The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1901-04-07

were not unlike the coverings that made
the bloomer girl famous In fact, they
are identical as regards shape, although
hardly as baggy. Their usefulness was
demonstrated later in the day, when the
idol of France encountered the prairie
grass.
For a moment Bernhard hesftated, as
If she thought it advisable to take off
her sealskin waist and don her shooting
jacket. The air was still crisp, however,
and she was prevailed upon to keep on
her furs for the time being.
She was nearly in readiness for the
hunt.
From nearby table she picked up
her little double barreled shotgun She
broke it and examined with a critical eye
the condition Of the breech. 1t satisfied
her, and she snapped it back In place.
Then she turned sharply and her back
was to the party for an instant, when
she threw the gun to her shoulder and
trained her eye upon the sights.
Her poiSe was perfect and her bearing
majestic. She handled the frearm like
master, and when confident that it was
in perfect order handed it to an attend
ant with a satisfied air.
The order was given to march, or, to
be more correct, Bernhardt started away
and this action in itself was an order for
Back of Bells place are the tracks of
the Louisville & Nashville railway. They
are 100 or more yards away, and this was
made at brisk rate. Bernhard and the
guide showed the way, and the others
followed The remarkable woman set a
pace that caused others of the party, less
active some trouble to keep up. The
march up the tracks was for nearly
half mile, and then Henry Viavant's place
-I.co cd oh ha N
to the rear Of the premises the party
proceeded.
Just back of the stables, and to the left,
is the Viavant canal, dug twenty years
ago, to Lake Pontchartrain, through an
extensive forest and prairie swamp. Here
the party embarked in four fiat-bottomed
boats, none too comfortable at their best,
but yet serviceable for their purpose. The
time spent at the landing was not of any
length.
The boatmen drove their driving poles
deep down in the soft bottom Of the canal.
A long, steady push, and Bernhard
and her party were off on their first ALI
gator hunt.
II was a slow and tedious journey down
that little canal toward the lake. The
four boats were heavily laden, and the
two polemen in each craft had all they
could do to thrust the skiffs through the
cloggcd passa geWay.
The canal is only ten feet wide at It's
best. In the forest the trees overhang it,
while the rushes grow out until at times
they meet and cover the water like an
arch. Where open passages were found IN
the forest the little water grass was lay
ers thick, and proved a heavy handicap
to the boatmen. When the prairie was
reached the waterway was less clogged,
although in spots 1t was almost impass-
ible Huge moccasin snakes stole
through the tall prairie grass interrupted
only for the moment by the strange pass
erby.
The guide and his assistant occupied
the first craft, and they forged ahead in
order to locate If possible the alligators.
to capture which the Divine Sarah had
set her heart.
The others trailed leisurely in its wake.
Nearly two hours was occupied in max
ing a mile and half. There large ba-
you was struck that ran 20 the east and
this was followed.
A short distance up the boatmen halted
The occupants shoul3ered their guns and
then set out after the guide and his as
sistants, who had a few minutes pre-
viously, disembarked at that point.
The home of the alligator was near q:
hand. A short search revealed the holes
ir which they live, and everybody be-
came imbued with the excitement Of the
hunt.
For possibly q quarter of a mile the
hunters wandered on. The guide dis
covered a place in which he believed was
hidden an alligator.
Here 1t was that Charlie Bell showed
his useful cunning.
Bending down before the hole In the
soggy prairie he commenced to call-the
call for the alligator. Round about him,
within seeing distance, stood the interest
ed party while Bernhard and an assist
ant stood by ready to capture the animal
the moment he put in an appearance.
'O-ough, Dough, dough, o-ough!"
cried the negro.
The sound was like that of peevish
babe or a whining puppy.
1t was the call OF the young alligator
for It's parents.
Those who know the call and its eff
feet say that Bells imitation is hard to
distinguish from the cry of the young
saurian itself He continued to call for
several minutes, and then the water qIiv-
cred
1t is said by the trappers OF these ami
mails that it is possible to call one of
them from point nearly 200 feet distant
The quiyering water was eventually
broken. The point Of dirty black snoot
of an alligator appeared above the sur
face.
The next instant the entire head was
out of the water, and the caller grabbed
the wicked-looking customer by the jowls
and held him fast, despite his struggles
BY the time the gator recovered from
his surprise a moose was passed over his
head and drawn taut about his neck
The action was Instantaneous.
Bernhard had the rope.
No sooner had the knot been drawn
tight than triple loop was passed about
the ferocious jaws and made fast.
AS the animal was drawn from the
water the right legs were made fast. the
tail was secured, and Bernhardts prize
was won.
The operation of putting it IN a bag
was not a difficult task AMI soon the
depiZen of the marsh was safely cover
ed. despiteN his resistance.
The prize won. the party was ready
to start for home after an alligator hung
that had occupied about three hours
4 baxy ~ Az