The Bolivar bulletin. [volume] (Bolivar, Hardeman County, Tenn.) 1865-1888, 1874-08-14
An AIIigator,s Nest.

A correspondent of the New Orleans /
Weekly Times writes an account of an |
adventure of two gentlemen who recent /
ly had occasion to cross in canoe the /
small lake which lies between Bayous
Terrebone and Black, about four miles |
north OF the town of Houma. Know
ing OF an alligatOr's nest, situated upon
a floating island near the border of the
lake, one Of the gentlemen conceived
the idea OF exploring it for eggs, and no
sooner was the proposition preached
than they decided to carry 1t into exc
cution.
Approaching the spot with caution,
and deeming the coast clear, one of our
herOes-FergusoH, we will call him
disembarked to despo l the nest, while
his e0mpanion-Jones, for Instance
mounted guard in the canoe to give the
alarm should danger threaten. Just as
Ferguson had discovered eggs, and was
about to appropriate them, a terrible
loaring and splashing of water but a
few yards distant, filled his heart with
terror, and glance toward the disturb
ance confirmed his fear that the croco-
die had discovered the raid upon her
inciplent progeny, and was bearing
/ swiftly down upon the invaders of her
habitation, bent upon immediate and
! dire revenge.
a retreat to the canoe being cut off
1 by flank movement of the Infatuated
monster, Ferguson bent all his energies
to the task of reaching one of the few
trees ON the island a short distance
4 away, and by superhuman exertion sue.
/ ceeded just in time to escape the
yawning jaws of his pursuing enemy.
Ferguson had not climbed a tree since
1 boyhood, but under the peculiar influ-
ence Of the moment he Skinned no that
sapling with a rapidity that would have
astonlshed himself, under less exciting
circumstances. Jones had contemplated
proceedings thus far with awe that
struck him dumb and benumbed all his
faculties, but when Mrs. Alligator sud
denly wheeled around and started for
the canoe he began to experience a live
IIer appreciation Of the situation, which
was enhanced by the fact that Ferguson
had taken the only oar TO explore the
nest, and he was poWerless to sail away
from there. On came the maddened
crocodile and climbed right into the ca
noe 60 make dinner OF Jones, but that
i individual promptly evacuated the craft,
and gaming the shore followed his COM
panlon-s example by climbing small
tree. Mounting too high in his terror
he bent the tree over and fell fat on his
back IN the mud below, and became
nearly frantic when he imagined the
hungry monster about to p0unce .upoI
him. He quickly recovered his posi-
ton up the tree and was temporarily re
lieVed to observe that the enemy ha6
enscOnced herself comfortably in the
canoe and was apparently prepared tC
stay there until starvation or physica
exhaustion should compel our haplesi
heroes to come down and be eaten. Tht
prospect seemed very gloomy indeed t.
Ferguson and Jones, and they had al
most given up hope and resigned them
selves to horrible despair, when a lon,
hunter in canoe appeared upon th,
scene and released them from their un
enviable situation by shooting the ALI
! gator. Quickly descending our heroe
: lost no time in securing the eggs which
had cost them such tribulation of mind
/, and after warmly congratulating eacl
| other and thanking their deliYerer, the!
rowed away, mentally resolving to b.
il. better prepared for war next time the,
; essaYed to hunt alIicatOr'S eggs