rolled
into the water. Look now, at the end
Of the fallen tree-there just where the
starlight falls upon 1t, making long
streak in the black water. Do you see,
man. of little faith, and almost as lit
tie eyesight! Do you not understand
now, why 1t is that rejoice; why my
bowels yearn, and my soul exults?
Look. and feast your eyes, Jack Davis,
whom they call Goose Creek, while you
anticipate better feeding still hereafter
But don't utter a word-not breath
lest you disturb the comely creatures,
the dainty delights-our quail and
mama of the swamp-sent for our
blessing and enjoyment by the bounti-
full Heaven. which sees that we are
intensely deserving, and mortal hun
CRY at the same time. Hush! hush!
not a word!"
Here he stopped himself in the utter
ance of his own raptures, which were
growing rather more loud than pru-
dence called for. The eye Of Davis.
meanwhile. had followed the guiding
finger Of the epicure, and the woodman
nearly laughed aloud. But he dared
not. Porgy was evidently too seriously
bent to permit Of such irreverence.
The objects that so transported the
other, were such as had been familiar
to the eyes Of both from their earliest
consciousness Of light. The little
lagoon, or bayou on the edge Of which
they crouched. showed them, browsing
on the old and half-decayed tree to
which Porgy had directed his own and
the gaze Of Davis, three enormous ter
rapins Of that doubtful brood which
the vulgar In the southern country de-
scribe as the alligator terrapin-an
uncOuth monster. truly, and with such
we'll developed caudal eXtremities as
seem to justify them in chasing the
animal In this conneXion. The terra
pins lay basking, black and shining in
the starlight, their heads thrust out,
and hanging over the lagoon, into
which the slightest alarm Of an unu-
sual nature would prompt them to
plunge incontinently. Their glossy
backs yet seemed to trickle with the
water from which they had arisen.
Their heads were up and watchful; as
If preparing for that facile descent into
the native home, a region black as
Avernus. Porgy continued-now in a
whisper
That's a sight, John Davis, to lift
man from sick-bed. That's
sight to make him whole and happy
again. Look how quietly they lie, that
farthest one-I would 1t were higher
is a superb fellow. fat as butter, and
sticking full Of eggs. There's soup
enough in the three for a regiment;
and now, my good fellow. If you will
only be quiet, will give you such
lesson OF dexterity and stratagem as
shall make you remember this night as
long as you live. There never was a
terrapin trapper that could compare
with me in my youth. We shall see II
my right hand hath lost its cunning.
You shall see me come upon them like
an Indian. l will only throw off this
outer and most unnecessary covering,
and put on the character of social
grunter All, the hog is a noble ami
It's almost a sin to mock him-but in
making mock turtle. John Davis, the
offence is excusable: a good dinner, l
say, will sanctify n dozen sins. and
here goes for one"
But, lieutenant, thems alligator ter
rapins."
Well"
We'll, nobody eats alligator terra
pins"
"NObody's an ass, then, for his alb
terrapin is the very prince of terra
pins"
We'll, he's the biggest"
| And the best! His meat is Of the
rarest delicacy. and with my dressing,
and the cooking of my fellow, Tom, the
dish is such as would tickle monstrous-
ly the palate of any prince in Europe
that is of any prince born to gen.
tlemanly taste. which is not to be said
of many of the tribe, I grant you. But
| tn6reS no time I'D De lOSl t1Olu llS
rifle. and witness my exertions."
Here he forced the rifle into the
hands of the Goose Greek forester, and
prepared for the proposed achievement:
which we may venture to say. in this
place. required a degree of deXterity
and painstaking which few can show,
and which no one would attempt, not
stimulated by tastes so exquisite and
absorbing as those Of our epicure.
Porgy's agility greatly belied his ap-
pearance You have seen a heavy man
move lightly. no doubt. 1t requires
certain conformation to show this
anomaly. Porgy possessed this confor-
nation. His coat was off in a jiffy.
His vest followed it. and he was soon
stealing away. along the edge OF the
hammock. and in the direction of his
victims Davis had become interested,
almost to the utter fOrgetfulness of his
own victim. Sergeant Hastings. He
| h. oil H.