The Dillon herald. [volume] (Dillon, S.C.) 1894-????, 1910-03-24

the bateau up the muddy run and
getting the reptile into it. 1t was
hard work, but they rolled and
hauled him to the bank, and at last
into the John-boat.
1t was almost sunset, and the mos
quitoes were stinging viciously.
Allen agreed to paddle the bateau
down to camp, while the captain
dashed ahead in the pirogue to get
their supper before dark, for then
the mosquitoes would drive them un-
der their netting. So, in the still,
warm evening, Allen worked the fiat
ended bateau slowly on with the
tide. He had his camera and pre-
| cious plates with him on the rear
seat, and Ponto, the captains pointer
pup, was at the other end. Between
them, on his back, with the end of his
snout not twenty inches from Aliens
feet. lay the prize gator.
The old bateau was heavily laden,
and Captain Fowb had warned Allen
to keep the gator still. On his back
the brute seemed harmless enough;
for half an hour he hardly moved,
Kissing now and then and twitching
his tail. The dog watched this move
ment with interest. He bit at it once
or twice and playfully dashed DOWN,
swapping at the gators hind foot.
| Get away, thcre!" shouted the
boatman. "Pont-let lin be-"
! But the pup tock the gators
twitching for challenge Again he
raced off tie seat, md this time
seized the captivc's log Oh the inner
side. where it was unprotected and
sensitive. And as he shook and
growled at the loose skin, tho big
gator did an astonishing thing. He
| made one convulsire plunge, kicked
Ponto, yelping, clear to the bow, and
broke the bonds from his fore legs
| as If they had been twine. And his
| tail got above the boards and struck
blow that smashed the beading and
half-turned him over at the same
time.
Allen dashed upright on his rear
seat. for the big snout was thrust
within six inches of his knees in the
struggle. He seized his camera and
holder and held them above the
struggle. The gator thrashed and
tore, and every move righted him,
| until he was over and on his legs,
raising his gagged jaws and kissing
like steam-enSine. Then he began
! a side smash Of his head, and Allen
saw the block of decayed wood
| crumblinS in his teeth. He was
scared then. He stood up with his
| precious camera and yelled.
| The old bateau was now in the
wide, plar'' bayou. mile or more
below the camp, but the tide was
taking the John-boat into the
wash neck of water leading to
an unnamed lake or bay of Bara-
taria's main water. This was unin-
habited and had no shores except the
trembling prairie"
! To Aliens shouts no answer came
he Looked down at the gator. which
was no" quiet. but champing tine
rope and wood from his mouth. And
at the other end OF the boat the pup
taxing Aliens cries for encourage.
ment, made another valiant sally al
the gators legs. 1t stirred the biz
lellow up. He raised his head and
tall' Missing viciously. and made the
bateau rock with his fioundering.
Be still. Pont," cried Allie.
Down-there! If he ever lunge.
over. he'll capsize us, and the shark:
will get you"
Allen was not so much afraid OF
the sharks as OF losing his prized
plates and costly camera. The cato,
had entire possession of the John.
boat except the eiSht-inch seat or
which Allen stood. And then he dis.
covered despairingly that the paddle
was lost-there was not a thing to
guide the boat. And as they neared
the other snore. the salt-marsh mos
quitoes came out In clouds and bit
MIN from head to foot. In a few
minutes his brow was covered with
blood from smashing them, and hi.