The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1874-01-10


drew nearer and nearer yet, grim and mon
strous thing that had more the aspect of
large log, glistening with Shiny mud, than
ofanything else. An alligator, by Heaven !!
for could see the slanting sunlight glisten
on its scaly back, and the formidable jaws
open and display the curved row of gleam-
ing white teeth, as, with its cruel eye fixed
upon its prey it approached the spot
where stood the fated child, frozen by
terror that denied him the power to flee.
Run, Charlie, run, run, toward me ! L
called aloud, at the same timo urging my
horse down the bank. The little fellow
turned his pale face toward me, and recog
nized me; but fear was still potent with
him, and he remained where he was, cry
| ing out to save him. dashed in the spurs
rowel deep, and at one bound came crash
ing through the rhododendrons to within
some three or four feet from the place
where the child stood. The alligator
wheeled angrily around, to confront the
intruder who dared to come between him
and his toothsome supper; and my horse,
driven wild with terror at the sight and
smell Of the monstrous reptile, reared,
swerved, and threw me, galloping off like
mad creature. l was on my feet in a
moment, and had just time to throw my
self between the alligator and the boy,
before the bloodthirsty jaws could close in
the first fatal snap. The brute recoled
little, for alligators are cowardly as well as
fierce, and they have been known to watch
for hours in their reedy ambush, allowing
men to pass them uninjured, until they
could pounce securely on woman or
child. But the reptiles slow blood had
been too much stirred, by the expectation
of an easy triumph, to permit him to de-
cline to fight, and he crawlcd upon me,
uttering the hoarse cry, half roar, half
whimpering moan, that a cayman gives
under the sting of pain or fury.
had a strong sheath knife out, strong
double edged blade of Barcelona steel,
with cross handle and buck-horn haft;
but this seemed poor weapon against
! such foe. By the hasty impulse-one of
the little saving thoughts that come upon
were the whisperings of inspiration-l
tore the blue wooden poncho from my Shout
ders-happily had adopted the New Spain
style of dress-and, wrapping the mantle
around the tough handle of my whalebone
riding whip, forced it between the alliga-
tors jaws as he closed with me, while at
the same time, bending forward, struck
hard with my two-edged knife at his white
throat, which was comparatively unpro-
tected.
The first stab told, for the white streak
was soon crimsoned with blood; but the
second failed, for the knife slipped and rat
tied uselessly on the armor plates of the
creatures mailed back, and then began
struggle for death or life between my terri
BILE antagonist and myself My strength
was nothing to that of huge reptile, and
l felt myself dragged to right and left as
if l had been a rat in the grip of terrier,
vet held on fast to the whalebone handle
of the whip, while the sharp teeth vainly
CRASHED aud tore at the spongy wool that
clogged them, and l retained my hold in
sheer desperation, striking in with my
knife whenever got chance, but usually
baifed by the tenacious armor of my in
vulnerable adversary.
Charlie, few feet distant, sobbing pite-
ously, at the same time crying out in ap-
peal to Guachos, "Sanch ~ "Diego y
9. Eli Negro ITO help; for the dear little
fellow, delivered from his 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
my lungs, twice shouted forth the we'll
known desert cry when a jaguar is sight
ed: "Mozos, mi Ell Tigre !-Mozes ~
and I fancied, as 1 uttered the second
call, thai l heard distant answer, like
faint echo. But had need of all my mus
cles, for the Infatuated animal with which
fought, tearing the cloth of the soft man.
tie to pulp, was gradually getting its grim
Jaws free. Twice already had my wrist
and arm been grazed by its keen teeth
bear the white scars to this day-and the
horrible odor of the creature, and the re
morseless glare of its small bloodshot eye,
impressed me with the unusual but fantas-
tic notion that my 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 grow
ing exhausted. Spent, breathless, giddy,
l was dragged down, and, in a kneeling
attitude, exerted the remains of my wan
ing strength in stab at the alligator's
throat. The blade broke short off by the
handle as it lodged among the stout scales
of the neck !
Just then heard shout, and the tramp
of horse coming up at full and furious
speed. On they came, the steed, foam
tlecked, and gorcd by the spur, the rider
brandished high above his head the spiral
coils of the lasso. 1 recognized the horse
man in an instant. 1t was Juan, the bold
est and most dexterous of all the Centaur
brotherhood, and he knew me, and COM
pretended at glance the state of affairs.
"Stand back, Englshman-stand back!'
he cried aloud, " and I'll do the rest; Mo-
EOS Eel Tigre !-Mozos ~ And lie whirl-
ed the losso high, squirting his frightened
horse nearer and nearer to the spot.
Keeling, breathless, and dizzy of brain,
understood the Gaucho's meaning sutfi-
GENTLY to stand back, letting go my hold
of the whip handle. which, with the tat
tered poncho wrapped around it, l had
hitherto obstinately kept between the ALI
gators churning jaws. The infuriated
brute followed me ND with bitter hate, and
his hateful snout all but brushing my knees
as 1 staggered back. But just at that
instant, whirr! crack came the well
known sound of the heavy lasso whistling
past, launched with unerring aim, and as |
gazed about me with haggard eyes, | saw
the moose was frightened round the reptiles
neck. while Tuan. with the end of the