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COMICThe Adventures of Tymm: Alien Circus No. 1
Tymm, an orphan raised in an alien circus, discovers that he
is the rightful heir to an intergalactic kingdom.
BOOKThe Notorious Jumping Frog of Calaveras County
Originally published in 1865, this Mark Twain narrative tells
of an encounter with a fanciful storyteller at a California gold
mining camp.

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ch apte r

one

DAVE ROMAN
L. FRANK WEBER
EVE

Dave roman artist L. Frank Weber CoLorist eve Lettering sCott o. broWn
titLe anD book Design zaChary a. Pennington CreateD by sCott mitCheLL rosenberg
Writer

For press and promotional inquiries, please contact: public.relations@platinumstudios.com or 310-807-8100

the Adventures of tymm: Alien CirCus ChApter one (oGn) Wowio edition.
published by platinum studios Comics, a division of platinum studios, inc. 11400 olympic Blvd., 14th floor, los Angeles, CA 90064. the Adventures of tymm: Alien CirCus, its logo, and the names and
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did you
hear that? that
woman is crying,
we should check
and see--

NO, WE'RE
BEing paiD TO
STAND HERE.

IF WE LEAVE OUR
POST, WE COULD GET
fired agaiN.

be side s,
FATHER KNOWS WHAT
he's doing.

About twelve years later

on the planet Balthous.

COME ON!
PUT DOWN THE
FREAK!

URK!

OOF!

RIIING
RIIIING

TEACH HiM
A LESSON!

Sign ups
begin for infantry
enrollment.

Sign uP
TO BE USED
FOR TARGET
PRActice.

later that night.

UM, YEAH...
Right, BEFORE
ENROLLMENT
TOMORROW.

I'LL
SEE YA
THEN.

Sigh...

that boy
won't last three
days as a Balthan
Guard.

AFD

DOOT A
DOOTA DOOT,
GOODBYYYE
SCHOOL.

Doot a
Doota Doot-Goodbye front
guards--

AFD

I SHOULDN'T
ASSUME THEY'LL JUST
LET ME WALK OUT THE
front door.

AFD

DOOT A
DOOTA DOOT,
GOODBYE
FENCE.

YiKES,
ALMOST FORGOT
ABOUT THEM.

This is Tymm.
He was a stowaway,
so we're going to put
him to work until we
reach the Desvair
System.

Show him
how to feed
the animals
and clean up
around
here.

Blah! Like
we should listen
to you. On Myridia
you'd be serving
us!

Yeah,
we'd show her
that no Balthan
tells us what
to do!

Come on kid,
we'll show you
how it works
around here.

He looks like one

of your kind, so I figure
who better to show him
the ropes.

Myridia?
What's that?

But let's hope

he doesn't slack
off nearly as much
as you two.

What's Myridia? That's a

good onelike you don't even
know what planet you
come from!

Ha!
Imagine
that.

It's the next solar day,

and the circus ship lands
on the planet Desvair.

Alright, let's
move, people. I want
to see all the spheres
of the tent assembled
by mid-day.

You heard
the boss. Tenhut, and all that
stuff!

They're here.
Can you keep an eye
on everything till
I get back?
OF COURSE.
YOU KNOW YOU
CAN COUNT
ON ME.

Oh, sweet
Teirogg, it seems
I come to rely on
you more than
ever.

They're up to
something. Wripp and
Taare are counting on me
to spy on them. I'd better
follow that Balthan
con-spir-a-tor.

I just want this

mission to go off
without a hitch.

mission?

Oh and Teirogg,
watch out for that
stowaway. He seems
kind of nosey.
OOPS.

HEH
HEH...
Keep up these
antics, and you'll
be as good as your
Myridian pals.

OF COURSE!
myridians are good
at everything.
Umm wait
what do you think
we're good at exactly?
Because I'm not sure
if you mean the same
stuff as I do.

Maybe it's a trap!

Could they have followed
me here? Maybe Dira ratted
me out! She is a Balthan
I should have known
better!

look,
the show is
beginning.

OOOH!

Long agobefore time

was documentedthere
lived those who existed
only in shadows

trapped in darkness

The light of the

planets fire being
their life's blood.

their only solace

in the flame from which
they were created.

until something
came that took
of the fire.

as the flames were consumed,

the shadows began to disappear.

GRAB MY
tendrils, I'LL
TRY AND PULL
YOU OUT.

K
UN
CH

ARRGGH, IF I can
just use the force
of the column to
pull you free...

GASP!

HUH?

AS Will I.

GENERAL RAiNG!

to be continued. . .

on

Tymm, an orphan raised in an alien circus, discovers that he

is the rightful heir to an intergalactic kingdom.
In this chapter, Tymm struggles to find his place in the circus, as some of the performers
warm up to him, while others question where he came from.

