Clearfield Republican. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1851-1937, 1870-11-02
A Frightful Struggle.

the Syrian plunged into the stream,
and, keeping his head well above it,
struck out for the shore at point
where he saw it shelving down to the
waters edge, frirged with long rushes.
Strong as the current was he breasted
it successfully, and was reaching shoal
water with heart full of good
resolves and thankfulncss for his pres
ervation and rebounding from his late
dcspair-when suddenly he saw TO his
surprise a dark object resembling an
old log, floating from the muddy bank
toward him. As there was no current
from the shore this struck him as
strange; but his surprise was changed
into horror when the object approach
ed nearer, disclosing to his gaze, under
the bright moonlight, the scaly back
and unshapely bulk of the crocodile I!
most dreadful Of all the tenants Of
that Shiny food, though but rarely
seen so low down the river. As the
monster moved through the water,
with a movement indicating the vast
propusivc power of its short forearms
and muscular tail-lashing the river
into foam rs It flrged upward-Daoud
could distinguish his sharp snout
elevated above the food, and the small
glittering, serpent.ike eyes il fixed
on its destined prey. Each second
brought the fell monster nearer the
man while the huge jaws would oc.
casionaily open, displaying the sharp,
double row of glistening teeth which
armed them; then shut again with a
snap like the music of castinets re.
sounding through the stiffness. I'm.
minent and deadly was the peril, as
Daoud well knew but he lost no heart
nor hope. His nerves, steelcd to
danger in its most fearful shape dur.
ing his recent trials did not fail him
now. lie felt n deadly sickness at
heart, for an instant, at the new and
hideous form of peril, thus suddenly
confronting him at the very moment
of his iancied escape from all his dan.
ger; Just when he was making his
good resolves for a tranquil future
Never before had he encountered the
dread monster; but he knew its nature
and its habits well, for he had often
heard Arabs Of the Upper Nile tell Of
their encounters with aud victories
over il, and be therefore understood
which way the path Of safety lay
He allowed the greedy monster to ap-
proach within two lengths of him
simply floating himself on the surface
of the water, with a wary eye fixed
on the movements Of his adversary.-
Flight he knew would be speedy and
certain death. lie waited till he
could see the very twinkle Of its hun
gry eye-thcn dived down into the
food, his dagger bare in his righth and.
| The moment the huge bulk Of the croc-
odilc seemed convulse with a sudden
pang as it abruptly twisted itselfround
lashing the waterinto foam withils ter
rible tail, and swapping its jaws dcrcely
together, while its snaky eye emitted
sparks of fire. Then it sullenly sunk
under the water, too, and the moon.
light shonc on the ripping river,
showing no form Of mau or reptile on
L its agitated surface. But the water
whore the crocodile had sunk was dis.
colored with dark rcd stain, which
showed that the Syrian's dagger had
found a vulnerable spot. lie had
dived beneath the scaly armor which
protected IL from above aud had struck
an upward blow. Next moment III,
! man rose again TO the surface, twenty
yards further down stream. and struck
out vigorously for the shore; but th,
current seized him and bore him still
further down. And on il Aoalcd il
> pursuit his wounded, but not disabled
enemy-iercer and more savage from
its injury, aud displaying now thos,
vast energies hidden under its cum
brous, mailclad carcass. Thrice, whcl
!, on the very eve OF being seized an,
crushed between those mighty Jaw
which snapped vainly together lik
the huge proticulus of some feuda
castle, did the Syrian narrowly cscap
Iuchliutllon W ehuuthil ulNlhB uVNN
!, And thrice did he stab with his keel
poinard into the unprotected flesh O
bis foe, under his forearm Will
deeper grew the tinge OF the waters
as the great vital energies Of the am
phium still sustained thunder the dcel
r. wounds Of its desperate antagonist
i' whose human intelligence, craft an,
: courage waged war against its super
ID ior strength. At length it seemc'
that human intellect, when backed b,
courage, was destined to conquer brut
, force-even in conflict apparent,
e as unequal as this-ior after the thiri
!, plunge, the huge, scaly bulk seemc'
" to float almost helplessly upon ih
J 90 - ...I.In IL. -. =. IL -. III