Middlebury register. (Middlebury, Vt.) 1886-1937, 1891-10-02
ODDS AGAINST THE ALLIGATOR.
Gus Was So Sure 1t Was Dead That He
Went Into the Water After 1t.

Went Into the Water After 1t.
When | lived in Texas, it was in Atlas
cosa county, about forty or fifty miles
southwest of San Antonio de Bexar, on a
ranch, where | was engaged in cattle rails
ing. One morning some seven or eight of
the nearest neighbors, representing as
many families, whose ranches were located
along the same little stream, the Atascosa
the English of which is Little Muddy"
met at the ranch of Mr. James French,
who lived at the upper end of the settle
ment, near a small lake, or, rather, large
water hole in the bed of said stream.
This was not running stream all the
year round, but was formed of small
lakes of a few miles or less apart, and the
water only ran from lake to lake during
about three or four months of the late fall
and winter seasons. AT the time that
write there was no water in the creek eX-
cept in these lakes, which was the home of
the beautiful and artistic alligator
We had all brought our rifles with us
hoping to meet here for the purpose of
going some twenty miles out west to
drive away or kill some mustang horses
that had made their appearance near the
settlements among the tame herds, it being
very dangerous to have the wild mustangs
among Them as they frequently injured
the tame geldings, killing some of them
and often enticing the whole herd with
them into their range.
While we were sitting on the front YER
anda chatting over the events of the past
two days, the prospects of crops, etc, a
negro woman who had been down at the
lake near the house engaged in the family
washing, came rushing toward the house,
screaming, "Alligatorl alligator at the
top of her voice. The noise and frightened
appearance of the negress attracted the at
| tention of the boys, and Gus Durand, one
of the party, snatched up his rifle and
started for the lake, the rest of the party
| following slowly after. Gus was an UNI
erring shot, and we knew that II ho got a
fair bead ON the gators eye that he was
sure of his game.
We kept back far enough not to flush
the game and give Gus y chance to take
every ADVANTAGE of position, but we had
gotten sufficiently close to see at least the
head and shoulders of the reptile out on
the b., !, ;.e other half of the body still
hanging in the water AT the crack Of the
gun the alligator slid bGc'i into TIE lake
and sank in about ten feet depth of water
OF course we could not tel whether Gus
had touched him or not, whereupon somt
of the boys began to gay linn and O.Ierinl
to bet that he hadn't even grazed the hide
Now Gus had the utmost confidence in his
uneqaled craftsmanship and was ready al
all times to back his judgment, whereupon
to the surprise Of us all, he coolly accepted
the challenge and offered to cover any
mans ten dollars that he had killed tn,
alligator.
The wager was settled and Gus deliber
ately DOTTED his clothing and plunged int
the water. 1t appeared afterward that thu
alligator was not instantly killed ard b.
the merest accident Gus happened to Lane
right on the ulligator's back just rs tn
reptile was in the last thrOes of the dealt
agony and mad Started 10 tie surface, AM
in a very few seconds landed him safely oil
shore, going through his last shiver in tn
death struggle in few feet of the water
1t is stated 10y those who claim eNpeiienc
in the habits OF the alligator that they al
ways come to land to die, and porhG,S thi
accou..,- partly for Gus good luck in get
ting out alive, as we all agreed that it wa
the most foolhardy trick we ever knew Gu
Durand to be guilty of
Gus only reply to our remonstrance
was, 81 knowed DANCED well I'd get hi
eye" as he coolly pocketed the golde
, eagle philadelphia Times.