The Republican journal. [volume] (Belfast, Me.) 1829-current, 1872-09-12

enemy was something evil beyond the
mere furious greed of a wild beast. Yet
| grasped the whalebone whip handle,
and drove in the knife with all the force
Of an arm that was fast growing exhaust
ed. Spent, breathless giddy, was dragA
ged down, and, in a kneelng attitude,
eNerted the remains OF my waning strength
in stab at the alligator's throat The
blade broke short off by the handle as ii
lodged among the stout scales oil the neck,
just then heard a shout, and the tramp
OF a horse coming up at full and furious
speed. On they came, the steed foam
tlecked and gored by the spur, the rider
brandiShlng high above his head the spi-
raj coils of the laS>o. recognized the
horseman in an instant. 1t was Juan, the
boldest and most deXterous of all that
Centaur brotherhood; and he knew me,
and comprehended at a glance the state
OF affairs.
''Stand back, Englishman-sta back"
he cried aloud, land III do the rest
| MozoS Ell tigre ,-Mo-zesm And he
whirled the laSso high, squirting his fright
ened horse nearer and nearer TO the spot
Events which it takes many words to
| describe, even inadequately, sometimes
occupy but very few seconds or minutes
OF actual time; and from the period of my
hurrying up in response to young Charles
scream for help, to that of Juan the
Tuacho'S arrival on the scene of action
probably but a few moments had passed.
But, to Judge by my feelings they might
have been ages. | had rushed to the res
rue inst in time to save the tender limbs
/ of Don Miguel's heir from the greedy laws
! KEW ia, :, Ia, L.,
/ fight AS | could, nearly paving with my
own life for the Young life | had saved,
when this new champion rode in hot haste
/ Is encounter the common foe. Keeling
/ hrrathesS. and dizzy of brain. | under
stood the Guacho'> meaning sufficiently TO
! stand back, letting 90 my mold OF thetough
whip handle, which with the tallered
poncho wrapped around it. | had hitherto
ohStnately kept between the alligator's
churning laws. The Infatuated brute fol
4 lowed me up with bitter hate, his hateful
sn"ut all but brushing my knee rs | stag
/ grre'l back But just at that instant, whiri
crack came the well-knoWn sound of the
heavy I4sso whistling past, launched with
unrlring aim, and us gazed about me
with ha@gard eyes, | saw that the moose
was tightening round the reptiles neck :;
while Juan. with the end OF the stout cord
I fastened to his saddle, had Startr, of at il
canter, towing along the alligator after
him. rs he had rugged along many a bull
and many 4 wild Stred.
For IN instant il seemed us il GuachO's
Wonld be an easy triumph but it WAS on
/ w the surprise OF the shock that had mas
tered the alligator, Il very large one, and
| the great weight and strength of which
soon began to tell saw the horse brought
with jerk, to a stop. and then to my dis
may, beheld sterd and rider dragged bv
sheer force toward the lagoon, vainlV striv-
1 ing to resist the superior power of the Oil
@antic tyrant of the waters Juan drove
in his spurs, urging his painting and terri
/ fled horse hN voice, hand. and knee, to i,ut
| out its whole strength but it soon seemed
! plain that, unless the saddle girtns cave
way dragged down into the pool he would
| he. horse and man, while there could bc
in such a case little doubt of the issue of
the conflict To cut the cord would have
been the only mode of separating the com
batants in this unequal duel bat had let
| tall my broken knife in the long pampas
! grass, and Il Guacho clngS To his lasso
with the same mechanical impulse that
causes a seaman to hold fast to Shroud or
stay. let 20 The rope ~ called ont to
him rs loudly as could. Loose the end
| from the saddle-ring, and let the brute
co. But Juan paid no heed to my I'D
vice, but spurred his struggling horse,
| utterng, nj the full pitch Of his voice. the
! tiger CALI of the hcrdsmen
| The child had crcpt close tonne and was
| holding on to my coat, weeping and call
ing on his absent father, and his presence
| embarrassed me for, Wearied and disarm-
| ed as | was, | elt eager to come to the
! Md of the bold lad who had saved me
from the very Jaws of death; but Just 1T
| the moment that the mulatto girl, Charles
nurse, came running down The hill with
| Sobs and outcrics in search OF the truant
| charge who had strayed of while she was
/ threading scarlet berries for il necklacA
four OF our mounted men came thunder
ing down with CHEEKY shouts and lassoeS
whirled alot; and in d very short time the
alligator, strong and savage rs he was,
nooSed and entangled by the plant cords,
stabbed with knives and beaten down by
| bol1S lay dead and harmless.