Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1895-01-24

die, would only be attended with r.
tai results 10 Frank. The sandbankl
, might hinder the shot from striking
the fierce reptile, while the shock
would be pretty sure to dislodge TIL
senseless lad from the shelf, and thu
bring him down into the power Of BIZ
voracious enc my.
The youth lost no time In heading
bis boat toward the rock. But thl
cutter was some fsthoms from IL
when the keel caught In . submerged
sandbank. Drawing his sword. Ralph
sprsng out, and quickly waded toward
the rock. Slight lodges and pro
truding spurs on it, front would On.
able him, he thought, to climb up "a
his brotherI In fact, there was nc
other way Of reaching him. The young
officer held his sword ready for use, in
case the crocodile, close 10 which he
would be obliged to pass, should VEN
ture to attack him.
Ralph, however, kept his eyes fss'
tened upon the crocodile.
The monster turned Its head when
he was near II and snapped at him.
lie avoided II by stepping sideways,
then he commenced 10 strike and
thrust vigorously at Its jaws with his
sword. 1t retreatcd few yards but
broke his blade in two with Its teeth
as II twisted its body around. Think.
Ing II would leave him, Ralph sprang
to the rock. just then little Frank,
recovering hiy senses. gave . slight
cry and fell from the ledge above
The young officer saw him 10 time to
catch him In his arms As he turned
to convey him to the cutter, he per-
ceived that the crocodile, now De-
tween him and the boat, with open
jaws, was prepared to renew the ct
tack.
lie 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 fred
at the creatures big, yawning mouth.
But, owing to the animals steering .
little TO seize the boy, now on one side
Of his protector, itreceived the shot on
the edge Of ITS Jaw.
Twisting itself away from the twain,
It commenced, as II 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, biz
left ankle caught between two small
underwater rocks, and was TEMPORARY
ly spraincd.
Never mindF said Frank, Is the
hurt youth dragged himself along
with difficulty, u am now able TO
walk. You need hot carry me. will
help you"
He 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 .
yard Of the cutter, and though suffer-
ing excrueiatIng pain, the young OH
Ger caught up his brothers light form
and tossed him into the boat. The
crocodile was close to Ralph, but he
contrived to escape 1t with q forward
movement and 10 roll himself across the
gunwale Of the cutter lie went over
on his back, with his head on tho
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
tratc youth He would not be able to
move 1t in time to elude those horri-
bic fangs, But at this critical mo-
ment his young brother, who had no
tleed that the croeodile's jaws were on
Il line WIN tue swivei, sprang forward
win ready decision and discharged
'pe piece
never was snot more eHective. II
plowea us way nearly through the full
iehgt' OF inc lluIe reptiles body, Kill
n's t'le animal almost instantly. Ralph
praise" MS brother Tor the qllcG ]udg-
meat ma swii' action whleh mad thus
peeli lhe means OF saving him from
terriole late'
III iap'' inc presence Oh mind and
prohpt'tu0e shown pythe little fellow
On t'is occasion won the admiration
Ai'd applause OF al tlie seamen aboard
tas SNIP wnen' IN tlme' 1t was made
known 70 them
Not long after the gun had been
fired, the rising OF the tide floated the
cutter clear of the sandbank, en-
abling Ralph, with FRANKS assist