The Rhode-Island Republican. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1809-1841, 1831-09-20


down tho cane, and scattering the shells. As
soon as | recovered from my surprise, re-
solved to take view, Of what supposed 10
be two prairie bulls mixing impetuonsly in
battle, an occurrence so common IN this coun-
try and season, when, as Thompson says,
"-Through all his lusty veins
Thcbull, deep scorchcd, the raging passion feels
When reached the scene of action, how
great was my astoDishment, instead of bulls,
TO behold large black bear reared up on his
hind legs, with his fore paws raised aoit, as if
to make a lunge. His face was beslneared
with white foam sprinkled with red, which
dropping from his mouth, rolled down his
shaggy breast Frantic from the smartng of
his wounds, he stood gnashing his teeth and
growing at his enemy. A few PAGES in his
rear was the cane brake from which he had
entered. On n bank of snow white shells,
spotted with blood, in battle array. stood
Bruins foe, in shape an alligator, fifteen feet
long He looked as ifhe had just been dip
ped in the Teche. and had emerged like
Achilles from the Styx, with an invulnerable
coat of mail lie was standing on tiptoe, his
back curved upwards, and his tongueless
mouth thrown open, displayed in his wide
%
His tail six feet long raised from the ground,
was constantly waving, like boxers arm,
to gather force. His big eyes staring from
his head glared upon bruin, whilst sometimes
uttering Kissing cries, then roaring like a
bull
The combatants were a few PAGES apart
when stole upon them, the first round being
over. They remained in the attitudes described
about minute swelling themselvesas large
as possible, but marking The slightest motions
with attention, and great caution, as if each
felt confident he had met his match. During
this pause / was concealed behind a tree,
watching their manDuvres in silence. ]
could scarcely believe my eyesght What,
thought ], can these two beasts have to fight
about Some readers may doubt the tale on
this account, but if it had been bull fight,
no one would have doubted it, because every
one knows what they are fighting for.
"When the fair hcifer, balmy breathing, near
Stands kindlng up their rage"
The same reasoning will not always apply
to a man fight. Men frequently fight, when
they are sober, for no purpose, except to as.
certain which is the better man. We must
then believe that beasts will do the same, un
less we admit that the instinct Of beasts is
superior to the boasted reason of man.
Whether they did fight upon the present oc
ca sion without cause, cannot say, as l was
not present when the afffay began. a boar
and ram have been known to fight, and so
did the bear and the. alligator, whilst pru.
dently kept in the back ground, preserving
the strictest neutrality betwixt the belliger.
onts. And now, if the reader is satisfied
that such battle as this might have taken |
place, in the absence Of any known cause,
will 90 on to tell what | saw Of it, as o wit |
ness should.
Bruiu, though evidently baffled, bad firm
look, which showed he had not lost confidence
in himself. Ifthe difficulty of the underak.
ing had once deceived him, he was prepared
to go at it again. Accordingly, letting him.
self down upon all fours, he ran furously at
the alligator. The alligator was ready for
him, and throwing his head and body partly
around 10 avoid the onset, met Bruin half way, |
with blow of his tail, that rolled him back
on the shells, Old Bruin was not to De put
off by one hit three times in rapid succession
he rushed at the alligator, and was as often
repused in the same manner, being knocked
back by each blow Just far enough to give the
alligator time to recover the swing OF his tail
before he returned. The tail of the alligator
sounded like aail against the thick coat OF
hair on Bruins head and shoulders, but he
bore it without flnching, still pushing on to
come to close holts with his scaly foe. lie
made his fourth charge with degree OF dex-
terity, which those who have never seen this
clumsy looking animal exercising, would sup
pose him incapable Of This time he got so
close to the alligator before his tai! struck
him that the blow came with half its usual
effect. The alligator was upset by the
hac ho 10 foof
Brun grasped him round the body below the
fore legs, and holding hun down on his back,
seized one of his legs in his mouth. The al
liga,or was now in desperate situation, not
his coat Of mail, which is softer
on his belly than his back, from which
"The darted steel in idle shvers flies"
AS Kentuckian would say, "he was getting
used up fast" Here if had dared to speak,
and had supposed he could understand En-
glsh, should have uttered the encouraging
exhortaton OF the poet:
snow gallant knight, now hold thy own,
No maIden's arms are round thee thrown."
The alligator attempted in vain to bite,
pressed down as he was, he could not open
his mouth, the upper jaw OF which only moves,
and his neck was SO stiff that he could not
turn hls head short round. The amphibious
beast fetched a scream, in despair, but being |
a warrior "by flood and by field" he was not
yet overcome. Wreaihng his tail about
with agony, he happened to strike it aguinst
u small tree that stood mex, the bayou ;aided
by this purchase, he made convusive tioun.
der, which prec,pllated himself and Bruin,
locked together, into the river. The bank
from which they fell was four feet high and
the water below feet deep. The tranquil
stream received tho comba,ants with loud
splash, then closed over them in silence. A
voley of ascending bubbles announced their
arrival at the bottom, where the battle ended