excavate its nest.
The operation seemed to be performed mostly with the hind feet, and was
accomplished in a remarkably short time, considering the implements
used.

All the party were breathing hard, and, as Sandy afterward remarked,
"The only reason de turkle didn't go was it t'ought we'se porpuses."

The turtle was allowed to deposit its eggs, and when that operation was
supposed to be about over a concerted rush was made. As we rose from
the sand, the animal whirled clumsily around and made for the sea. It
was an enormous loggerhead, and, with its huge head and powerful
flippers, presented a decidedly aggressive appearance. The two boys were
first on the field, and, without waiting for the scantling which old
Sandy had grasped, seized the creature on the side, between the
flippers, and lifted it. But they had barely raised it from the sand
when the great fore flipper, being clear, struck the unfortunate Piffney
a sounding blow, knocking him against Rastus, who lost his hold, and
both went down in confusion. The turtle scrambled ahead, throwing sand
like a whirlwind. She seemed to have the faculty of lifting nearly a
quart and hurling it with unerring force, and old Sandy's mouth was soon
filled with it. Three of us again seized the animal and lifted, while
the old darky inserted the scantling as a lever.

"Now, den, clap on yere!" he cried, dodging the sand and flippers.

We lifted, and the monster was fairly on its side, when an ominous creak
was heard; the plank broke, and before a new hold could be taken the
turtle was but ten feet from the water. Active measures were evidently
necessary, and Sandy, taking the board, ran in front of the animal and
struck wildly at its head, yelling to us to lift. But the sand was soft,
and every lift was attended by a terrific beating to the man who stood
near the fore flipper. In vain we struck, lifted, and hauled: the turtle
was gaining slowly. Finally, in his war-dance about the animal's head,
Sandy stumbled, grasped wildly in the air, and went down backward into
the water with a sounding crash, the turtle fairly crawling over his
legs, and, despite the boys, who hung on to its hind flippers, it slid
into the water and disappeared behind a miniature tidal wave, leaving
the Pinckey family--father and sons--in a state of complete
demoralization.

"I 'low dat turkle's bo'n free," gasped Sandy, picking himself up and
shaking the water from his clothes.

"He ain't gwine to g