Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1883-01-17
Hunting In Florida.

1--WE can't afford to lose him; he's too
big" said the alligator hunter as ne
picked up his harpoon, and we again
exchanged places. A few minutes care,
ful feeling among the bonnet roots, ana
then the barbed IRON was driven down.
ward with the full force OF the slneTy
arm, and as | backed tho boat, Lefls
seized his rifle. At the same instant
there was rush through the water, and
by the light OF the bulls eye, which
still remained on my head, ! had
vision of wide open jaws and g canning
teeth. Just as they were about to close
upon me, or 80 it seemed, there came
shot, rending of wood, and l found
myself struggling in the dark waters OF
the river, the lantern extinguished, ana
everything shrouded in deepest black
ness. AS 1 stood irresolute in water up
to my shoulders, vigorous stream OF
the most unique oaths from out OF the
darkness indicated the presence OF the
'gatorhunter. / found that he still
held his rife in his hand, and as his
cartridges were water proof, our predi-
cament was not so alarming nor our
loss as serious as had at first appeaeed.
But we were forced to wait until day
light before attempting the recovery OF
our boat. We waded to the bark, and
found ourselves on the tussocks in COM
pany with our victims of the earlier
hours Of our hunt. Although they were
supposed to be dead gators, and had
been left there as such, several OF them
showed such unmistakable signs OF life
as we left the river aud crawled out
amongst them that they had to be
"kiIlod again." as Letils said. He did
not waste ammunition on them, but
killed them with his hunting knife, in
each case reaching across tbe animal,
and driving the long knife into the
body just bicl of the fore-shoulder.
The "why" o: this method oil procedure
was so evident that no questions nor
explanations were needed, for the
instant the alligator felt the knife, he
struck so savagely in the direction from
which he supposed the blow to have
come, with both head and tail, that
had the hunter stood on that side he
would l.age eceiyed serious if not fatal
injury. Having thus etlect1ally quieted
our companions i'll this our enforced
lOd9iHg.place. we seated ourselves on
one OF the scaIy bodies, end prepared
to pass the hours until daylight as COM
tortabiy as possible.
The tobacco and matches in my
waterproof pouch proved of inestim-
able value, and in the glowing bowls of
oar pipes we found source OF cheer.
fulness which even our wet garments,
made colder and wetter by the damp
night breeze, cou d not exiinguish. We
al-o succeeded in reiighting the bulls
eye lantern, which was very fortunate.
for by its light we discovered and xii ed
q number of yer omous water moccasins
whicn had invaded the tussocks, proba.
bly, on'y on speculative visits of inquiry,
but possibly with murderous intent. l
am not sure however, that they were
not attracted by the light for in all my
six months experience of camp life in
Florida ] have never been troubled by
snakes. aud doubt very much ii they
viii, unprovoked attack man. Onr
ligha also attracted several alligators,
whose curiosity Was repaid bv bullets,
and whose dead bodies we obtained
next day. Had it not been for the
clouds of mosquitoes that envelol ell us,
our night with the gators would have
been comparatively comfortable but
they drove us to the verge OF insanity,
and the first streaks OF dawn were hailed
with delight.