Frostburg mining journal. [volume] (Frostburg, Md.) 1871-1913, 1889-01-05

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 linn the
county whcra thy lived was almost u
paradise. He had learned to row
Lat, t. shoot, swim ard ride, and
there WAS constantly occasion TO en-
ploy one or more OF these accomplish
mcnts. If lie could only have a gun OF
his own he Thought he would be abso-
lntcly happy.
One morning Rob heard two neigh
and Whitfield sticks.
Il seen Phil Tanner yesterday said
one, "and he SAYS thar's Il man Mt the
hotel that says he'll give $50 for big
live gator. Wants him fur cirkis or
sum min"
Rob said not word, but walked off
t. think TIL re was n lack of the
crca.urys III the ncighborhool. He saw
them nearly every day in the lake half
mile from the house, but to take one
alive was 10 easy job. He took into
his counsels his friend AMI playmate
Morgan Pudley-Morg, for short, who
was n 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 Il Joint use
of the gun when they got it. Rob role
to town that very afternoon. and had
an interview with the gentleman who
want Il an alligat n Rob was to de
liver at the Eotel door, within three
days, one specimen of the animal de
sired, alive and uninjurcd. and not less
than eight feet long. while the strang +
agreed to pav for said sIec,mcn thu
sum of $40.
The next morning about daylight
there was wild conru,i n in the Pudlcv
pigpen. Pres ,ntlv shrill and prolong-
cd slucals announced that member
OF the family was CAPTIVE. Fifteen
minutes later Rob and MORGAN started
for the lake. Rob was hurdepad wi. h
"a coil of half inch rope. new and strong,
and carried ha.chet; behind him
came Morg. holding in his arms pin,
with n rae ticI clos, about it, nose
and its feet sec ircd with nd.
They drove o SAKE into the ground
about fifteen feet from the water. and
fastened TO it Il short corl fine other
end tied t, piggv's hind leo. The
broom grass between the stake and the
water was pulled up 50 IS to allow the
pig to be seen from the lake. They
made running moose in the rop,. and
hung it on a nail at the end of a light
cedar role some eight fe t long, and
were about to loos the pigs bondsand
conceal themselves. when Fob whis.
pcred:
More, if we do ct the ro9e aroun
his neck we cant hold: he'll lust pull
right ava from us"
Might drive big stake to put the
rope arDrn :" suggc. ted MCrg. LOOKING
about for some friendly stump.
That will IN k, too much noise, and
besides it's 50 rocky here. No:lIl tell
Won You wait till | Get that ker
father 1T a. Uncle ,Tim's; we'll make
make IL float of H."
Uncle Gm's cabin was inst over tbe
hill AMI Rob was back with the kco in
ten minutes. He had driven four nails
in the sides, an soon had tn. ron,
around it and secure from slipping,
"You see" he explained, III he gets
into the wa'er he can't pull this under
for lone, and We can follow him"
The boys now cu. tn, cords on the
|.
down in tn, OF. IS. Rob having charge
of the rope. The pig proved himself
splendid squealer, and the bows
thought it worll not be lone bclofc
the d. nilens of the lake Won Il be at
trartel.
The san was just getting over the hill
when they had III first cyid nee that
their plan was working. The water
rippl I'd irty yards from shore, and
without Il SCUM a ing, black head,
with protruding e,es, appeared.
Til, pig continued to sJueal Then
the ga.or paused: 1T there was NJ
sign of an enemy. He reached the
slipping hank, and drew himself upon
it; then. excited by tho fr.n mite efforts
of the ig, ros, on LIS hort legs, made
run, and stopped within three feet of
the struggling animal. His heavy tail
wat,r nIist ne1 on Tho ,crl.s 81 Vi.
bidaorS holy
Now now, ~ wb;snered MORGAN
The ALLIGATOR heard him. and SLIGHTLY
turned II was tco late Tho moo -
that had been suspcnd,d in tho air
descended onicllv and snrcrv an
settled over lis heal
"Pnil Nornr" sboute1 Bob. "nuu
nuick - and seizino thc rome 10 threw
49, a. r.. -. ~.