The broad ax., 1898-11-12

e1uoerant vegetation OF the coast on
the left fairly sparkled with radiant
brilliance and extended its luxuriance
right to the edge of the blue and crys-
tai water.
Life on the Island.
Then the party crossed over to Fla
mingo island, which is small and fair
ly overrun with humming birds, ig-
uanas and snakes. The stop there was
enlivened by a peon killing a large
tree snake over thirteen feet in length.
Having exhausted the beauties of Fla
mingo the canoe set sail for another OF
the interminable islands that dot the
dimpled surface Of the bay. A very
different spectacle was now before
them. There was a hulk used as a
lodging house for the Cinnamon en-
ployed by the Pacific Mail Company.
on the island was anchored her ma
jesty's steamship Pelican. By a pre-
arranged plan ten of the officers and
ensigns Joined the original crowd. The
sailors had equipped the small launch
Of the cruiser that took in tow the
numbering canoe Of the young English
men. The officers, besides carrying
Remingtons, were armed with revolv-
ers. These small weapons. as 1t turn
ed out. were quite Indispensable, and
certainly saved some Of the party from
a horrible death. Before arriving at
the bar at the mouth Of the Rio Sucio
a good twenty miles had to be covered,
which was done without noteworthy
incident. The river narrowed grad
uaIly, its banks clothed with gorgeous
tropical vesetation and in6ented by
little back waters, which seemed to be
the abode Of myriads Of solemn cranes
and fiamingoes. The hunters heard
the strange cries of brilliant plumag-
cd birds, and passed close enough to
see the humming birds darting like
scintillating rays Of light in the foliage.
An occasional alligator could be seen
basking in the mud Of the banks.
When fired at the ungainly reptiles
would plunge into the river with a
tremendous splash, and q few minutes
later an ugly snout would protrude cut
OF the murky river and give a snort
of defiance. AS the boats assembled the
'Eators became more and more plenti-
full. and some OF them were twenty feet
in length-veritable monsters. The
river was now not more than thirty
yards wide.
Hundreds of AulGators.
The hunters presently reached kind
- - ,~ool nth email ztraa,,. .,d
backwaters radiating in every direc-
ton. The air was heavy with the
sickening, heavy smell OF musk, which
indicated the close proximity Of the
haunts of the saurian. Guided by the
directions of a peon the boats turned
up a small creek, and upon rounding a
sharp bend, the hunters were greeted
with a wonderful spectacle. A vast
stretch of mud was entirely covered
with a living mass of basking alliga-
tors. There were hundreds of the re-
pHlsiye reptiles. The place was liter
ally paved with scaly saurians, big and
little. A person could have walked all
over the island without touching the
mud, itself. In attempting to get clos
er to the vast herd. both boats ground
ed. The occupants were 50 excited that
the grounding was considered small
thing. With one accord the men stood
ND and began pumping lead into the
gators. The scene that
ensued is beyond the power Of words
to adequately describe. Up to this time
the hunters had not realized the grav-
ity Of their predicament In being
aground The unpleasant fact dawned
upon them that the boats were between
the hundreds of angry allIgators and
the river behind. so that In order to
escape the reptiles were compelled to