The Manitowoc tribune. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1866-1878, 1872-07-04
where the little ones we're at play.

else witnessing some horrible scene.
Quick as lightning the thought of
where these children were and then swift
following came the recollection of the
fierce creatures upon whom | had been
waging war the afternoon.
Scream followed scream in rapid sue
cession, each sounding clearer as [ drew
near the spot. for by this time was run
ping as l never ran before. feeling the
powder into the barrel of my rife, and
then dropping in the heavy, eonieal ball
without patch, showed it down, throwing
the rod away.
This was an old trick. learned in many
tight place" on the western plains,
and it was done instinctively rather than
with any fixed purpose, or idea that it
weuld be Immediately required.
OF sudden the cries ceased. when |
had traversed. perhaps, two thirds of the
! way, but the death-like silence that fol-
lowed was even more terrible than the
shrieks had been.
Another moment and I had burst
through the chapparal. that thickly lined
the lagoon, and then the cause of this
startling alarm was revealed in all its
hidiousness.
Two oftbe children, the eldest and
youngest, both boys, were standing on
| the bank, a few PAGES back from the wa
ter whittier they had fed. gazing With
ces, out upon the lagoon, where, at
distance of ten or fifteen feet, a fearful
scene was being en- ted.
trequired but a single glance to see
that my first fear on hearing the scream
was only too near the mark.
At the distance above named, I be-
held huge alligator, one of the very
largest and scra1giest of his kind, in
| whose immense jaws was held, evident
ly by the dress only, for she struggled
violently, the second child, sweet little
girl Of eight or nine years. while clinging
with the strength of despair, to her
charges arms and shoulders, was the
quadroon nurse, who, at this moment,
again made the forest ring with her
shrieks
Hastily dropping rife. 1 felt for my
hunting knife, which to my dismay. l
found was not in its sheath. | had used
it in takin my rife apart, aud it was
then sticking in the log OIL which I had
sat.
The emergency was desperate one.
saw that there was not moment to
lose, for the geeat beast was getting flu
rious, as saw by the way he was begin
ming to lash the water, at thus being de-
prived of his prey, besides which, the
disturbance was fast bringing others to
the spot. [ could see their black, knot
ty heads protrudiDg from the water here
and there, all concentrating toward the
Place where the contest was going on.
Further. / saw that the alligator that
held the child's clothing in its grasp
would soon let go his holt, and, by
sudden attack, secure a better and far
more deadly one. This fact alone was
sufficiently appalling, and showed me
that desperate measures must be resort
ed to-
The brave girl chung to her charge,
striving desperately to tear the clothes
away, but they were new and strong, and
would not give. She seemed not to see
or if so, she cared not for the other mon
sters that were bearing down upon Eer.
My readers will remember that what |
have taken so long to write, passed
through my mind and before my eyes in
single instant; indeed, the time con-
sumed was only enough to permit of my
snatching up my rife, drawing back the
hammer; and bringing the piece to my
face.
knew that must fire from where |
stood. Any advance into the water
would have instantly brought on the ca
tastrophe, for tancied that the beast
had become more savage even al the
sight OF me upon the bank.
Shouting to the girl to pull steady
upon the child for moment, and stoop
as low in the water as possible, braced
myself firmly for the desperate risk.
With wonderful GOODNESS she obeye9,
and as she crouched down into the water
[ saw, with a thrill of delight, that the
brute's head, a full side view, was COM
pletely exposed.
The steady pull upon'the victim had
the desired effect, and for or brief in
slant the monster lay perfectly quiet, his
usually dull. leaden eye, now fairly ablaze
with anger offered q perfect target.
That single moment was enough.
With muttered prayer, l glanced
through the sights, pressed the hair trig-
ger, and the heavy ball sped to the
mark.
a horrid roar-the mouster loosed his
hold, and throwing half his length up
ward out ct the water, fell back, and be-
gan flashing the calm waters of the lagoon
into perfect tempest of foam.
Before the smoke had driited foot I
was into the water, ara a moment later.
had dragged the nurse and child safely
to land
Unul ali was over, / knew not how In
tense the strain had been upon my nerves
Weak, almost sick. l threw myself down
upon the ground, nor was it until sever
al minutes had passed could I find
strength 10 examine into matters.
Neither where hurt in the least. though