Highland recorder. (Monterey, Highland County, Va.) 1877-1972, 1893-05-26

ing, SAID tne capGaln' DOH
lespond, Lily"
All that night he endeavored to
soothe his wife; but her anguish was
almost beyond endurance, such as no
pen could describe.
At daybreak the captain had his boat
down again.
Besides the crew, it now contained
Mrs Bertram, who had insisted In ac-
companying the party.
After long search, the boat was
discovered among some rocks, where
the breakers had almost dashed it to
pieces.
Had little Thomas been drowned, or
had he contrived to get out of the boat
and reach the sandy beach a few feet
distant?
A cry of Joy escaped the vigilant
mother.
She pointed to the sand, where the
impressions of little shoes, not yet
washed away, were visible.
Leaving two men in charge OF the
boat. the captain, followed by his wife
and the rest of the crew, and armed
with loaded rifle which he had
brought with him from the ship, made
his way inland. There was thicket
short distance beyond the beach, and
this the party entered.
The ground was marshy in some
places. and the tracks of the lost boy
we're occasionally seen.
Following these traces carefully, the
party at length beheld, ahead OF them,
a small opening, and there, not hun
dred yards off, apparently asleep, on
the bank of shallow stream, they be-
held little Thomas
He lay upon his side, his cheek rest
inc upon one arm, his long curls
streaming on the ground.
The rosy, healthy color upon his
face at once convinced his mother that
he was unharmed as well.
At first the happy woman could not
utter word for JOY.
Then, with cry Of gladness, with
outstretched arms, she ran toward the
slumberer.
But she had not taken ten steps when
her cheeks blanched, and an exclama-
ton of dismay escaped the whole party
An enormous crocodile had slowly
lifted its hideous proportion from
amongst the long reeds fringlng the
lower part of the bank, and was now
| 4ho cIoonar
The animal, half covered with mud
and green slime, presented an appear
ance at once uncouth and horrible,
It was full twenty feet in length, Its
body covered with rough, irregular
scales, its legs spotted, its claws SHARP
and crooked.
The Jaw wide open, revealed rows OF
sharp teeth which we're not close
together, but little apart. Each o.
its eyes, of an oval shape, and OF fiery,
blood red hue, looked as if separated
bv a dark line, which gave to it al
aspect of indescrible ferocity and vora
ciousness.
The terrible jaw was already within
few feet of the child's head.
Before the most active of the sailors
could reach it, the teeth would clos'
over that bright face; those colder
curls would disappear III that ugly
mouth forever.
The captain stopped and quick,
raised his rife.
"Fire. fire, for Gods sake !" screame(
his wife.
But Bertram's hand shook. Ever
had it been steady, he would not hav'
dared to fire, lest his bullet shoul'
strike his boy instead of the croco
die.
He was q good shot, but SO near wa
the fierce animal to the sleeper tina
the chances were ten to one that b.
. would hit the child.
Lily understood the cause OF he
husbands hesitation.
/ Meanwhile the frightful teeth Of tn
g crocodile were now within few fee
D of the boy the bloodshot eyes snappe
with greed and ferocity.
? In few seconds more the little on
( must become the monsters victim.
And now over the mothers fac
there came an expression of iron firm
4 ness.
t From the quaking hands of her ez
cited husband, who. still fearful o
e hitting the child, could not bring hin
s self to fire, she snatched the rife
/ raised it and took aim at the crocodile
= eye.
Like a statue she stood for an il
s stant then the sharp report of the riff
= smote upon the air, the teeth OF tn
Y crocodile closed with a click, its hea
dropped to the earth, it smote tn
bank few moments with its hard ta
? and then fell on its side-dead
The mothers aim had been true; tn
+ bullet had struck the target, had pent
trated the monsters eye and lodged I
d its brain.
p. Such cheer as then went up to tn
G sky was never heard before.
But Mrs. Bertram thought OF moth
n mo inst then but her child,