New Orleans daily crescent. [volume] ([New Orleans, La.]) 1851-1866, 1856-03-24

a Of lie soil while ill along the borders OF the lake
bright ooored flowers and dense creeping vines were
anTead fTom branch TO branch, until even the sun
I'll could not penetrate with Q single ray hundreds OF
br3s wf$h pinnage Of the most gandy description,
Se, 1utterna from tree to tree too tame to be fright
"a ened at our approach; while monkeys, with mpu-
dent gestures and bold, defiant ehattering, gathered
a IN groups and wondered why NC should thus invade
Il their domains.
Upon arriving at the lake, we found large raft,
built Of bamboo which had been left by some sports
men, few days before tied to tree. Upon this we
determined to embark, and try our fortune upon the
water. The natives were sent back to the boats for
4 paddles, while We proceeded to load our rifles AS
soon as they returned, we showed Off and worked our
4 way slowly along the shore.
As am the most experienced alligator hunter"
Don Arturo said s shall claim The privilege Of the
lSfilst shot; and if----'' #f
There is chance, then, Charlie said, interrupt
ling the Spaniard, and pointing to what supposed 10
l he a large log upon the surface Of the water.
IS BY Saint Antonio, but you are right !! the Don
said, dropping upon his knees for the purpose 81
steadying his aim and trembling With nervous ilia'
4 Well, " cried Cearley, after a moments pause,
A . are You not going to fire ~ - . 90,
g In q minute, amigo. Now y THINK Eye gov MN
He discharged his rifle and the bail flew harmlessly
over the alligator, and struck the water about thirty
lizards beyond ha h. n,e be snaniar snrnginr
ii should rather think not, \ answered Allen, with
81 "a laugh z what did you aim at y
II Il The alligator.
|#oblged to you for see, he is swimming this way,
Land seems determined to make us a call. 2
Pull for the shore e shouted the Spaniard, drop
lping his rifle, and grasping a paddle
Charley quietly Wnked to me, raised his rifle and
the next instant its sharp report reyerberated over
the lake, and started more than thousand monkeys
into an nnearthy chattering. Watched for the ball
to strike and saw the monster raise his head with
sudden and then lash the Eiftn ia
foam with its tail. In another instant he had dis
appeared beneath its surface.
~ i. You have killed him, Charley, 2 Ieried.
Not SOL Allen said I" the ball struck him in the
mouth, and tomorrow he will be as well 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 paddle, and was
pointing with trembling hand towards halfadozen
black objects which were slowly swimming towards
us, and were not more than thirty yards distant
4" By all the saints in the calendar, but we are in
Tor IT, Allen sad throwing charge Of powder into
1 his Flte and ramming down ball with haste.
What is the matter ~ Inquired. S@
Don't ask questions, but fire at the nearest one.
Hit him in the eye, if you cam
did not wait for further instructions, but took de-
iberate aim, and had the satisfaction Of seeing the
monster leap high out Of the water, and then sink
I from view.
6 Well done, Charley cried: "load again as soon
as possible. We must ght way to the shore for
i}every inch of ground will be disputed"
glanced towards the Don as loaded and saw that
he was seated the raft, his rifle lying by his side
and his eyes fixed upon the approaching aigators
with strong expression of fear upon his face The
roWers also had ceased their labor and were nearly
as pald as their master. Charley shouted out some
thing speaking to the natives in their own language,
which they understand much better than they do
Spanish. They at once obeyed his order, grasping
their oars with energy; and dashng them into the
water they urged the light raft along at rapid rate
1t appeared as though each discharge Of our rifles
brought fresh agators to the suaface, for saw no
less than dozen with their heads out Of the water
watching our movements with great interest, and |
gradually drawing nearer, as if they wished to re
venge themselves for the injury inflicted upon their
companions. Presently one much larger than the
others darted towards the raft; and when within a !
few feet, suddenly disappeared from view.
e Mind your, footing shouted Charley, sinking
upon his knees the brute will try to capsize u.s.,
s had hardly time to follow his example when the |
raft was struck violent blow and shook as thou gh
every bamboo in it would break. I chung TO the /
iash1ngs Tor support and gainy shouted to the ma
lives to do the same They either did not understand
=Ghareys warnings or were too anxious to reach the
shore to pay any attention to it, for they still padded
suddenly one of them lost his balance, and,
with q wild yell, fell headong into the water.
In an instant every alligator disappeared beneath
the surface, and only few bubbles which slowly rose
told of the struggle that was going on beneath
/" Now for the paddles shouted Allen springing
to his feet grasping one, while he motioned to to
take the other. ~
{ But the native ~ / gasped.
!" Is dead before this time, and they quarrelling
oyer his bones below They have tasted blood, and
do not reach the shore before he is eaten there
Will be another victim. Pull for your life, il you
value it,
dashed the paddle into the water, and we urged
the raft rapidly towards the landing, which was only
about fifty feet distant.
Look cried Charley CHANGING over his shoulder
"bnt don't spare your strength
followed the direction Of his eyes, and saw more
than fifty black snonts raised abovehe surface of the
lake, and after a short survey disappear.
g The cy-hp A
without ceasng his toll ; but think we shall
dsappont them this time.'i
:. VOW a gold candlestick to Saint
At this instant the raft struck the Shore and the
Spaniafd, without waiting To complete his vow,
sprang to the land, and WIS quickly followed by the
natives and ourselves We had barely secured foot
hold before halfa.dozen Shiny monsters rose beside
the raft, and even rested their heads upon it, to be
certain it was vacated. was too thankful at our
escape to 1noIest them; but not so with Allen He
took deliberate aim at the largest, and fired.
n an instant we were covered with mud and
upon us; and then all was calm, and the monsters
dead body hoated beside the raft. AS if by magic.
every black snout had disappeared, and le waters of
the lake were unruh1ed.
"a brave shot, Sgnor Allen. cried the Dom
searching amongst the provisions for something to
revive his courage "A brave shot, and to prove to
you that appreciate it, we will open bottle Of the
wine Of Spain.7 25a# I .4..o"-s ~
We did empty the bottle, and it was not until
near shutdown that we left the borders of the lake
and returned home BY that time the Don fancied
that he had killed the alligator and did not
contradict him, he used to frequently boast Of his
skill as q marksman. 5sSf 5rs r=..s |
The death of the native was hardly alluded to by |
the Spanard for they value not the lives of AIes i'll
Manila
TENACrTY OF LIFE IN A TORroTsE.-A water tor
toise in the possession of Mr. James G. Shute, OF
Wobun, Mass, amateur Zoologst, has just died,
after living in water two years and six months with
out food Tt is believed that this exceeds very much