The daily morning journal and courier., 1897-10-14
HAVEN MoRNn THURSDAY

NAi SiiS SuAluy Dlllh, dpptaitu e1 i"N 'N rubbish and sticks built in a mound like shape some IS inches high ana about two feet around, To a careless observer this pile would not have been noticed, but underneath it, in a hap hazard heap, lay 61 of as pretty alli- gator eggs as were ever found. If un- molested the eggs hatch out without any assistance other than the rays of the sun, and the little alligators will crawl off into the stream, where the old mother is generally in waiting. Ali gators have never been known as any thing but the greatest of towards around grown people, but will attack children and dogs. There is one ex- ception to this, however-the mother of one of these nests. She will fight to the last if you attack or in any way modest her.
 Coffee is done here, boys. Come on and let's get through" was Buds com mand just as they were examining the nest. It took some little time before this queer meal was finished, and the moon was well on the wane.
 Boys" said Bud, this night is al most gone, but I believe there is one more bit of fun left yet, and I for one want to have it. I've had a pretty good time tonight, and am glad took this rest. But lets have one more story to tell them when we get home. Down there about quarter stays a gator what we hunters calls Blinky, and he is a whopper, too. He's got only one eye, because the hunter shot the other one out. Every man on the river has been after him except me, and I want to take him home"
 They agreed, of course, and slowly pulled down to the spot that Bud had designated Now you two get on the bank, because I've got to work fast when I start Is my grab-hook here? Here have it. Pull into that cove and you can see it all." The two stepped out and Bud then raised his light and made everything ready. He drifted around in the shallow water, for they were now some distance from where they started in the deep water below. This went on for several minutes when the single ball of fire rose slowly and shone out with peculiar luster. The fire ball may have been no larger than the others. but it appeared so, possibly because it was by itself. Bud crept upon Blinly in the usual way but in order to fool the monster he placed the light at the head of the boat instead of on his own head In this way he hoped to get him closed-and he did. Presently the fire ball was just under the edge of the boat, and then Bud took a deliberate aim not four feet from him. They were under the limbs of big tree and he had trouble in get ting the aim on account of the fitting shadows of the moon through the branches. At last the sight was on the vital spot. The report rang out. Splash went the water, and one end of the boat went in the air and struck the limb above. When the scene was somewhat cleared the boat was found turned completely upside down, and there stood Bud up to his neck in water and swearing like the proverbial sailor. Come in here, Pardner, and help me get these skillets and things. What you stand there like an idiot for laugh in your sides to pieces? This is not a laughin' school. What do you mean? Come on here, or I'll put you where Blinky is No, I won't, for my guns gone. Quit laughin', I say, and come on here"
 During all this time Farther and the boy were making the woods fairly ring with their peals of laughter and Bud was the victim of sweet revenge for his joke on Pardner early in the night. Finally they both waded in and turned the boat over, bailed her out and began searching the bottom for the gun, skill lets, hatchets and the like. After all these had been found their thoughts turned to Blinky, and thorough search was made for him. They waded the place over and over again. Pard- ner declared that Bud had not killed him, while the latter swore by all that lived that Blinky was no more alive than that boat The search was being made while the moon was behind 8 cloud, and when it shone out again the boy on the bank saw something wig gling in the tree.
 There's Blinky," he said, and sure enough it was.
 He had lodged in the tree 10 feet above the water level when he made the terrific lunge that capsized the boat. The first thing Bad did was to climb the tree with his hatchet and chop him just behind his rear legs on the back. That sewers the cord that makes the slap of an alligators tail so dangerous, even after they are dead, as was Blinky.
 The boat was pulled right under him and Bud dslodged him. They took him on the bank, but before doing so they stretched him full length of the boat, which was 16 feet long. Blinky cov- cred the space except a few inches, showing that he was more than 15 feet long, They skinned him and salted down the hide. Some bullets were found in him.
 Well it's o'clock, boys and time we were going, and I don't know how you feel about it, but put a $500 bill in my hand right now and I fouldn't take it for the fun I've had this night and old Blinky's hide"
 An alligator is a rare thing in the Neches river nowadays, but when Bud Morgan was gator hunter they were thick, and the night that trio hunted just for fun' was regarded by him as fair sample of alligator hunting on the Neches 15 years ago.
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