COM

The Notorious Jumping Frog of CalaverasCounty

Twain, Mark, 18351910

Copyright 2007 by WOWIO LLC. All rightsreserved.

No part of this ebook may be reproduced in any form
without written permission of the copyright owner.

The information in this book is furnished for
informational use only, is subject to change without
notice, and should not be construed as a commitment
by WOWIO LLC. WOWIO LLC assumes no
responsibility for any errors or inaccuracies that may
appear in this book.

EDitors
Introduction
This WOWIO selection is excerpted from The
Jumping Frog (New York: Harper & Brothers,
1903) by Samuel Longhorn Clemens, penname
Mark Twain, and illustrated by F. Strothmann.
Twains famous story was also published as The
Celebrated Jumping Frog of Calaveras County
and Jim Smiley and His Jumping Frog. The tale
was originally published in 1865. WOWIO editors
notes are in brackets.
Gary P. Hamel, WOWIOeditor

The

Notorious
JumpingFrog
of Calaverascounty

n compliance with the request of a friend of

mine, who wrote me from the East, I called on
good-natured, garrulous old Simon Wheeler, and
inquired after my friends friend, Leonidas W.
Smiley, as requested to do, and I hereunto append
the result. I have a lurking suspicion that Leonidas
W. Smiley is a myth; that my friend never knew
such a personage; and that he only conjectured
that if I asked old Wheeler about him, it would
remind him of his infamous Jim Smiley, and he
would go to work and bore me to death with some
infernal reminiscence of him as long and tedious as
it should be useless to me. If that was the design, it
certainlysucceeded.

The Notorious Jumping Frog

of Calaveras County

I found Simon Wheeler dozing comfortably

by the barroom stove of the dilapidated tavern
in the ancient mining camp of Angels, and I
noticed that he was fat and baldheaded, and had
an expression of winning gentleness and simplicity
upon his tranquil countenance. He roused up, and
gave me good day. I told him a friend of mine had
commissioned me to make some inquiries about
a cherished companion of his boyhood named
Leonidas W. SmileyRev. Leonidas W. Smiley, a
young minister of the Gospel, who he had heard
was at one time a resident of Angels Camp. I
added that if Mr. Wheeler could tell me anything
about this Rev. Leonidas W. Smiley, I would feel
under many obligations tohim.

I found Simon Wheeler dozing comfortably

The Notorious Jumping Frog

of Calaveras County

Simon Wheeler backed me into a corner and

blockaded me there with his chair, and then sat
me down and reeled off the monotonous narrative
which follows this paragraph. He never smiled, he
never frowned, he never changed his voice from
the gentle-flowing key to which he tuned the initial
sentence, he never betrayed the slightest suspicion
of enthusiasm; but all through the interminable
narrative there ran a vein of impressive
earnestness and sincerity, which showed me
plainly that, so far from his imagining that there
was anything ridiculous or funny about his story,
he regarded it as a really important matter, and
admired its two heroes as men of transcendent
genius in finesse. I let him go on in his own way,
and never interrupted himonce:
Rev. Leonidas W. Hm Reverend Lewell,
there was a feller here once by the name of Jim
Smiley, in the winter of 49or maybe it was the
spring of 50I dont recollect exactly, somehow,
though what makes me think it was one or the
other is because I remember the big flume wasnt

backed me into a corner

The Notorious Jumping Frog

of Calaveras County

finished when he first came to the camp; but

anyway, he was the curiosest man about always
betting on anything that turned up you ever see,
if he could get anybody to bet on the other side;
and if he couldnt, hed change sides. Any way
that suited the other man would suit himany
way just sos he got a bet, he was satisfied. But still
he was lucky, uncommon lucky; he most always
come out winner. He was always ready and laying
for a chance; there couldnt be no solitry thing
mentioned but that fellerd offer to bet on it, and
take any side you please, as I was just telling you.
If there was a horserace, youd find him flush or
youd find him busted at the end of it; if there was
a dogfight, hed bet on it; if there was a catfight,
hed bet on it; if there was a chicken fight, hed
bet on it; why, if there was two birds setting on
a fence, he would bet you which one would fly
first; or if there was a camp meeting, he would
be there reglar, to bet on Parson Walker, which
he judged to be the best exhorter about here,
and so he was, too, and a good man. If he even

10

The Notorious Jumping Frog

of Calaveras County

seen a straddle-bug start to go anywheres, he

would bet you how long it would take him toto
wherever he was going to, and if you took him
up, he would foller that straddle-bug to Mexico
but what he would find out where he was bound
for and how long he was on the road. Lots of the
boys here has seen that Smiley, and can tell you
about him. Why, it never made no difference
to himhed bet on any thingthe dangdest
feller. Parson Walkers wife laid very sick once,
for a good while, and it seemed as if they warnt
going to save her; but one morning he come in,
and Smiley asked how she was, and he said she
was considerable betterthank the Lord for his
infnite mercyand coming on so smart that with
the blessing of Providence shed get well yet; and
Smiley, before he thought, says, Well, Ill resk
two-and-a-half that she dont, anyway.
Thish-yer Smiley had a marethe boys called
her the fifteen-minute nag, but that was only in
fun, you know, because, of course, she was faster
than thatand he used to win money on that

