The Wichita daily eagle., 1891-10-21
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 Atas
cosa county, about forty or fifty mile:
southwest of San Antonio de Bexar, on
ranch, where l was engaged in cattle rails
ing. One morning some seven or eight Z
the nearest neighbors, representing az
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 small lake, or, rather, largs
water hole in the bed of said stream.
This was not cunning stream all tn.
year round, but was formed Of small
lakes OF 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 tc
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.,
negro womaD who had been down at the
lake near the house engaged in the family
washing, came rushing toward the house
screaming. Alligator! alligatorl' 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 un.
erring shot, and we knew that if he got
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 a 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 Oh
the bank, the other half of the body still l
hanging in the water At the crack of the /
gun the alligator slid back into the lake /
and sank in about ten feet depth Of water |
Of course we could not tell whether Gua !
had touched him or not, whereupon som
of the boys began to guy him and offering
to bet that he hadn't even grazed the hide.
Now Gus had the utmost confidence in his
craftsmanship and was ready at
all times to back his judgment, whereupon,
to the surprise of us all, be coolly accepte j !
the challenge and offered to cover ani !
mans ten dollars that he had killed tbs
ALI gator
The wager was settled and Gus delibef
ately dofied his clothing and plunged int
The water. Itsppeared afterwaFd that The
alligator was not instantly killed and b)
he merest accident Gus happened to land
right on the alligator's back Just as the
reptile was in the last tbroes of the death
sgony and mad started 70 the surface, and
n very few seconds landed him safely on
shore, going through his last shiver in the
ieath struggle in a few feet OF the water
i IS stated by those who claim experience
n the habits Of the alligator that they al
vays come TO land 10 die, and perhaps this
.ccounts partly for Gus good luck in get
ing out alive, as we all agreed that il was
ne most foolhardy trick we ever knew Gus
)urand to be guilty OF.
Gus only reply to our remonstrances
vas, Il knowed DANCED well I'd get hi.
ye," as be ooolly pocketed the golden
agile. .-Phiiadei phia Times. l