The Lafayette gazette. [volume] (Lafayette, La.) 1893-1921, 1894-11-03

of the bookshelf that the sliphtes
movement on his part would cause hin
to roll of and fall into the jaws O
the monster below. AS he was proba
bly, but temporarily stunned, he wa
liable to move at any moment. twas
therefore, of the utmost Importance II
order to insure his safety. that h,
should be speedily conveyed from hi
| dangerous position.
Ralph feared that a discharge of the
swivel or of any frearm at the croco
die, would only be attended with ia
tai results to Frank. The sandbank.
| might hinder the shot from striking
the fierce reptile. while the SHOCK
would be pretty sure to dislodge the
senseless lad from the shelf, and thu.
| voracious enc my.
The youth lost no time in heading
his boat toward the rock. But the
| cutter was some fathoms from it,
when the keel caught in a submerged
sandbank. Drawing his sword. Ralph
sPranR out, and quickly waded toward
the rock. Slight lodges and pro-
truding spurs on its front would en-
able him, he thought, to climb up to
his brother; in fact, there was nc
other way of reaching him. The young
officer held his sword ready for USE in
case the crocodile. close to which he
would be obliged to pass, should VEN
ture to attack him.
Ralph, however, kept his eyes fas.
tened upon the crocodile.
The monster turned its head when
he was near it and snapped at him.
He avoided 1t by stepping sideways;
then he commenced to strike and
thrust vigorously at it's jaws with his
sword. 1t retreated a few yards but
broke his blade in two with it's teeth
as it twisted its body around. Think.
ing it would leave him, Ralph sprang
to the rock. just then little Frank,
recovering his senses, gave a slight
cry and fell from the lodge above.
The young officer saw him in time to
catch him in his arms AS he turned
to convey him to the cutter, he per-
ceived that the crocodile, now be-
tween him and the boat, with open
jaws, was prepared to renew the at
tack.
He set his confused brother upon his
feet in the shallow water, and draw
ing the single-barrelled navy pistol
which he carried in his belt he fired
at the creatures big, yawning mouth
But. owing to the Lnimals steering q
little to seize the boy, now on one side
of his protector, it received the shot OF
the edge of It's jaw.
Twisting itself away from the twain,
it commenced, as if in blended rage
and pain, to thrash the shadows with
its hard. bony tail.
As Ralph was conveying his brother
past the reptile, toward the boat, his
left ankle caught between two small
rocks, and was temporari-
~ sprained.
Never mind" said Frank, as the
hurt youth dragged himself along
with difficulty, II am now able to
walk. You need hot carry me. will
help you.''
He disengaeed himself from Ralph's |
, hi A.
sist him. The crocodile had turned by |
his time toward the two, for another |
attack. But they were now within 4 |
yard of the cutter, and though suffer
ng excruciating pain, the young Off
.er caught up his brothers light form.
md tossed him into the boat. The
was close to Ralph, but he
ontrived to escape it with a forward
movement and to roll himself across the
of the cutter. He went over
IN his back. with his head on the
'dge of the bow. While he was try
ng to turn and right himself, which
lis sprain would hinder his doing
quickly, the hideous open jaws of the
Monster appeared over the bow. They
zero very near the head of the pros
rate youth. He would not be able to
move it in time to elude those horri.
lie fangs. But at this critical mo-
aent his young brother, who had no.
ASOA SAA1C CAAC SIOCou1Ac jaws were |
line with the swivel, sprang forward
With ready decision and discharged
he piece.
Never was a shot more effective. Ii
lowed its way nearly through the full
ength of the huge reptiles body, kill
1g the animal almost instantly. Ralph
raised his brother for the quick iudg-
lent and swift action which had thus
cen the means of saving him from a
errible fate.
In fact. the presence of mind and
shown by the little fellow
n this occasion won the admira ton
nd applause of all the seamen aboard
he ship, when. in time, it was made
novvn to them.
Not long after the gun had been
red. the rising of the tide noated the
alter clear of the sandbank, en-
bling Ralph, with FRAMES assist
nee, to get back to the landing-place
onting the hut, where some of the
Iilors who had returned from their
lin search for the lad joyfully hailed !
IS appearance. Franks explanations
bout the canoe, as well Us of his stu
ion on the rock, verified his broth I
IS previous conjecturcs on the sub 6
ct. The boy had gone to the canoe
convey it to tho cutter. had been
by the crocodile, and by Wig
Gus pudding had reached the water 7
lvern. So close to him then was the i
Pttle that, as he sprang out of the I
noe to climb the tree, the laws of 6
g monster closed over the frail ves- i
l, partly crushing it. Bottom nm G