11

Thish-yer Smiley had a mare

The Notorious Jumping Frog

of Calaveras County

horse, for all she was so slow and always had the
asthma, or the distemper, or the consumption, or
something of that kind. They used to give her two
or three hundred yards start, and then pass her
under way; but always at the fag-end [last part] of
the race shed get excited and desperate-like, and
come cavorting and straddling up, and scattering
her legs around limber, sometimes in the air, and
sometimes out to one side amongst the fences, and
kicking up m-o-r-e dust and raising m-o-r-e racket
with her coughing and sneezing and blowing her
noseand always fetch up at the stand just about
a neck ahead, as near as you could cipher itdown.
And he had a little small bull-pup, that to look
at him youd think he warnt worth a cent but to
set around and look ornery and lay for a chance
to steal something. But as soon as money was
up on him, he was a different dog; his underjawd begin to stick out like the focastle of a
steamboat, and his teeth would uncover, and
shine like the furnaces. And a dog might tackle
him, and bullyrag him, and bite him, and throw

13

The Notorious Jumping Frog

of Calaveras County

him over his shoulder two or three times, and

Andrew Jacksonwhich was the name of the
pupAndrew Jackson would never let on but
what he was satisfied, and hadnt expected nothing
elseand the bets being doubled and doubled
on the other side all the time, till the money was
all up; and then all of a sudden he would grab
that other dog jest by the jint of his hind leg and
freeze to itnot chaw, you understand, but only
just grip and hang on till they throwed up the
sponge, if it was a year. Smiley always come out
winner on that pup, till he harnessed a dog once
that didnt have no hind legs, because theyd been
sawed off by a circular saw, and when the thing
had gone along far enough, and the money was
all up, and he come to make a snatch for his pet
holt, he see in a minute how hed been imposed
on, and how the other dog had him in the door, so
to speak, and he peared surprised, and then he
looked sorter discouraged-like, and didnt try no
more to win the fight, and so he got shucked out
bad. He give Smiley a look, as much as to say his

14

Andrew Jackson

The Notorious Jumping Frog

of Calaveras County

heart was broke, and it was his fault, for putting up

a dog that hadnt no hind legs for him to take holt
of, which was his main dependence in a fight, and
then he limped off a piece and laid down and died.
It was a good pup, was that Andrew Jackson, and
would have made a name for hisself if hed lived,
for the stuff was in him, and he had geniusI
know it, because he hadnt had no opportunities
to speak of, and it dont stand to reason that a dog
could make such a fight as he could under them
circumstances if he hadnt no talent. It always
makes me feel sorry when I think of that last fight
of hisn, and the way it turnedout.
Well, thish-yer Smiley had rat terriers, and
chicken cocks, and tomcats, and all of them kind
of things, till you couldnt rest, and you couldnt
fetch nothing for him to bet on but hed match
you. He ketched a frog one day, and took him
home, and said he callated to educate him; and
so he never done nothing for three months but set
in his back yard and learn that frog to jump. And
you bet you he did learn him, too. Hed give him a

16

turn one summerset, or maybe a couple

The Notorious Jumping Frog

of Calaveras County

little punch behind, and the next minute youd see

that frog whirling in the air like a doughnutsee
him turn one summerset, or maybe a couple, if he
got a good start, and come down flatfooted and all
right, like a cat. He got him up so in the matter of
ketching flies, and kep him in practice so constant,
that hed nail a fly every time as fur as he could see
him. Smiley said all a frog wanted was education,
and he could do most anythingand I believe
him. Why, Ive seen him set Danl Webster down
here on this floorDanl Webster was the name
of the frogand sing out, Flies, Danl, flies! and
quickern you could wink, hed spring straight up,
and snake a fly offn the counter there, and flop
down on the floor agin as solid as a gob of mud,
and fall to scratching the side of his head with his
hind foot as indifferent as if he hadnt no idea hed
been doin any moren any frog might do. You
never see a frog so modest and straightforard as
he was, for all he was so gifted. And when it come
to fair and square jumping on a dead level, he
could get over more ground at one straddle than

18

Danl Webster

The Notorious Jumping Frog

of Calaveras County

any animal of his breed you ever see. Jumping on

a dead level was his strong suit, you understand;
and when it come to that, Smiley would ante up
money on him as long as he had a red [a penny].
Smiley was monstrous proud of his frog, and well
he might be, for fellers that had traveled and been
everywheres, all said he laid over any frog that ever
theysee.
Well, Smiley kep the beast in a little lattice box,
and he used to fetch him downtown sometimes
and lay for a bet. One day a fellera stranger in
the camp, he wascome across him with his box,
andsays:
What might it be that youve got in the box?
And Smiley says, sorter indifferent like, It
might be a parrot, or it might be a canary, maybe,
but it aintits only just a frog.
And the feller took it, and looked at it careful,
and turned it round this way and that, and says,
Hmso tis. Well, whats he good for?

