Sturgis advertiser. (Sturgis, Dakota [S.D.]) 1887-1???, 1888-12-27

And sit upon ihronsI
oh dolly, I'm SO glad tonight,
Your arms around me fling,
And hug me just the 1eastest mite.
And sing. my dolly. sing
How the Boys Took the Alligator.
Rob Tenley was Pennsylvania boy,
but for the past 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 fourteen, and to him the
country where they lived was almost q
paradise. He had learned to row a
boat, to shoot, swim and ride, and
there was constantly occasion to en-
ploy one or more of these accomplish
ments. If he could only have gun Of
his own he thought he would be abso-
lutely happy.
One morning Rob heard two neigh
bors talking as they sat on the fence
and whitfield sticks.
II seen Phil Tanner yesterday" said
one, land he says thar's man at the
hotel that says he'll give $40 for 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
mile from the house, but to take one
alive was no easy job. He took into
his counsels his friend and playmate,
Morgan -Morg, for short, who
was year older than he. and had lived
in Florida all his life Morg willingly
consented to help, STIMULATING only
that he was to be allowed joint use
of the gun when they got it, Rob rode
to town that very afternoon, and had
an interview with the gentleman who
wanted an alligator. Rob was to de-
liver at the hotel door, within three
days, one specimen Of the animal de-
sired, alive aud uninjured, and not less
than eight feet long, while the stranger
agreed to pay for said specimen the
sum Of $40.
The next morning about daylight
there was wild confusion in the Pulley
pigpen. Presently shrill and prolong-
ed squeals announced that member
of the family was a captive. Fifteen
minutes later Rob and Morgan started
for the lake. Rob was burdened with
coil of half-inch rope, new and strong,
and carried a Ratchet; behind him
came Morg, holding in his arms pig,
with a rag tied close about its nose,
and its feet sec lred with cord.
| They drove 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 a nail at the end of light
cedar pole some eight feet long, and
were about to loose the pigs bonds and
conceal themselves, when Rob whis-
pered:
"Morg, if we do get the rope around
his neck we can't hold; he'll just pull
right away from u.s."
Might drive big stake to put the
rope around" suggested Morg, looking
about for some friendly stump.
THAT will m ks too much noise, and
besides it's SO rocky here. No; l II tell
you. You wait till 1 get that keg
|
make float of it."
| Uncle Jim's cabin was just over the
hill, and Rob was back with the keg in
| ten minutes He had driven four nails
in the sides, and soon had the rope
around it and secure from slipping.
"You see," he explained, "if he gets
into the water he can't pull this under
for long, and we can follow him."
The boys now cut the cords On the
pigs feet, released his nose, and lay
down in the grass, Rob having charge
of the rope. The pig proved himself
a splendid squealer, and the boys
thought it would not be long before
the denizens Of the lake would be at
1 tracted.
The sun was just getting over the hill
when they had the first evidence that
their plan was working. The water
rippled thirty yards from shore, and
without sound long, black head,
with protruding eyes, appeared.
The pig continued to squeal. Then
the gator paused; bat there was no
sign of an enemy He reached the
sloping bank, and drew himself upon
| it; then, excited by the frantic efforts
of the pig, rose on his short legs, made
q run, and stopped within three feet of
the struggling animal. His heavy, tail
moved lightly from side to side; the
water glistened on the scales of his
hideous body.
+ "Now! now!" whispered Morgan.
/ The alligator heard him, and slightly
I turned. II was too late! The moose
that had been suspended in the air
j descended quickly and surely, and
settled over his head.
Pull, Morgp shouted Bob; "pnll,
quick!' and seizing the rope, he threw
his weight upon it; the knot ran up
and closed on the reptiles neck. Until
then he had hardly seemed to realize
his position: but now he turned and
seuttled toward the lake. Brought up
by weight of the boys, he paused mo-
ment, then with thrash of his mighty
tail made q desperate scramble for
liberty. Well it was they had not de-
pended on their strength to hold him
his tail struck the taut rope and tore ii
from their hands, and the next mo-
ment their captive had regained his
native element.
But he was not yet free; the keg
fioated buoyantly, and the boys has
tened to the boat to follow it. This
was easy, for though in the deepest
water the alligator could draw the key
i under, he was unable to keep it there
Il 1880. - ard fao.