Evening capital. (Annapolis, Md.) 1884-1910, 1891-12-15
THE ALLIGATOR COUNTRY.
BY FRANK H. SWEET.

I
about a small clearing Now he stopped
to peck at q bright pebble. then hopped
! forward to examine bunch OF tnssuck
grass. Then grssshopper attracted his
attention. And all the Tins he was get
ting farther away from home. AT last
he paused on the bank of a dark creek
and looked about c',riously. II was anew
world to him. n, by long, black OBJ
| iect lay half embe,. Ied in the sand. After
! watching it a few moments he hopped
nearer. Then cams quick fash and
1 swapping of teeth; the chickens short
drama was over. And the alligator's
tail slid back into the sand, and his
half closed eyes resumed their air Of
sleepy Inconsistencies.
Overhead nagnolias and live oaks
mingled their branches, while here and
there rose the stately trunks of royal
palms. Great masses of azalea, agave,
and sensitive plants crept up from the
waters edge, aud spread ever the banks
And everywhere clambered the fox grape
and bignonia and woodbipe.
| Beyond the creek, and stretching away
| for hundred miles to the south and west,
were the Everglades. In the distance
cleaned the blue waters Of Lake okee-
chobee. To the ca E was wilderness, to
the north 90 miles of almost impenetra-
bic Jungle And in the midst, the little
clearing, lonely and wild and ugly. For,
except where the log cabin stood near the
center, the trees had been merely girdled,
and now rose white and ghostly, their
gray, skeleton arms cieaking and groan.
ing with every passing breeze. Among
them We're long ridges OF sweet potato
vines, and, nearer the cabin, few clumps
! Of gumbo and banana stalks. A tall, sol
itsry oleander in full bloom stood near
the water barrel, its fragrant branches
nearly hiding one end of the cabin A
little to one side were several neglected
orange trees.
| The cabin had but two windows, small
openings which were closed with boards
when il rained. Near one of these a
young girl was preparing "comptie. On
the stove behiAd her was the inevitable
kettle Of hominy AS she worked she
occasionally broke into snatches of negro
melody. her fresh young voice floating
out into the forest and bringing quick re-
sponses from mocking birds and warblers.
Two men were working their way
through the thick masses of palmetto.
Suddenly they paused to listen.
What a voicel" one of them ex-
4 claimed. " A bsckwoods nightingale.
. 1t must be old Dobessons daughter,
said the other Il was here five years
ago, and she was then the widest and
happiest little thing l ever saw-all the
time in the woods chasing squirrels and
initiating the mocking birds.
Again the voice hoated to them. As
it died away the first speaker drew long
breath.
What an acquisition she would be to
my rustic chorusl" he said.
His companion laughed.
There you &c againi Never a fine
voice but you must be covetous. The
penalty Of being a theater manager, !
suppose. But really, Danielson, you
must not wake the ambition of this
child of nature. She is like the birds,
and New York would stiis her
A few moments later they emerged
from the palmetto. AS they crossed the
clearing the young girl left the window
and appeared in the doorway. For a
moment she merely looked curious, then
glow of recognition crept into her face.
Before they had time to speak she sprang
down the steps with outsuetched hands.
"Mr. Lowery fer all ther worI'i- she
cried, her eyes sparkling with pleasure.
"Hit's mighty plessan ter see yeh roun'
agin. Paw'il suttingly be glad 20 see
yeh."
And I shall be glad TO see him. Liza, "
said Mr.. Lowery, heartily we've had
some rare hunts together. But how VOC
have grownl You were only little girl
when left"
As liked fer somebody ter make her
bows an arrers an GO huntin' 'cooters =
Mr.. Lowery smiled,
We did have some fine 'cooter' hunts. .
he said, then, nodding toward his com.
panion, added, @Fve brought my friend
Mr.. DanielsOn. down to try alligator
hunting. tell him your father is prob.
ably the best gator guide in south Flor
ida. !"
The girls face clouded.
Paws in right pore shape" she said
slowly. he war los in ther Ev'glaaes
an got the shakes pow'ful bad. low
he cayn't do no mo guidin fer er long
time
The men looked at each other IN per-
plexity. Seeing this the girl hastened to
add:
Cleb kin guide you uns better n any
body 'cept paw. he amt bat u year Of,
but paw says what he don't know bout
gators amt wuth takin' les'ns on.
But Dir. Lowery looked doubtful
4 remember Cleb. he said, but :,
strikes me that he would be rather q
small chap In case OF an emergency. A
- fOOter would be apt to take advantage
] OF hin.