The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1871-07-06

fond Of rural life, and l concluded to
wander short distance into the woods
aud examine the lay of the land and the
look Of the inhabitants, enjoy the fra.
GRANGE of the flowers, or recline beneath
the shade of the lofty trees and thus
realize fortaste of Paradise. As l
stepped on shore flock Of parrots in.
tcrrapted silence that could almost be
felt, and stunned me with their noisy
chattering; bat whether this ives intend.
ed as kind greeting to a stranger or a
note OF defiance to an enemy, | was un-
able TO make out.
As | was leisurcly making my way
along, aud had got some distance from
the bank Of tho river, keeping my eyes
stretched wide open to espy dangers
ahead, was startled by rustling among
the bushes, and to my utter horror aud
disgust there rushed, or rather waddled
out from the swamphole / had Just
passed on my star.board side, a mon
strous alligator.
With mouth wide open and literally
suPpned with teeth as sharp as needles
and long as mariin'spikes, the grisly
monster came straight towards me. 1t
was Us ciear Us noon day tnat ne look
fancy to the cut Of my jb, and deter
mined that we should be better acquaint-
cd.
To say | was not frightened would be
telling lie, detestable act, which /
always scorned as much as George
Washington did when he was a little
boy and when | first got glimpse Of
the ill-favored vagabond, with his ugly
phiz and open countenance, lost my
presence OF mind and gave a yell that
m,gne nave peen heard miie on ana
whieh set the parrots ana their icath'
e'er ir'enuS in motioo again -,
Ine iong'visaged rascal mad SHY
managed 10 let nc pass, and then, get
ung between me ana the boat. l was
eomP'e'e,y out generaied|caughti In my
trap and took to my heels IN the oppo'
slle direerion' Although l made super
human enorts 10 get away my progress
was put slow through The rank grass
and timex bushes.
Inc alligator, who Is creature OF
wonderful endurance being well pro-
Vided with bottom, overcame these
obstacles by kind OF hop skipand'
Jump step, ana soon came SO near me as
TO make me feel decidedly unpleasant
ana regret that l had not taken Mr..
Eikhorn advice and passed the alter
noon on board the Nutmeg reading my
Bible. NOW and then he uttered a
loud, snorting roar, aud snapped his
jaws IKE hungry canuioai IN chase
oil missionary.
Terrified aud exhausted, was about
to "give up a ship" aud like christian,
resign myself to my horrible fate, when
by good fortune found myself beneath
a tall, india-rubber tree. Grasping with
convulsive strength one OF the limbs, l
swung myself up among the branches
out OF the villains reach.
| thus gained point to the windward
which my hungry pursuer did not bar
gain Tor. He raised himself nearly
upright on tail, and threw his head and
iorelegs up into the tree, aud uttered a
dismal, prolonged howl, like horse
marine troubled with toothaehe. But
an alligator is not good at climbing
he would make poor sailor. Iquickly
Skinned up higher out Of his reach, and
he dropped down again to his natural
posture at the foot OF the tree.
At that critical moment my little, but
faithful friend Pufkin came running
toward US from the boat. He had heard
my terrific scream, aud he was bound to
see what the trouble was, and to lend a
helping hand. l saw him coming, was
aware Of his peril, and would have
warned him, but my nerves were in
such state that l could not utter a
sound:
As he drew near the alligator spied
him, crawled length or two toward
him, aud then cunningly nestled himself
among the tall grass, aud kept perfectly
still, until the little negro, who did not
see the perfidious monster, came so close
upon him that he could have kicked
him with his foot. Then the alligator
opened his tremendous jaws, gave a
snort aud spring, and before Puffkin
could say "suakesl" his little bullot
head was in the ,alligator's mouth.
From my seat in the branches Of the
india rubber tree, which, being gum.
elastic, kept contracting and expanding
in singular and somewhat troublesome
manner, | was witness to the whole Of
this awful scene. Poor little Puffkin
The hideous creature had got terrible
grip upon him, aud thinks 1 10 myself,
Of course he will crush his head like an