Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1907-02-26

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shows no capacity to appreciate. 1 am
sort of Barmecide in that respect,
though I suspect, John, you know
nothing of the Barmecides."
mo; I never heard tell Of them"
$50 1 suppose! Well, won't vex
you by talking of fine people not of
your acquaintance. Now. John, tell
the truth-did I not seem to you very
peculiar, very remarkable and strange
nay something ridiculous, John, when
you saw me crawling after the terra
pins?"
well, to say truth, lieutenant you
did seem rather ridickilous."
Ridiculous! do you say. Well, per-
haps! forgive you, Jack Davis;
though there are times when to hint
such a word to me, would insure you
broken head. A man of my presence
ridiculous!"
"Oh! l don't mean no offence, lieu
tenant"
"To be sure not! Do I not know
that! But. John, think of the soup
that we shall get out Of these terra
pins. Think Of our half starved en-
campment: and do you not see that the
art which traps for us such admirable
food. rises into absolute sublimity?
Some hundreds Of years from now.
when our -grandchildre think Of
the sort of life we led when we were
fighting to secure them an inheritance.
they will record this achievement OF
mine as worthy of Roman fame. But
you don't know anything Of the Ro-
mans, John"
Not bit, lieutenant. Is 1t a kind
Of terrapins?"
YES, indeed! kind Of terrapin that
crawled over the whole earth, and
claimed 1t for their own
you dent say SOL"
True, every syllable: but the breeds
died out, John, and such as are left
hav'nt marrow enough in 'em for a
stew for a single squad. But John, 1t
was not the soup only that thought
of when l trapped these beauties. Did
you ever feel the pleasure John, Of
chasing fox?"
"Yes, to be sure; thousand times.
It's prime sport, tell you"
But you never ate the fox, John?'
mo, indeed! the stinking creature"
well. even If shouldn't taste these
terrapins, the pleasure Of their capture
Is a feast l have exercised my SKILL
my ingenuity feel that my right hand
has not forgot its cunning. That, John,
is the sort of practice that proves the
true nature of the man. He is never
so we'll satisfied as when he Is contriv-
ing. inventing, scheming, planning
and showing how cunning he can be.
it's sort of happiness to chase, and
trap, and catch, run down and cut up
81 reckon that's true, lieutenant. l
feel list so when I'm on scout, or a
hunt, or anything like IT." and John
Davis was reminded of his practice
with respect to Sergeant Hastings. He
began to be impatient Of the long
speeches of Porgy; but there was no
getting him out Of the way, except at
his own pleasure.
Talking of cutting up, John, brings
up the terrapins tomorrow. You shall
see what a surprise I shall give the
camp. You shall see what a thing in
vention is! How beautiful is art! Now
I shall dress each of these beauties In
a different style. Steaks and soup you
shall have. and enough to satisfy, In
the old fashion. But I have some in
ventlons-I thought of them as I near
ed the log; and when the cunning
senses of that patriarch there almost
found me out. timely grunt silenced
his doubt. With that grunt came the
idea Of q new dish. 1t was revela-
ton. That terrapin. 1 said, shall be
compounded with the flesh Of the
porker that Joe Witsell brought into
camp at noon. There shall be q hash
that shall make your mouth to water.
There shall be such a union Of the
forces of hog and terrapin as shall
make them irresistible; and you VIII
then learn the great truth-great to
US at short commons in the swamp
that alligator terrapin is a dish worthy
to be set before king"
John Davis looked dubiously, but
said
Yes, l reckon, lieutenant"
"You reckon! Well. but whittier do
you go?" he asked, as he saw the other
lay down his rifle and prepare to go.
1--WE got to scout for two hours.
out here on the skairts Of the swamp"
Very good! But before you go
have you a handkerchief about you?"
"A mighty old one, lieutenant"
1.-THE very one for my purpose.
Mine Is q new one, John, and meant
for great occasions, when I am enter
tanning some of the big bugs in epau-
lettes. Let me have it-and-but-old
fellow, won't you help me home with
my captives?"
IN course, lieutenant, I'll take 'em
all for YOU" And John soon had the
monsters gathered up, and on his
shoulders.
"You are q good fellow, John. and
must have your share Of the hash as
well as stew. Be sure, John, that you
don't absent yourself tomorrow. l
wouldn't have you miss the mess for
the world. There's too much at stake;
so remember. A day lost to a good
stomach is a serious grievance. You
not only cannot recall 1t, but 1t affects
your health the day after. Don't in
cur any such peril"
And thus talking, Porgy led the way
and the two parties disappeared to-
gether, taking the backward route to
the camp. Davis was beginning to be
impatient of lost time. But there was
no way to rid the precinct Of the lieu
tenants presence. but by helping him
on his progress, and the epicure was
not satisfied to let him off until the
spoil had been fairly deposited In SAFE
ty in the shadow of Porgy's tent
Leaving the epicure to stir up Tom