St. Landry democrat. (Opelousas, La.) 1878-1894, 1888-08-18

almost leaped out of the water in hi
mad eagerness to reach the boat VIII
da dropped the gun and picking up the
pole soon placed the boat rod ahead
of the pursuing animal Josie haG
again reloaded her gun, and she turned
to deliver his quietus to the animal
But the commotion in the water ant
the bears evident disquietude put {
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 te
| a realizing sense that it was meal time
Missing the dog they were not averse
to bear meat. Bruin in his hurry tc
catch his first prey had paid little at
tentlon 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 a foe not to be de-
spised. With an uneasy whine he at,
tempted to turn and regain the shore,
but now it was too late. With rush d
big, black form was seen to dart uI
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 nc
mean antagonist With an immense
effort he plunged away from the attack
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 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 oeset on all sides. Sit
ting on its launches, with the blood
flowing from a gaping wound on
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 a strong
effort drew the bear off into deeper wa
ter; others dashed at him from all sides,
swapping at him from every point. The
water splashed high and was churned
into snowy whiteness by the furious eff
forts OF the fighters, save where the red
blood told the tale. But a few mo-
ments longer did the unequal struggle
last. Bruin strove to regain his feet,
but the cruel jaws of the reptiles closed
on his legs, sides and wherever hold
could be secured, and with one mighty,
agonizing roar the bear disappeared,
while the furious struggle continued I'M
der water for several seconds. Bits of
flesh and the blood-dyed waters however
pointed to the BEARS fate and the hyenas
of the WAGER fought among themselves
for the morsels of meat.
The girls had gazed On the fight SPELL
bound, but now they were rudely
aroused to their own peril. The dog
had barked loudly during the savage
fight going on SO near, and the gators
who missed bear meat seemed to be
after dogs flesh. The canoe rocked,
almost overturning, and the startled
girls saw monstrous pair of open jaws
right at the side of their small craft.
josie pushed her rifle barrel in the
gators mouth and pulled the trigger,
sending bullet where it evidently
1idn't agree, judging from the reptiles
sudden sinking and threshing about
A moment later huge tail came flying
over the bow of the boat, and striking
he dog, who stood there barking,
Knocked him into the water A big
pair of wide-open jaws was just about
% close on the tempting morsel when
Vida stopped down, and, catching the
logs forepaws, by sudden effort drew
lin into the boat, the saurian's jaws
losing with snap that indicated a great |
The dog covered |
Town at the bottom of the boat, while |
he girls attended to the other gators,
Who seemed to manifest an inclination |
0 get into the canoe. Several shots |
we're fired at the scaly reptiles, but their
aste of blood had made them fearless.
scream from Josie aroused Vida,
Who was striving to pole the boat ashore.
turning around she saw her sister half
rawn out of the canoe, big monster
gator having seized her dress. Josie
yas beating the gator over the nose |
nth her rife with one hand. while with
be other she endeavored to hold her.
elf in the boat. Without a moments
esitation Vida raised the long pole
be was using, and posing it a moment
nrew it at the gators head. By rare
God fortune it struck him in the eye
nd penetrated to the brain. With a
bud below the reptile opened its jaws
nd sunk.
For the next few minutes the brave
iris had all they could do-one firing
t the saurians as they approached too
osely, while the other, using the
reech of her gun as paddle, urged the
4 = u