The Southern herald., 1888-09-15

pole soon placed the boat rod ahead
Of the pursuing animal. Josie had
again reloaded her gun, and she turned |
to deliver his quietus to the animal.
But the commotion in the water and
the bears evident disquietudel put a
new face on matters, and she withheld
her fire. The dogs yelping and the
bears growing had evidently awak-
ened the scaly denizens Of the creek to
a realizing sense that it was meal time.
Missing the dog they were not averse
to bear meat. Bruin in his hurry to
catch his first prey had paid little at
tention to what might befall him in the
creek. But now he began to notice the
increasing number Of black spots on
the water, all turning toward him,
and probably instinct told him
that hungry gators in their own
element, were q foe not to be de-
spised. With On uneasy whine he at
tempted to turn and regain the shore,
but now it was too late. With rush a
big, black form was seen to dart up
against him and in a second was seized
and dragged under. The old fellow
was game, however, and now that he
had gotten into the fight he proved no
mean antagonist. With an immense
effort he plunged away from the attaclA
ing gators and dashed forward for the
shore. The water shoaled and it seemed
as if he would escape. A big bull
saurian dashed forward and seized the
bear by one of his hind legs, while two
others swan behind him to cut off his
retreat. With a deep roar OF rage the
bear turned on the one that had seized
him, and with one stroke OF his paw
clawed out the gators eyes. The lat
ter beloved with pain, and, threshing
the water madly, plunged forward at
Bruin. Other gators joined in, and the
poor animal was beset on all sides. Sit
ting on its launches, with the blood
flowing from gaping wound or
its hind leg, the bear snapped,
clawed and bit at his savage
antagonists; but they were too many
for him. Another seized one Of his legs
in its powerful jaws, and with strong
effort drew the bear off into deeper wa
ter; others dashed at him from all sides
swapping at him from every point. Tht
water splashed high and was churnet
into snowy whiteness by the furious ef
forts of the fighters, save where the ret
blood told the tale. But few mo
mcnts longer did the unequal struggl
last. Bruin strove TO regain his feet
but the cruel jaws Of the reptiles close
on his legs, sides and wherever a holi
could be secured, and with one mighty
agonizing roar the bear disappeared
while the furious struggle continued ur
der water for several seconds. Bits c
flesh and the blood-dyed waters howeve
pointed to the bears tate and the hyens
of the water fought among themselve
, for the morsels of meat.
. TEt.es girls had gased on the Aghtspel
i bound, butt now they were rudel
: aroused 10 their own peril. The dc
= Mad barked loudly during Tie savae
s fight going oa sa near, amt the CATO
i whe Missed bear meat seemed to
It after dogs flesh. The canoe rookie
|, almost overturning, and the sartlt
n girls saw d moAstfous pair OF open jav
@ right at the side Of their small crai
e Josie pushed her rife barrel in Il
10 gators mouth and pulled the trigge
l. sending bullet where 10 evident
l. didn't agree, Judging from the reptile
Il sudden sinking and threshing abol
ir A moment later huge tail came fyir
d over the bow of the boat, and strikil
" the dog, who stood there barkin
" knocked him into the water A b
m pair of wide-open jaws was just abe
le to close on the tempting morsel VIII
IS Wilda stopped down, and, catching t
n, dogs forepaws, by sudden effort dr.
le him into the boat, the saurian's ia
ir closing with snap that indicated a gr'
k. disappointment. The dog cover
It, down at the bottom Of the boat, VIII
ly the girls attended to the other cato
of who seemed to manifest an inclinNti
is to get into the canoe, Several shj
as were fired at the scaly reptiles, but tn
h; taste of blood had made them fearle
he A scream from Josie aroused Viii,
who was striving to pole the boat asho
he Turning around she saw her sister h
Ie, drawn out of the canoe, big mons
ey gator having seized her dress. Jo
Dg was beating the gator over the n
es with her rifle with one hand, while W
Is, the other she endeavored to hold 4
ok self in the boat. Without momel
rls hesitation Wilda raised the long P
tly she was using, and poising it nom
lly threw it at the gators head. By r
ok good fortune it struck him in the
&C. and penetrated to the brain. Wit
,rs loud below the reptile opened its j
ed and sunk.
he For the next few minutes the br
he girls had all they could do-one fir
it at the saurians as they approached
,ed closely, while the other, using
I'D breech of her gun as a paddle, urged
vas canoe to shore. AS it touched the 81
g's both leaped out and ran up the bs
lge none too soon, either, for big purst
ith gator. in its mad desperation at loI
lis its prey, threw itself forward, crust
in the sides of the dugout.
,od The girls concluded that they
m enough hunting for that day, and
aus turned home by another route.
noe next day a party Of men went dow
us, the creek to see the scene of the st
nto gle. Over ten big gators were fC
ard dead in, the creek, while in the ce