The Shasta courier., 1858-12-04
The Pet Alligator.


even cows-whew cannot afford to keep such
epicure much longer-thats certain
The person uttering these words, in a very ex-
cited voice. was Mf. Jacob Osborne the proprie-
tor of one of those large plantations between
Shreveport and Nachitoches on the Red River.
One of his negroes had just reported the addi-
tional loss of nearly half of several fine tters of
pigs, which juvenile porkers, according to the
Africans suspicious, had been seized by tough
old alligator, who had long been carrying on
the work of death in the vicinity, and had al
ready acquired the title of the g King of Old
Red
"Never mind, Tom,n said Mr.. Osborne, after
listening to an exposition of the Internal charac-
ter the alligator had acquired among the negroes
of the vicinity-"I will look after the black
guard myself"
Accordingly Mr.. Osborne spent the best part
of the next two days prowling about the river,
rifle in hand, in the vicinity of the large yard in
which his pigs were confined. 1t was towards
the close of the second day that he threw him.
self under shady tree, not far from the edge of
the river, and quietly determined to verify the
suspicion which had taken possession of his mind
if there was any such possibility in the case.
Mr.. Osborne had not been long in this posi-
ton ere he beheld his young child, a little girl
of five years, leaving. the house and directing
were confined. The eyes of the father watched
her with great deal of interest for he saw that
she took such direction as to prevent her from
being seen from either the house or the shs.nties
advancing toward the river in path which
wound about the foot of the bluff upon which
he had taken his position.
The child had stick in her hand and no
sooner was she in the vicinity of the young por-
kers than she selected one of them from the
rest headed him off, and commenced driving
him toward the river, toward which she occa-
sionally glanced in manner which seemed
strangely observant for one of her years.
The pig made some efforts to escape his little
driver and return to his companions, but she
managed to prevent him by striking him ON the
snout every time he made any deviation from the
direct line she had chosen for his route.
+" Here's singular affair" cried Mr.. Osborne
with an excitement he could scarcely control
The pig was soon driven to the edge of the
water, and here it to halt, while his little
driver burst into laugh of triumph.
"Now," said she, you little pig you are 60
ing to be dinner for old King Alligator"
10 the surprise and CONSERVATION of the OBJ
server, large alligator seen swimming
rapidly toward that part of the shore where the
pig and its driver were standing. The girl saw
the new conner, and laughed more heartily than
ever, the while she snubbed the pig on the nose
at every movement indicative of his desire to
take his departure.
The feelings of the father at this juncture can
not be described. He started from his conceal
ment, and was on the point of rushing forward
but reflection told him to wait. 1t was certain
that he was now beholding no new perform
ance but one that had been often repeated, and
he could only hope that his child would escape
in this instance, as in the others. With these
emotions passing in his mind, he saw the allga-
tor thrust his nose out of the water, and seize
the pig SO suddenly and fatally that it had not
time to utter single squeal.
The alligator then retreated two or three
yards, and quietly lying on the surface of the
water, proceeded to devour the pig, while the
little girl sat down on the bank and regarded
the proceeding, shouting and laughing, and
splashing her feet in the water with every man
Hesitation of joy.
''Oh, my God have mercy upon me !" groan-
ed the father, endeayoring to command his feel
ings, and he advanced toward the river-but
slowly, feeblyy forhe was nearly overpowered by
the horror that was filling his soul.
The child suddenly started up, with manner
expressive or Geffor, anu commenced retreating,
while the eyes of the alligator became like two
balls of fire, and lashed the water in every di-
rection, as if in a perfect fury The father, ev-
cry instant, as he tottered forward, expected to
see the little girl borne off by the monster, and
knew not what to think other evident alarm, for
she did not so much as look at the alligator A
moment more and the mystery waSexplained :;
the alligator was graphing with a gar, fish as
large as shark, and member of that family,
which is found in numbers in the Red River.
The gar had been on the point of sezing the
child when the alligator thus appeared in her
defence.
Seeing that her friend was engaged in her be-
half, the little girl ceased to retreat and seemed
to lose all her fear. Fierce and terrible was the
struggle, and loud was the splashing of the wa
ter, as the combatants swayed to and fro, and
rolled over and over in the liquid element, which
soon became Redeemed with blood. Fearing that
her favorite getting the worst of the conflict,
the child burst into tears of grief, and darted
close to the edge of the water, where she COM
menced beating the gar with her stick, as often
as she could get chance An accidental blow
from the tail of the alligator sent her flying into
the midst of the combatants, at which sight Mr.
Osborne reeled and tainted, despite all his ef-
forts to control his terribly excited feelings.
As good fortune would have it, one of Mr.. Os-
borne's negroes came over the brow of the bluff
at this moment. Seeing his master insensible,
he emitted all the noise of which his vocal or
gans were capable, and speedily attracted sew
y.
Dispatched to the river for water he beheld a
sight which made him appear considerably
whittier than at any other known period of his
history. His frantic cries and gestures speedily
called the others to the scene, and all the OBJ
servers seemed to become as excited as them
selves.
And well they might
For there, close to the shore, was seen the
huge carcass of a gar with its white belly turn
ed upward. Beside it was lying the alligator,
quietly eyeing the party collected on the river,
while on the back of the alligator was seen the
little girl clinging to its shoulders, and laugh
ing at the novelty of her position, and declaring.
" You shan't kill old King Alligator He's
my friendr
| "Well, we won't my dear, ifyou come ashore y
said the overseer. Come Fanny"
He held out his hands and the little girl
bounded into his arms, while tremendous
shout of JOY arose from the entire party.
As to " old King Alligator" he quietly drop
ped down the river and was seen no more, much
to the regret of Mr.. Osborne, who said that he
was welcome to a pig every morning for break
fast
The foregoing thrilling narrative is pblished
by the New York AHas-a paper that has good
reputation for truthfulness Hence some people
will believe it. Let EN- As for ourselves we
entertain the belief that it is regular ssteamer
H.