Fayetteville observer. [volume] (Fayetteville, Tenn.) 1850-1966, 1856-03-27

tnlnk We got hilu ou iih0'
} He discharged his rifle, and tn
} ball flew harmlessly over the alllga
tor, and struck the water about thlr
ty yards beyond him.
.sDid | kill him." inquired tn
Spaniard, springins to his feet.
Il should rather think nof,' an
swered Allen, with laugh; 'swha
did you aim at?"
"The alligator.
"Then the alligator appears to b
very much obliged to you; for see, h'
is swimming this way, and seems de
termined to make US a call.
"Pull for the shore" shouted tht
Spaniard, dropping his rifle, anc
grasping a paddle.
Charley quietly winked to me
raised his rifle, and the next instant
its sharp report reverberated verthe
lake, and started more than thou
sand monkeys into an unearthly
chattering | watched for the bal
! to strike, and saw the monster raise
his head with sudden jerk, and
then lash the water into white foam
with its tail. In another instant be
had disappeared beneath its surface.
"You have killed him, Charley"
cried.
"Not so,'' Allen said; ''the ball
struck him in the mouth, and to-
morrow he will be as we'll as ever.
He had scarcely finished speaking,
when cry from Don Arturo startled
US. We turned towards him, and
saw that he had forsaken his pad
die, and was pointing with a trem-
bling hand towards half a-dozen
black objects which were slowly
swimming towards US, and were not
more than thirty yards distant.
"By all the saints in the calendar,
but we are in for it, Allen said,
throwing a charge of powder into his
rifle, and ramming down ball with
haste.
:.What is The matter?" inquired.
"Don't ask questions, but fire at
the nearest one. Hit him in the
eye, if you can."
1 did not wait for further instruc-
tions, but took deliberate aim, and
had the satisfaction Of seeing the
monster leap high out Of the water,
and then sink from view.
"Well done,'' Charley cried: "load
again as soon as possible. We must
fight our way to the shore, for every
inch ofground will be disputed"
| glanced towards the Don as L
loaded, and saw that he was seated
on the raft, his rifle lying by bis
side, and his eyes fixed upon the ap-
proaching alligators with a strong
expression of fear upon his face
The rowers also had ceased their Ia
Dor, and we're nearly as pallid as their
master. Charley shouted out some
thing, speaking to the natives in
their own language, which they un-
derstand much better than they DO
Spanish. They at once obeyed bis
orders, grasping their oars with ell
ergy, and dashing them into the wa
ter, they urged the light raft along
at rapid rate.
IT appeared as though each dis
charge of ourriaes brought fresh alll-
gators to the surface, for | saw no
less than dozen with their heads
out Of the water, watching our move
ments With great interest. and grad
ually drawing nearer, as if they wish
ed to revenge themselves for the IN
jury inflicted upon their companions
Presently one much larger than the
others darted towards the raft, and
when within few feet, suddenly dis
appeared from view.
"sIind your footing" shouted
Charley, sinking upon his knees;
atbe brute will try to capsize US.
l had hardly time to follow his
|example when the rafs was struck q
] violent blow, and shook as though
every bamboo in it would break. J
cluug to the lashings for support
and vainly shouted to the natives t.
do the same. They either did no
, understand Charley's warnings o.
we're too anxious to. reach the shore
to pay any attention to it, for they
still padded on-when suddenly ont
Of them lost mis- balance, and, with I
wild yell, fell headlong into the wa
ter. :, :.
In an instant every alligator DIS