Fremont journal. [volume] (Fremont, Sandusky County [Ohio]) 1853-1866, 1853-10-29

my eyes upon the objects; they were forms
Of the cyocodaidg, the giant lizzards-they
were algators.
Huge ones they were, many Of them; and
many were they in number-a hundred at
least were crawling over the islet before be-
hind, and on all sides around me. Their long
giant jaws and chancelled snouts projected
forward so us almost to touch my body, and
their eyes, usually leaden, seemed now to
glare.
lmpelled by this new danger, sprang to
my feet, when, recognizing the upright form
Of man, the reptiles scultled Of, and plum
ging hurriedly into the lake, hid their hdeous
bodies under water.
The incident in some measure revived me.
| saw that | was not alone; there was compa.
tny even in the crocodies. grndully became
more myself, and began to reflect with some
degree of c ooIness or the circumstances that
surrounded me. My eyes wandered over the
iset-eyery inch of it came under my glance
every object upon it was scrutinzed-the
moultcd feathers of the wild fowl, the pieces
Of mud, the fresh water mussels (unios) strew-
ed upon its bcach-ail were examined. Still
The Larren answer--no means Of escape.
The islet was but the head Of a sand bar,
formed by the eddy-perhaps gathered to-
gether within the year, 1t was bare Of her
bnge, with the exception of few turfs Of grass
There was neither tree nor bush upon it
not a stick. A raft indeed There was not
wood enough to make raft that would have
iloated "A frog. The idea of raft was but
briefly entertained-such thought had GER
tainIy crossed my mind, bat single glance
round the islet dspelled it before it had taken
shape.
paced my prison from end to end-from
side to side walked it over. | tried the wa
ter's depth; on all sides sounded it, wadng
recklrssly in everywhere, it deepened rapidly
as | advanced. Three lengths of myself from
the slot's edge, and was up to the NECK
The hungry reptiles swan arolnd, snoring
and blowing; they were boljer in this element
could not have waded safely ashore, even
had the water been shallow. To swim it
no-even though swan like a duck, they
would have closed upon and quartered me
before | could have made a dozen strokes
Hurriied BY their demonstrations, hurried.
back upon dry ground, aud paced the iset
with dripping garments.
| continued walking until night, which
gathered around me dark and dismal. With
nigh; came new vuicrs-the hideous voices of
the nocturnal swamp, the qua qua of the heron
the scrcech of the swamp uw the cry of the
bittern, the Gil uk of the great water toad, ,
the kinkling Of the belI.fog, and the chirp Of
the savanna-crcket-all fell upon my ear.
Sounds still harsher and more bideous were
heard around mc-the plashing Of the alliga-
Tor, and the roaring Of his voce-these re-
minded me that must not go to sleep. To
sleep! l durst not have slept for single in
slant. Even when lay for few minutes
molionless, the dark reptiles came crawling
around me-so close that | could have put
forth my hand and touched them.
At intervals sprang to my feet, shouted,
swept my gun around, and chased them back
to the water, into which they b5took them
selves with a sullen plunge, but with little
! scmhlence Of fear. At each demonstration
on nv part they showed less alarm, until |
could n longer drive them either with shouts
or threatenin. gestures. They only retreated
few feet, forming an irregular circle around
me. Thus hemmed in, | became frightened
in turn. l loaded my gun and fred kill
I'd none. They are impervlous to bullet,
except in the eye or under the forearm. 1t
was too dark to aim at these parts; and my
shots glanced harmlessly from the pyramidal
scales of their bodies. The loud report, how
ever, and the blaze frightened them, and they
fled, to return again after long interval
was asleep when they returned; had gone
to sleep in spite Of my efforts to keep awake.
| was startled by the touch of something cold
and half stihed by strong musky oder that
filed the air. threw up my arms-my fin
gers rested upon an object slippery and clam
my it was one of those monsters-one OF gl'
gantic size. He had crawled alongside me,
and was pre- ,aring to make his attack, as
saw that he was mt in the form OF bow
and knew that these creatures assume that
attitude when about to strike their victim.
was just in lime 10 spring aside, and avolc
the stroke of his powerful tail, that the mex
moment swept the ground where was lain.
Again | fired, and he, with the rest, once
more retreate TO the lake.
All thought of going 10 sleep was at an end
Not that felt wakefu; on the c,ntrary, wea-
fied with my days exerlion for had had d
long pull under a hot tropical SUM- coui,
have laid down upon the earth, in the mud,
anywhere, and slept in an instant. Nothing
but the dreaded certainty Of my peril KEEP
me awake. Once again before morning,
was compelled to battle with reptiles, AM
chase them away with a shot from my gun.
Morning came at length, but with 1t nc
change in my perilous position. The ligh
only showed me my island prison, but reveal
ed no way of escape from it, Indeed, th'
change could not be called for the better, 70
the fervid rays of an almost vertical sun bur
ned down upon me until my skin bstered
was already speckled BY the bites of
thousand swamp flies and musqui,oes, tha
all night long had preyed upon me. Their
was not cloud in the heavens 10 shade me
and the sunbeams smote the surface of tn
dead bayou with double intensity Toward
evening | began to hunger, No wonder 9
that, ! hal not eaten since leaving the vii
lage settlement. 70 assuage thirst dran
the water of the lake, turbid and slmy as
was. drank it in large quantities, for
was hot and only moistened my palate with
out quenching the craving of my appetit