St. Johns review. (Saint Johns, Or.) 1904-current, 1910-05-20
TURTLES EGGS FOR AGAssIz

When Prof. I>ouis AEaasis was writ
ting book on the turtles OF the United
States. Il became necessary for him
20 have some fresh turtle sggs. He en-
gagged Mr.. Jenks. of Middleboro. about
forty miles from Cambridge. TO get
them for him. Mr.. jerks promised
that the eggs should be In Agassiz's
hands before they were three hours
old. Mr.. jerks. who lately told tho
tale TO a writer In the Atlantic Month
ly. had TO walt by certain pond for
the turtles TO como out and lay their
eggs In the sand. Finally. after weeks
of waiting. one morning about 4
o'clock a turtle crawled up the beach,
partly buried herself In the soft sand.
and laid her eggs.
A. she did 30 the distant clock
struck 4. There was no train I'LL after
0. and the eggs must be In Cambridge
tn three hours.
I laid the eggs on bed OF sand In
the bottom OF my pail; flled In be-
tween them with more sand; so with
another layer TO the rim; and covering
all over smoothly with more sand. |
ran back for my horse. lie knew. as
well as !. that the turtle had laid. and
that no was TO get those eggs to Agas'
six.
I let him out. I shouted to him.
holding 10 the dasher with one hand
the pail OF eggs with the other. not
daring TO get on my knees. although
the hang on them. as we pounded down
the wood road. was terrific. We had
nearly covered the distance TO the pike
when ahead OF me ] heard the sharp
whistle OF locomotive.
with a pull that lifted the horse
from his feet. | swung him into a field
and sent him straight as an arrow for
the track.
by some stroke OF luck I got on the
track and backed on II before the
train hit my carriage, But the maneu-
yer was successful. for the engineer
stopped and I swung aboard the cab
hatless, dew-soaked. smeared with yell
low mud. and holding. as II Il were
a baby or a bomb. a little tin pail OF
sand.
Throw her wide Open" ! com.
manded. wide open, These are fresh
turtle eggs for Professor Agassiz OF
Cambridge. He must have them be-
fore breakfast"
The engineer and the fireman no
doubt thought that | was crazy: but
they let me alone. and the fast
freight rolled swiftly into Boston.
But misfortune was ahead. We
slowed down In the yards and came to
. stop. We were put on a siding. to
wait no one knew how long. In the
empty square stood cab.
The cabman saw me coming. !
waved a dollar at him and then an.
other. lodged into the cab. slammed
the door. and called out. Cambridge!
Harvard College. Professor Agassiz's
house! I've got eggs for Aggasiz."
and | pushed another dollar up at him
through the hole.
let him go!" I ordered. Here's
another dollar for you II you make
Agassiz's house In twenty minutes."
We flew TO Cambridge. There was
. sudden lurch. and l dived forward.
Tammed my head into the front OF the
cab. and came up with q rebound that
landed me across the small OF my back
on the seat. and sent half Of my pail
OF eggs helter-skelter over the door.
But We were at Agassis's house. ]
tumbled out aud pounded on the door.
"Agassiz!" ! gasped when the maid
came. u want Professor Agassix.
ouicki"
She protested that he was In bed.
and threatened the police. But Just
then . door overhead wes nuns open.
Q great white-robed dsurs appeared on