Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1921-11-29
STUDIES IN
NATURAL HISTORY
BY JAMES HENRY RICE, Jr.
THE LoeGERHEAD TURTLE

Two men were fishing for sponges
off the outer reach of the Bahamas in
night of brilliant moonshine. All of
sudden there came big body racing
through the water. Just look at that
old turtle, SAM" said one. of the
sponge fishermen; "she is making
time like a steamboat" SO she was,
for the men were speedily left behind
and line of white ripples showed
that there was no relaxation of speed.
The palms showed distinct in the
tropic night; the low land loomed to-
ward the west and the water was
lighted by phosrhorescent strcaks
where tiny fish and other marine ami
mails disported.
June was coming on, and, following
an instinct implanted in them in an
cient geologic times, these turtles were
going north to lay on the broad strand
of the Atlantic.
About a week after thai, traveller
was coming down the North Carolina
strand. The moon was almost full
bright as day The traveller had come
far, driving along the opeE strand it
was near midnight and he stopped to
rest and feed his horse. With him
was an old darky, Ephraim, a general
factotum. SO he told Ephraim to take
out and feed the horse. and while this
was being attended to- he himself
walked up the strand toward Il place
where swaSh, n small fresh water
stream, made into the ocean. At the
mouth of the swaSh, which they had
passed. there was bold bluff and
cove beyond
September Morn"
Now. it so happened that two young
ladies, teachers in city, had stolen
out of a nearby house and were having
a taste of Edcns delights in the cool
water. 1t was Il lonely strand, where
travellers came only every year or so.
knowing this, and believing that
nothing like man was within many,
many miles, the young ladies discard
cd bathing suits ard entered the ocean
in the altogether. II was grand;
they took no count Of time.
The traveller had not seen them: nor
they him. Each would have departed
in entire ignorance Of the others proX-
unity, but for that same turtle that
had passed the sponge fishermen at a
wild pace; for while the traveller was
Watching the sea and the strand, and
musing about all sorts Of things. the
armament was split by an awful roar.
like the exhaust of Il big steam pipe.
Two wild screams from the water and
two fleeing forms. with hair streaming
behind them as they disappeared over
the bluff gave notice OF the presence
Of the young ladies. The horse, ac-
Cording to old Ephraim. done hist he
tail in de elements and quit de cOun-
try" the last sight of him was when
he turned Il half mile below. Ephraim
himself went over the sand dunes with
remarkable agility for Il rheumatic
person and had climbed n tree when
found.
OF to West Indies.
Meantime the turtle was engaged on
her life business. She dug out a hole
with her forcfcct. then whirled around
and began laying eggs. When this
process vas complete, she puIlcd sand
over the eggs and raised her body and
let il fall hard OF the sand until it vas
packed according to her notion. when
she returned to the sea and began her
course for the West Indies.
BY this time light was S""n N the
house and the traveller, bcin" without
horse. went up for help. The man
of the house came out. and when
things were explained. laughed and
told him he would find the horse. if
first the turtle eggs were shown him.
This wdS promptly done and with =
spade. he dug the eggs ont, securing
Il basket full. Then he took his own
horse and recovered the missing ami
nal within I'm hour; 50 the journey
WAS resumed.
"Fo Gawd. NAUSEA, dat crtter mex
me swallCr my terbacker. | ent been
scare so senCc kuliluX time, WAS
Ephraim'S comment.
So, with the roaring. dashing sea on
one side and the black forest on the
other, while moon and stars gave light.
they Jared on alone tho rim Of the At
iantiC.