The Cambria freeman. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1867-1938, 1894-10-12

should be speedily conveyed from his
dangerous position.
Ralph feared that a discharge of the
swivel or of any firearm at the croco-
die, would only be attended with IA
tai results to Frank The sandbanlls
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 thus
bring him down into the power of his
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 submerged
sandbanz. Drawing his sword, Ralph
sprang 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 no
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 it 10y stepping sideways:
then ne commenced to strike and
thrust vigorously at its Jaws with his
sword. 1t retrcated a few yards but
broke his blade in two with its teeth
as it twisted its body around. Think
ing il would leave him, Ralph sprang
to the rock. Just then little Frank.
recovering his senses, gave a slight
cry and fell from the ledge 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
ceivcd 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. yavuing mouth.
But. owing to the animals shecring a
little to seize the boy. now on one side
of his protector. it received the shot on
the edge of ITS 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.
past the reptile, toward the boat, his
left ankle caught between two small
underwater rocks, and was temporari-
ly sprained-
Never mind" said Frank, as the
hurt youth dragged himself along
with difficulty, Il am now able To
walk Gou need hot carry me. will
help vou.'
lie disengaGed himself from Ralph's
arms. seized his hand and tried to as
sist him. The crocodile had turned by
this time toward the two, for another
attack. But they were now within n
yard of the cutter, and though suffer
ing eXcruciating pain, the young Off
Ger caught up his brothers light form
and tossed him into the boat. The
crocodile was close to Ralph, but he
contrived to escape it with Il forward
movement and to roll himself across the
gunwalc of the cutter. lie went over
on his back, with his head on the
edge of the bow. While he was try
ing to turn and right himself, which
his sprain would hinder his doing
quickly. the hideous open jaws of the
monster appeared over the bow. They
were very near the head of the pros
trate youth. lie would not be able to
move it in time to elude those hOrri-
ble fangS. But at this critical mo-
ment his young brother, who had no
ticed that the crocodile's jaws were on
line with the swivel, sprang forward
with ready decision and discharged
the piece.
Never was shot more effective. 1t
plowed its way nearly through the full
length of the huge reptiles body, kill
ing the animal almost instantly. Ralph
praised his brother for the quick judg-
ment and swift action which had thus
been the means of saving him from
terrible fate.
In fact, the presence of mind and
promptitude shown by the little fellow
on this occasion won the admiration
and applause of all the seamen aboard
the ship, when, in time, it was made
known to them.
Not long after the gun had been
fired, the rising of the tide floated the
cutter clear of the sandbanI<, en-
abling Ralph, with Franks assist
ancc, to get back to the landing-place
fronting the hut. where some of the
sailors who had returned from their
vain search for the lad joyfully hailed
his appearance. Franks explanations
about the canoe, as well as of his situ-
alton on the rock, verified his broth
er's previous conjectures on the sub
jcct. The boy had gone to the canoe
to convey it to the cutter, had been
pursued by the crocodile, and by Wig
orous padding had reached the water
cavern. SO close to him then was the
reptile that, as he sprang out of the
canoe to climb the tree, the jaws of
the monster closed over the frail yes
sci. partly crushing it. Bottom up,
and with Franks cap, which had
fallen from hls head, caught on the
broken wood, the little craft had
drifted off with the current, to be
afterward found by Ralph as de
scribed-Rufus Hall, in n Y. Ledger.