20

It might be a parrot, or it might be a canary, maybe,

but it aintits only just a frog.

The Notorious Jumping Frog

of Calaveras County

Well, Smiley says, easy and careless, hes

good enough for one thing, I should judgehe
can outjump any frog in Calaveras County.
The feller took the box again, and took another
long, particular look, and give it back to Smiley,
and says, very deliberate, Well, I dont see no
pints about that frog thats any bettern any
otherfrog.
Maybe you dont, Smiley says. Maybe you
understand frogs, and maybe you dont understand
em; maybe youve had experience, and maybe you
aint only a amature, as it were. Anyways, Ive got
my opinion, and Ill resk forty dollars that he can
outjump any frog in Calaveras County.
And the feller studied a minute, and then says,
kinder sad like, Well, Im only a stranger here,
and I aint got no frogbut if I had a frog, Id
betyou.
And then Smiley says, Thats all rightthats
all rightif youll hold my box a minute, Ill go
and get you a frog. And so the feller took the box,
and put up his forty dollars along with Smileys,
and set down to wait.

22

prized his mouth open

The Notorious Jumping Frog

of Calaveras County

So he set there a good while thinking and

thinking to hisself, and then he got the frog out
and prized his mouth open and took a teaspoon
and filled him full of quail shotfilled him pretty
near up to his chinand set him on the floor.
Smiley he went to the swamp and slopped around
in the mud for a long time, and finally he ketched
a frog, and fetched him in, and give him to this
feller, andsays:

24

finally he ketched a frog

The Notorious Jumping Frog

of Calaveras County

Now, if youre ready, set him alongside

of Danl, with his forepaws just even with
Danl, and Ill give the word. Then he says,
Onetwothreegit! and him and the feller
touched up the frogs from behind, and the new
frog hopped off lively, but Danl give a heave, and
hysted up his shoulderssolike a Frenchman,
but it warnt no usehe couldnt budge; he was
planted as solid as a church, and he couldnt no
more stir than if he was anchored out. Smiley was
a good deal surprised, and he was disgusted too,
but he didnt have no idea what the matter was,
ofcourse.
The feller took the money and started away;
and when he was going out at the door, he sorter
jerked his thumb over his shoulderssoat
Danl, and says again, very deliberate, Well, he
says I dont see no pints about that frog thats any
bettern any other frog.
Smiley he stood scratching his head and looking
down at Danl a long time, and at last he says, I
do wonder what in the nation that frog throwd

26

Onetwothreegit!

The Notorious Jumping Frog

of Calaveras County

off forI wonder if there aint something the

matter with himhe pears to look mighty baggy,
somehow. And he ketched Danl by the nap of
the neck, and lifted him up and says, Why, blame
my cats, if he dont weigh five pound! and turned
him upside down, and he belched out a double
handful of shot. And then he see how it was, and
he was the maddest manhe set the frog down
and took out after that feller, but he never ketched
him.And
(Here Simon Wheeler heard his name called
from the front yard, and got up to see what was
wanted.)
And turning to me as he moved away, he said:
Just set where you are, stranger, and rest easyI
aint going to be gone a second.
But, by your leave, I did not think that a
continuation of the history of the enterprising
vagabond Jim Smiley would be likely to afford me
much information concerning the Rev. Leonidas
W. Smiley, and so I startedaway.

28

turned him upside down

The Notorious Jumping Frog

of Calaveras County

At the door I met the sociable Wheeler

returning, and he buttonholed me and
recommenced:
Well, thish-yer Smiley had a yaller one-eyed
cow that didnt have no tail, only jest a short stump
like a bannanner, and
However, lacking both time and inclination, I
did not wait to hear about the afflicted cow, but
took my leave.

30

COLOPHON

This ebook version of The Notorious Jumping

Frog of Calaveras County was compiled
into portable document format using
AdobeInDesign.
This ebook was edited by Gary P. Hamel and
designed by Stuff Creators DesignStudio.
Body text is set in New Caledonia, designed
by William A. Dwiggins. All other text is set in
Zebrawood, designed by Kim Buker Chansler.

b y M a r k Twain

illustrated by F. Strothmann

FREE BOOKS + FREE MINDS

TM

TM