THE BOOK OF THE TARPON 



to signal for the little motor boat. We dragged 

 the turtle up on the beach, well out of reach of 

 the tide and left it safe on its back to await a 

 court-martial in the morning. 



It was a drum-head court-martial we held as 

 we solemnly sat around the creature, his big 

 round carapace serving as drum-head. The 

 turtle was convicted of being edible and sen- 

 tenced to be guillotined. The captain swore that 

 its flesh was as good as beef and added that it 

 was better than green turtle steak. The Court 

 struck out the latter statement as being obviously 

 bughouse. The Girl testified that the creature 

 was a reptile, which no self-respecting person 

 would touch, that she had eaten of the flesh and 

 found it possessed of a wild flavor that was not 

 agreeable. She added that it was wicked to kill 

 so great a creature when so little of its flesh could 

 be utilized. The witness was informed that the 

 Court could broil a turtle steak so that the objec- 

 tionable flavor could not be detected and 

 that any meat left over would be smoked, 

 dried, and added to the supplies in the larder, 

 which needed replenishing. The testimony of 

 the witness was struck out and she was informed 



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