Evening star., 1909-04-18

what sort of comfort he could find in it, when
Cochran said.
Now Cap, you stand back bit and keep
your eyes open for some lively do1ngs, because
when business begins things have got to be
done mighty quick or somebody will get hurt
and guess it'll be me-.
Proddine Out the Monster
WILL approached with the spiked pole and
w the bunch of rope. Four or five feet to the
rear of the entrance to the subterranean abode
of the quarry the two men began showing the
pole into the oozy soil, turning it with drill
like motion and forcing it downward through
the matted roots of the reed cane Slowly the
was below the surface of the marsh
We've got down through the roof of his
cellar" Will finally exclaimed, painting with
exertion, "and l. can feel him! Take your
had Cochran taken position within few feet
of the opening than Will cried, Look outl I've
given him the gaff and he's making his breakl
There was no doubt of it. A tremor ran
through the spongy stuff under our feet, fol
lowed by noise resembling muff1ed snort,
shoulders of the amphibian 1unged out OF the
hole, his huge claws gripping and tearing the
ground in his efforts to escape. When the
alligators body had cleared the aperture,
panther. He threw himself squarely on
the scaly back of the ugly monster, whose
hideous head swung ominously from side to
side in a vain effort to reach and crush his
assailant.
Ride him steady, John, and don't let him
throw you off and turn on you'll" exclaimed
Will, as the Inaddened alligator went piunging
and crashing into the reeds with Cochran
squarely astride of him and both hands clutch
ing the neck of his uncanny steed.
Once the ponderous jaws opened wide and
were closed with quick and frightful snap that
could have been heard some distance away.
1t was apparently such action that Cochran
had been waiting for: because the moment
the fierce reptile halted to make the strike,
he released his hold on the neck and, seizing
the fore legs in viselike grip, wrenched them
with mighty jerk from under the writhing
form, at the same using his knees and all his
weight to press the carcass close to the ground.
Making Him . Captive
NOW you've got him, John, the way you
want himi Hold him down hardi" yelled
Will, dashing forward with the rope; and to
my amazement and horror he seized the alliga-
jaws, one snap of which meant the loss of an
arm, or leg, or death. securely bound with
double hitch. The remaining portion of the
rope was used in trussing together the fore
and hind legs, after which the bull of the
Trocaloa was as harmless as a log, though he
continued to blink at us with his beady and
vicious eyes. As Cochran sat on the back of
his helpless captive, resting himself and mop
ping face that glowed with pride, l, still
thrilled by the scene had witnessed, ventured
to remark that what he regarded as rare sport
was work of very dangerous character.
well, Cap" he replied seriously, it would
be for people who didn't know how to go about
it; but I've had alligators for neighbors all
my life. I've caught hundreds; but this old
feller here, and he patted the alligator almost
affectionately, is the biggest and the strongest
/ ever had tussle with. It's all in keeping
your head and knowing how to tackle 'em
When you hop on the back of one the main
thing to do is not to let him turn on his side.
If he gets in that position, he has a chance not
only to swing his jaws. but to fight with his
legs, and rip from this old bulls claws would
tear mans body open"
was convinced of the truth of this state
ment when ran my fingers over the long horny
claws and found that they were almost as sharp
as dagger points >s--..-
Some people, he continued, will tell you
that an alligator uses his tail as a club and one
blow will kill man horse: but that is a
story that ought to be told to the mudhens
The only use he has for his tail is when he is
in the water, because he swims with it.
1t was well past midday when we returned to
camp with the much sought bull of the Tro-
caloa stretched in the bottom of the largest
pirogue. footrule disclosed the fact that he
was a fraction more than twelve feet seven
inches long; and his weight was estimated to
be not less than two hundred and fifty pounds