Fayetteville observer. [volume] (Fayetteville, Tenn.) 1850-1966, 1874-09-17
An Alligator's antics.
Two Gentlemen Chased for Life
and Forced TO take Refuge in
n Tree

Two Gentlemen Chased for Life
and Forced TO take Refuge in
Tree.
A correspondents writes an &C.
count Of an adventure Of two GER
tlemen who recently had occasion
to cross in a canoe a small lake
which lies between Blyous Terre-
bonne and Black, about four miles
north of the town of Houma.-
Knowing of an allisatofs nest sit
uated on a small floating islaud
near the border cf the lake, one Of
the gentlemen conceived the idea
of exploring it for eggs; no sooner
was the proposition xbroached To-
bis companion than they decided
to carry it into execution.
Approaching the spot with eau
tion and deeming the coast clear,
one of our heroes-Ferguson, W.
will call him-disembarked to de-
spoil the nest, while his compau-
iOn-Jones, for nstance-mounted
guard in the canoe to give the IL
Iarm should danger threaten.
Just as Ferguson had discovered
eggs, and was about to appropriate
them a terrible roaring and splash
ing of water but a few yards dis
tant filed his heart wtl terror,
and a glance toward the diStur-
bance confirmed h6s fear that the
crocodile had discovered the raid
upon her incipient progeny, and
was bearing swiftly upon the iva.
ders of her habitation, bent upon
immediate and dire revenge.
A retreat to the cano being cut
off by flank movement OF the in
furiated monster, Ferguson bent
all his energies to the task Of reHch-
ing one of the few trees OIL the Is
land short distance away, and BY
.suPerhnman exertion succeeded
just in time to escape the yawn-
ing jaws Of his pursuing onemy.
Ferguson had not climbed n tree
since boyhood, bot under the Pc
culiar influence Of the moment be
shlnned up that sapling with ra-
pidity that would have astoulshed.
even himself under less exciting
circumstances.
Jones had contemplated pro
ceedIngs thus far with awe that
struck him dumb and hpnumbed
his faculties; but when Mrs. Ali
gator suddenly wheeled around and
started for the canoe, he began 10
experience a liveier appreciation
of the situation, which was ell
hanced by the fact that Ferguson
had taken the only oar to explore
the nest, and he was p,.werlcss tn
sail from there. On'camethe mad.
dened crocodile, aud cI,mbed right
into the canoe to make a dinner f
Jones; but that individual prompt
iy evacuated the craft, aud. cair-
ing the shore, followed his compaU.
ions example by climbing o small
tree. Mounting too high In bis ter
ror, he bent the tree over. and E.ll
fat on his back in the mul below.
and became nearly frantic when he
imagined the hungry monster a
bout to pounce upon him
lie quickly recovered his posi-,
ton up the tree and was tempor-
alily relieved to. observe tha. the
enemy had ensco. ced herself com
iortably in the canoe and was an
Parently pepared to stay there un.
I'll starvation or physical exhars-
ton should compel our hapl-ss he.
rOes to come down aud be eaten
be prospect seemed very gloomy
indeed to Ferguson and Jones. and
they had almost given up hope
and resigned themselves 10 horn.
bic despair, when a lone hunter in
a canoe appeared upon The scene
and relieved them from their un.
envlable situation by shooting the
alligator. Quickly descending our
heroes lost no time in securing the
eggs which had cost them So much
of mind, and alter
warmly congratulating each other
and thanking their delive.er. they
rowed away mentally resolved to
be Fetter prepared for war the next
lime they essayed 10 hunt alIira.
-or's eggs.
Capt. Jordan stole a gun from
Noah Scott. They are negroes.
H.