The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1888-09-06
HOW THE BOYS TOOK THE ALL
GATOR,
And What They Got for Him After
ward.
From Harpers' Young People.


for the mast three years he had lived in
Florida His father had failed in business
, and in health. and was now trying his hand
at southern farming, Rob was Il, and TO
I him the country where they lived was
almost a paradise He had learned torow
boat. TO shoot, swim, and ride, aud there
WAS constantly occa ion to employ one or
m re Of these accomplishments. II he could
only have q gun OF his own, he thought he
would be absolutely happy:
One morning Rob heard two neighbors
talking as they sat on the fence and whitfield
sticks.
IL seen Phil Tanner yesterday" said one,
"and he saws thars "a man at the hotel that
saws he'll give $40 fur big live gator
| Wants him fur cirkis or sumthin."
Rob SAID not word, but walked Off to
think There was no lack Of the creatures
in the neighborhood He saw them nearly
every day in the lake half a mile from the
house, bat to take one alive was no easy
! lob. He took into his cou sells his friend
! and playmate, Morgan Pudley-Morg, for
! short-who was year Older than he, ana
| had lived in Florida all his life. Morg
willingly consented to help, STIMULATING
only tlat he was to be allowed a joint use
of the gun when they got 1t. Rob rode to
town that very afternoon, and had an in
to view with the gentleman who wanted
an alligator Rob was to deliver at the
hotel door, within three days, one specimen
Of thu animal desired, alive and uninjured
and not less than eight feet long, while the
stranger agreed to pay for said specimen
the sum OF $50.
The next morning about daylight there
was wild confusion in the Pulley pig pen.
Presently shrill and prolonged squeals an
nounced that member of the fam lY was
captive. Fifteen minutes later Rob and
Morgan started for the lake Rob was bur-
dened with coil Of half-inch rope, new
and strong, and carried Ratchet; behind
him came Morg holding in his arm pig,
with a rag tied close about its nose and It's
feet secured with cord.
They drove a stake into the ground about
fifteen feet from the water, and fastened to
it short cord, the other end tied to piggy's
hind leg. The broom grass between the
stake and the water was pulled up SO as to
| allow the pig TO be seen from the lake. They
made running moose in the rope, and hung
| it on nail at Lhe end of light cedar pole
! some eight feet long. and we're about to
| loose the pig's bonds and conceal themselves,
when Rob whispered:
"Morg, if we do get the rope around his
neck we can't hold him; he'll just pull right
away from US"
might drive big stake to put the rope
around, suggested Morg, looking about for
some friendly stump.
1uaJ Will make 100 HuCn noise, anu,
besides, it's so rocky here No; I'll tell you.
You wait till l get that kog father left at
| Uncle Jim's; we'll make float of it."
| Uncle Jim's cabin was just over the hill,
ami Rob was back with the key in ten
minutes He had driven four nails in the
sides, and sson had the rope around it and
secure from slipping.
You see," lie explained, 'if he gets into
the water he can't pull this under for long,
| and we can follow hum
The boys now cut the cords on the pigs
feet, rele sed his nose, and lay down in the
grass, Rob having charge of the rope. The
pig proved himself splendid squealer, aud
| the boys thought it would not be long
| before the denizens Of the lake would DO at
| tracted.
The sun was just getting over the hill
when they hal the first evidence that their
| plan was working. The water rippled
| thirty yards from shore, and without a
sound long black head with protruding
| eyes appeared.
| The pig co ,tinuei to squeaL Then the
| gator paused; bu. there was no sign of an
enemy. lie reached the sloping bank, and
drew himself upon it; then, excited By the
frantic efforts of the pig, rose on his short
| legs made ru a and stopped within three
feet of the struggling animal. HIS heavy
tail NOV ID lightly from side to side; the
water gli,tened on the scales of his hideous
body.
now nowi" whispered Morgan.
The alligator heard him, and slightly
tur ned. 1t was too late! The moose that
had been suspended in the air descended
| quickly and surely, and settled over his
| head.
Pull, MorgF' shouted Rob; pull, quick {"
and, seizing tue rope, he threw his weight
upon it; the kaot ran up and closed around
the reptiles neck. Until then he had hardly
seemed to realize his position; but now he
turned ami scuttled toward the lake.
Brought up by the weight OF the boys he
| paused a moment, then Wit a thrash of his
mighty tau made desperate scramble for
liberty. Well it was they had not depended
on their strength b hold him his tail struck
the taut rope and tore it from their hands,
and the next moment their captive had re-
gained his native element.
But he was not yet free: the keg hoatej
| buoyautly, and tde boys fastened to the
| boat to follow IL. This was easy, for though
in the deepest water, the alligator could
draw the keg under, ne was unable to keep
| II there. They soon came up with it, and
fastened the rope to ring In the stern of
the ooat.
Now began a struggle. With each a
paddle, Rob and Morgan began to urge the
boat toward that part of the shore where
their prisoner could be secured to a tree,
while the latter as strenuously resisted.
The alligator had rather the best of 1t, and
there is no telling what would have been
the result he'd he not lost his tenn
per; but the continual jerking on
the rope about his neck was too much for
hun, and, rising 20 the surface, he made a
rush for his tormentOrs Relieved of bis
resistance, the boat shot forward, and the
boys, at first a little frightened at their an
tagonist's change of demeanor, now saw a
means to accomplish their purpose by strata
gem Morg knelt in the stern and leased
the alligator with stick, while Rob welde
the paddle. Again and again the huge rep
tile dashed forward in an endeavor to clos
his jaws upon something tangible, but eacf
time the object eluded him.
Finally they reached the shore Rob
sprang out and secured the painter to q
tree He TUNED just in time to see tn,
alligator close his great jaws upon the sterI
of the boat, compelling Morg to beat pre-
cipitate retreat. But the latter soop re-
giined his feet, and began to rain blow
upon the saurian's bony nose This treat
, ment, combined with u realization of hi
= danger, induced him TO release his hold, anC
no sullenly sauk beneath the water.
= The rope was now unfRstened from thu
ring, carried ashore and tied about the tree
The boys gave several pulls upon it, but
finding themselves unable TO move the
leviathan at the other end, gave up tina
method.
) "Morg,n said Rob, "you stay and see tina
he doesn't get the rope off aud I'll 90 HON