Democratic messenger. [volume] (Snow Hill, Md.) 1869-1973, 1882-06-17

reached III safety.
The cries of my companions were
loud and fearful. Quimbo and Carl
were the most collected of the lot, and
| have no doubt that some of us might
have been killed had it not been for
their efforts. Quimbo had on no cloth
ing but cotton shirt and pair of old
trousers of the same material, so he
could swim very well. He managed to
get one of the paddles, and with this he
poked the dead ducks, which were
floating all about us, out toward the al
ligators.
Old Carl had by some peculiar move
ment of his own secured his rifle, and
kept it dry, and having gained the boat
he held on with one hand, holding his
weapon clear OF the water with the
other, and thus he watched the move
ments of the alligators.
The monster reptiles ceased fighting
as soon as they became aware of our
presence, and having backed off to re-
spectacle distance, being probably some
what frightened by the yells of our
party, they lay and watched us for some
moments. Finally one of them made
dive for Fitzeben, and just as the
darkey gave a terrific yell the ball from
the trapper's rifle put out the varmints S
eye.
At the sound of the rifle all three of
the alligators disappeared, and we at
once turned our attention to our boat,
which, after repeated efforts, we man.
aged to get upright. But she was full
of water. However, we had our hats
and caps, aud while Quimbo watched
for the alligators, we commenced to bail
out the boat.
But the reader may be assured that
the position was by no means pleasant
one. For some time we were obliged to
bail without resting any of our weight
upon the edge of the boat, for the mo-
ment we did so, under she went. Fin
ally, however, we got enough out so
that we could help support ourselves by
the gunwales, and then the work was
easier.
But the manual labor was nothing.
The idea of those horrible monsters
that at any moment we might be seized
by the legs and drawn under forever
was most fearful. | could read the ter
ror upon the faces of my companions,
and knew they could read the same on
mine. Every motion of the clInging
fabric about my legs sent thrill of hor-
ror to my heart, and l expected every
moment to feel the fatal grip, or to see
some of my companions disappear.
We had got the boat about half
1 bailed ont when a shout of alarm from
| Quimbo startled us from our work. We
turned and saw two alligators coming
/ toward us, while third lay upon the
surface of the water, dead. The faith
ful slave had managed to keep the
ducks together, having collected them
after we began to work on the boat,
and he now poked half a dozen toward
the alligators. The reptiles quickly
seized them, and then as quickly made
off. We saw the result of Quimbo's
wit, and once more went to work upon
! the boat.
must acknowledge that 1 was grow
ing weak and I could see the others
were failing also. There was wassomething
in that continuous, overpowering dread
of being seized from beneath the water
by the deadly monsters that kept the
heart strained, and made the head ache.
As we worked we could fancy every rip
pie the premonition of a dreadful death,
and the occasional groans and gasps
that burst from various lips told how
powerful was fear.
By and by another cry of alarm from
Quimbo turned our attention to the al
| ligators. They had come up again
two of them-and were approaching us.
The negro asked us if the boat was
most bailed out. We told him yes !;
and upon this he gave the rest OF the
ducks push toward the rapacious mon
sters. They seized them with half
frightened, shy movement grasping
one after the other until they had got
them all-and then disappeared as
though afraid that we should try to rob
them of their prize.
In three minutes more our boat was
bailed out sufficiently for us to climb
into it, which we did as quickly as
possible. When we were all in we sat a
few moments to gain breath, and gaze
down into the murky waters where our
guns were. 1t was very evident that we
could do nothing toward recovering
our weapons then, 50 we took careful
survey of the place, marking the bear
ings of various objects upon the shore,
tAN WHICH, tLlo Woo OCAC VIC SbdA l1iA AOA
home.
And a sorry company we were. Our
clothes wet and dirty-for the alligators
had stirred up the soft mud at the bot
tom-our game gone, our guns and
pouches Mt the bottom of the bayou
all save Garl's-and our hearts all
aching from the terrible suspense of
agony under which we had been so long
laboring.
By and by old Fitzeben looked up
from his work, and while broad grin
overspread his ebony phiz, he quietly
said
sole Fitz shot ahen. Don't you want
to laff at him?"
That was all he said, but twas enough
to set us IN roar, and from that mo-
mcnt we felt better.
When we reached home we came very
near throwing good nanny into spasms
by our story but she soon assured her.
self that we were all safe, and then,
good soul, she made herself busy for
our comfort and by the time supper
was ready our adventure was only held
as one of the interesting stories of the
past.
On the following morning we made q
drag of big iron toothed rake, and
went out to the place where we had lost
our guns, and succeeded in getting