Beaufort Republican. [volume] (Beaufort, S.C.) 1871-1873, 1872-09-05

happily, had adopted the new Spanish
style OF dress and, wrapping the mantle
around the tough handle Of my whalebone
riding whip, l forced it between the alli-
gators Jaws as he closed with me, while
at the same tine, bending forward, l
struck hard with my two-edged knife at
his white throat. which was comparatively
unprotected. The first stab told, for the
white streak was soon crimsoned with
blood: but the second stroke failed, and
the knife slipped, and ratified uselessly on
tbe armor- plates Of the creatures na'le
back; and then began struggle tor death
or life between my terrible antagonist and
myself NV strength was nothing to that
of the huge reptile, and | felt myself
dragged to right and lett as If haf been
a rat in the gripe of terrier, yet l held
on fast to the whalebone handle oil the
whip, while the sharp teeth vainly gnashed
and tore at the spongy wool that cloesed
them, and | retained my hold in sheer
desperation, striking it with my kmle
whenever | got chance, but usually
bsffled by the tenacious armor of my in
vulnerable adversary.
Charlie, a few feet distant, was sobbing
piteously, at times crying aloud in appeal
to Guacbos whom he knew" Sanrho?
"DIeco !" "El Negro !'-to belp "Mlrry
Wa. burton )" for the dear little fellow,
delivered from bis first agony of alarm.
seemed now to think only of my peril.
The idea was good one, although the
child's weak voice could not OF course
reach far EXerting the full strength OF
nv lungs, | twice shouted forth the we'll
known desert cry when ajaguar is sighted:
"Mozos, a mi Ell Tigre !-Mo-zos !'-
and fancled, as uttered the second call.
that heard distant answer, like faint
echo. But now | had need OF all my
breath and all my muscles, for The intGr-
ated animal with which | fought, tearing
the cloth of the soft mantle to pulp, was
gradually getting its grim jaws free. Twice,
already, had my wrist and arm been grazcd
by it's keen teeth bear the white scars
to this day-.and the horrible odor OF the
creature. and the remorselesS glare OF its
small bloodshot eve, impressed me with
the fantastic notion that my enemy was
something evil beyond the more furious
greed of wild beast. Yet | grasped the
whaebone whip-handle, and drove in the.
knife with all the force IF an arm that was
tast growing exhausted. Spent, breath
less, eiddy, was dragged down, and in
kneelmg attitude, eXerted the remains OF
nv waning st, ength in stab at the ALI
gators throat. The blade broke short off
by the handle as it lodged among the
stout scales of the neck
Just then | heard a shout, and the
tramp of horse coming up at full and
furious speed. On they came, the stecd
foam-fecked and gored by the spur, the
rider brandisbing high above bis head tie
suiral coils of the iasso. I recognized the
horseman IN an instant. 1t was Juan, the
Guacho, the boide,t and most deXterouS
OF all that Centaur brotherhood; and be
knew me, and comprehended at glance
the state of atfairs.
"Stand back, Englishman, stand back !"
he cried aloud, "and Pll do the rest;
Mozos Ell Tiere Mo zos!' And he
whirled the lasso high, spurring his fright
ened horse near and nearer the spot.
Keeling. breathless, and dizzy of brain,
understood the Guach)'s meaning sutft-
GENTLY to stand back, letting 60 my hold
of the tough whip handle, which, with the
tattercd pcncbo wrapped around it, | bad
hitherto obstinately kept between the al
lieator's churning jaws. The inturiated
brute followed me up WITT bitter bate,
his hateful snout ali but brushing my knee
as / staggered back. But, Just at that
instant, whirr! crack! cane the well
known sound of the heavy lasso whstllng
DGSt, launched with unerring aim, and as
aazed about me with haggard eyes, | saw
that the moose was tightening round tho
reptiles neck while Juan, with the end
of the stout cord fastened to his saddle,
had started eff at canter, towing along
the alligator after him, as be had tueged
along many a bull and many wild steed.
For an instant it seemed as if the Qua
cho's would be an eaiy triumph but II
was ony the surprise of the shock that
aad mastered the alligator, very large
one and tie great weight aad strength OF
which soon began to tell. | saw the horse
brought, with jerk, to stop, and then,
to nv dlsmay, beheld steed and lldcr
ragged by sheer force towards the lagoon,
yainlv STRIVING to resist the superior power
nf the gigantic tyrant of the waters. Juan
drove in his spurs, urging his painting and
terrified horse bv voice, hand, and knee,
to pnt out its whole strength; but it soon
seemed plain that unless the saddle-elrthS
gave way, dragged down into the pool be
would be, horse and man, while there
could be in such case little doubt OF the
issue of the conflict To cut the cord,
would have been the only mode OF sepa-
rating the combatants IN this unequal
duel; but | had let fall my broken knife
in the long Pampas grass, and Gudcho
clings to his la>So with the same mechanl-
cal impulse that causes seaman to hold
fast to shroud or stay. Let 90 the rope"
called out tn him as loudly as | could.
''L0ose the end from the sa lde-ring, and
let the brute eoI' But Juan paid no
heed to my advice, but spCrred his strne-
Cling horse, uttcring at the fu;i pitch OF
his voice the " tiger. call' OF the herdSmcn.
The child had crcpt close to me, and
was holding On to my coat, weeping ana
calling or his absent father, and his pres
rnce embarrassed me for, wearled and
dSlrmed as | was. | felt eager to come to
rhc aid CT the bold lad, who had saved me
from the very jaws of death; but just at
the moment that the muatto girl, Cnarlie's
nurse, came running down the hill with
,obS and outclieS in search of the truant
charge who had strayed off while she was
threading scarlet berries for a necklace,
four of our mounted men came laundering
down with chnery ShOntS and laSSOes