Litchfield enquirer., 1874-05-07

ilng not mastication: His horrid jaws Agaps with, double fang as Eschylus de- kcribes it. But that huge. tongueless, lpleas maW,- ,
 In uiiicl yss triciling hiood and m suSSsts s raM
 Of late deyoured bodies did appear
 ugh that I saw, as live to tell it, with the exaggerated monstrosity of destruct- i've power in it's eighty teeth fitting in al- ternate socket; the sits of narrow eyes glowering above; the long, serrated spine bubbling above the water right at my heels.
 There was dull, deadened chunapf, the drowned yelp of poor Bragg, and dog and dragon disappeared in a surge of bubbles.
 s'I was spared this time, but not yet safe. Sliding over the spot where they had dis appeared, came the second alligator, not ten yards away. At the moment, caught the oyer-hanging limb of stout, black jack oak, clustered with jasmine and green-brier, and, heedless of scratches, swung myself aloft. had the satisfaction of seeing the disappointed monster nosing about below.
 know" continued the doctor, s'that very many declare the alligator will not readily attack man; and it Is quite like ly they were in pursuit of the dog, rather than my indifferent pork But the ani- nal will attack a human being; and Hum boldt and other naturalists cite examples. Not to mention the escape of Mr. Butler, South American missionary, there is a circumstance within my own knowledge, of gentleman who was attacked in cross ing stream in Florida, and only saved by his dog, that gallantly came to his res- cue and and was sacrificed to save his master. Had been armed with a light ax or hatchet, I might, possibly, have Yentured back; but the urgency should be great indeed, to compel me to so desper- ate venture. The alligators exhibited no intention of withdrawing; but cruised about in a very official manner, standing of and on, man-of-war fashion, to keep me blockaded. You can understand that under the circumstances, needed rest; rest for my nerves. I am glad to remem- ber, said the doctor, speaking lower. that did not then forget to whom my gratitude was due, nor fail to acknowl- edge the debt" After a momentary pause, which we respected, for we saw how the little professor was silently en- gagged, he raised his head with an odd smile, and went OF:
 Some naturalists,' said he, Crank the alligator with the lowest order of yer tebrate intelligence. It has no regular gangiia like the brain in higher animals, and the spinal cord Is simple ganglion that can only originate reflex actions; that IS, such as are involuntary, and may oc- cur from simple nerve force without the knowledge of the individual. If this IS the case" said he, with a smile, "how will you account for the evidence of ma hcious intelligence manifested in a stud jed plan of revenge; the pursuit. the de lay of an attack until I was helpless in his element, ,and even the conjunction of an additional blockading force? It looks ra- tional to suppose that the captains bullet was accepted as the opening of hostiities, and, from that time, and the dog became enemies, or at least contraband of war. There was a look of familiarity in thd two iron clads as they crnised about there seemed to recognize two swift blockad- -Ass of the Federal force in one of the Carolina sounds.
 ''The thickets of oak, jasmine. green brier, and palmetto cut off any extensive outlook; but could see the enemy pa- tiently vigilant. An alligator will cruise about the same beat of hundred yards square, for days and weeks. There was no certainty when those fellows would leave. Icould only watch my opportu- nity. With this conclusion, I began to look about me. The size of the hum mock was sensibly diminished by the rise A foot of water covers a great deal in the low slopes of Florida, and the half dozen acres were reduced to less than a quarter. One strikingly peculiar and observable consequence of this diminution was in the abundance of reptilia, venomous and harmless; lnathsome vermin and other un- pleasant animal creations crowded into a small space: reaches as big as gophers; Luge spiders with Hop-o'- my Thumb s seven league boots on, with slender waists and great hairy thighs and mandibles, large enough to destroy innet; scoapi- ons unpleasantly vivacious 1n the August heats; huge, ugly scolopendrd, the largest have seen out of the tropics; black pois- onous beetles not classified in entomology; lizards, adders, it seemed at every few feet: long white or cream colored whip snakes; rattle snakes as thick as your arm, with dozen rattles and button; and 8 singular serpent with brassy me- tallic scales, the veritable reptile lifted up by Moses in the wilderness; wild cat scurryine np the trees of the naustela pu- tOrtus In every In1cket. Those varIOus creatures had all been crowded into a small space by the rapid rise, and it re- quired caution to avoid them. A Florida reptile does not know fear. The adder will lie in your path, not offering to move; and every venomous creature shows fight at the first intimation of hostilities. Luck fly they are more deficient in the rational ganglia than the blockaders without, and strike their fangs indiferently into the stick or club you present. That island was no pleasant place, and yet how to get of? Yonder. in clear view over the water, was the comfortable weather board ed cottage, and skiff lay at the little platform. It was visible enough to me, but I could not be seen from 1t. The dense foliage overhung the deep water. If | climbed over nothing but my head could be seen, and that, of course, would be undistinguishable two miles away. No one knew where was; I had left the i'm presslon that was going to Cross Prai- Tie. There was the house, so near ap- RnAOAeAys yCS dS 4OAAOt0 1IOA 1AO no oAC farther Indies and the pole. It was part of the hardship in all my peril, that was perishing SO near to prompt and efficient help, if my situation had been known. Examination on the farther side of the island developed the shouts of other alli- gators. It was the deep midsummer, when they re most active and ferocious. If attempted to swim to the Whitner Point, they would discover, and believ- ed attack me in the water. After hesita- ting, I saw no other plan than to wait un- til night. The alligator takes a final cruise at sunset, and then is of. Icould retrace my way very readily by starlight across the 'bay, and back to my hospita, ble friends. - ~ s
 ''This was all very prudent and saga cious, but 1t left out of consideration the unexpected incident of the cyclone. The disastrous effects of that hurricane we all know. ~
 The winds
 As in revenge have sucked up from the sea
 Contagious f0gs, which, falling on the land,
 Have every peltng river made 50 proud
 That they have overborne their continents:
 H.