The news and herald. (Winnsboro, S.C.) 1877-1900, 1879-12-25

VI tiic uoS, Whlcn, seeing his danger,
instinctiycly put out all his strength,
trying to make the shore. But the
alligator also was making all his speed
Just III his wake, and although now
quite near, and both boys fired load
of duck shot into his face, hoping to
stop or turn his course, he sped on,
and when almost ashore, took the dog
down, when they saw no more Of him.
We all were gricvcd for tho loss of our
pet dog. The household felt the loss,
and l myself thought I'd rather have
lost the two best COWS and calves OH
the place. The next day was Sunday.
and after breakfast took a walk over
to the creek. 1t was high water and
there in the cove lay the old scoun-
drel. sat down some time on u log.
when approached tho waters edge,
supposing lie would swim Off or 90
down, rs had always seen him do: i'll
stead Of which he did what | never be-
fore saw one do-he raised himself
half out Of the water, when if l had
only had NY gun loaded with ball or
buck-shot, l could, SO near, have
killed him with ease. He lay looking
defiance ut me. The taste of blood
made him more fcrocious, T thought,
and believe if had only gone Il foot
deep into the water he would have
taken me of, which, strong as he was,
he could have done.
Three days after, l went down to
the Back Creek to tish-our Sheep
head ground, which is made by sim
ply driving into the bottom stout pine
poles forming an oblong pen six or
eight feet wide, into which are thrown
some heavy livc-oak logs. Sheep
head, young drum and school bass go
through between the poles on which
in about sin weeks the barnacle forms,
to feed on these, and also for protcc-
ton from the pOrpoisc and shark.
Our sheep head ground was near the
mouth of the cove. We had caught
our bait, the china-back iidlcr, showed
off our skiff; all three got in, pushed
oft, tied to stake, and before we had
put our lines ont, l looked up and
saw our alligator making a bcc-linc,
coming straight for us. We were in a
shallow skif only, and so low to the
water that knew if he only got one
torc-paw on the side, over we must
go, and in the eight feet depth of
water one Of lis would never come
out. The boys said "puSh ashore"
Satisfied he meant to attack us, saw
nothing else was to be done, and
quickly | drew the loop over the head
of the stake and being quite near the
shore the BOYS ran the skitf on in a
moment, and no sooner did he see
what we had done, than lie dt libt ratcly
turned tail and slowly swan back to
Ills place across the creek. After
standing few minutes on the bluff,
talking of the audacity Of the old
beast. we concluded to have our fish.
We jumped down the bluff, showed
of and made fast, and put out our
lines, each with an eye to the alliga-
tor. We had Just stcadicd our trail.
ticklish skin and settled in our places.
John said, "Look yonder, Father"
and sure enough he was coming
again, full tilt, right for us as before.
If VIC had been in doubt before, we
were now certain he meant to attack
us. There was nothing at all-no
gun, axe Or anything but paddle on
the boat. There was no time to con-
suit. | felt queer, and that the rcspon-
sibility rested on me, and thinking
prudence the better part of Yalor,
looscd the skin and told the boys to
shove ashore, which S ue,uSies|y SS Ms a|yjd tuE Ws
and slowly swim back as before to
his place. This we thought was
pretty piece of business, having our
fishing fairly knocked up and in this
unexpected, humiliating way. Twas
too bad and veNatious, and I right
then resolved would do my level
best to either catch or kill that alliga-
tor.
Next day we carried large boat
round into tho creek, and this time
took care to have my gun loaded with
balls and went provided with long
onc-inch tarrcd rope and two heavy
stakes. The alligator did not show
himself, but L knew he was not far
off. made hand drive firmly down
up in the marsh, first one then the
other stake, crossing each other, and
make fast one end Of the rope, then to
tho other end attached shark hook,
having three feet of small Chain.
Upon this he Ok put hunk of about
five pounds of fresh beef, which |
placed on IL board two feet long to act
as float, which l fastened so as to
rise and fall with the tide, and Just
where he always lay. That evening
rode down, hoping to find him hook
cd. The villain lay with his nose not
three feet from tho bait, which could
see he had not touched. Next morn
ing -! rode down to soc, but my bait
stood the same, untouched, and
he as before LYING with his nose
almost on it, apparently just smell
ing it. After waiting on him
to the third day without success, and
finding he was not likely to be caught
this way, l bcthought me to fall on
some other plan. knew he went back
and forth from tho creek into tic
pond to his holc in the pond. The
ditch running from the head of the
cove into tho pond was six feet wide
at tho top, shelving TO the bottom,
which was two and half feet at the
bottom and about three anda half deep
ut the end next the cove. This ditch
was his path up into tho pond, and it
occurred to me that I might be as
smart as he and make trap for him
here. Accordingly, had q load of
punchrons hauled to the spot, also some
stakes. Taking tho boys with mo, we
next day went, and first laying the
across said ditch, of course
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