The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1922-04-28

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along the course OF the river. and
where we anticipated catching mess
of fish for our dinner. .sOut fishing
tackle" was the order, and soon we
were busily engaged in watching our
floats for the nibble, hah! with the
quickness OF fash my vari-colored
cork shot beneath the surface, a hasty
snatch at my line and I had him. not
so easy, now commenced a series OF
maneuvering upon my part and that
of the fish for the mastery, he was
evidently one worth landing. He made
straight linesfor two or three stumps
whose heads stuck up a dew inches
above the water OF the lake, this plan
however did not suit me at all, must
Illustrate his intentions at any and all
costs, otherwise would assuredly lose
him, since my line would become en-
tangled IN the roots and brush around
the stumps If 1t did not part before he
reached them, so gave my attention
to turning him from his course, and
eventually succeeded and finally land
ed him in the boat, a magnificent black
bass, or fresh water trout as they are
commonly mis-narned here. We caught
a goodly supply Of other fish, braem,
shell crackers. google eyes, fat and
plump and almost as broad as two
hands, and one jack, when 1t was de-
cided we had enough for our purpose,
and thereupon landed under some
shady trees, and prepared our dinner,
each Of US doing our part to this end
and all thoroughly enjoyed the repast
wwFA hG NwTAI eGr n
After few minutes spent in repose
we again embarked, and pulling out
into the river, continued our journey.
As we turned the curve in the river,
one of our number called our attention
to a monstrous gator, lying asleep,
partly submerged in the water which
Tapped over the sand bank upon which
he lay. He was quite ten feet long
and his powerful tail wobbled slowly
from side to side, by the action of the
water.
Our hunter got out his rifle and
taking careful aim, fired upon him,
whether he hit him or not it was i'm
possible to say, but no damage was
perceptible to our eyes, for with a
mighty wiggle he reached deep water
and sank out of sight before another
shot could be fired, leaving minia-
ture whirlpool on the surface of the
water where he had disappeared. We
saw several smaller alligators during
our voyage. but did not modest them,
as they are invulnerable to attack in
any but one or two places of their
bodies, and we did not feel disposed
to come to too close quarters, so con-
n1lr nj n6 I1xy
the harmonious melodies of the forest
and the soothing voice of the murmur-
ing water as it rippled merrily by the
About 80 we decided to go into
camp, and turned our boats prov to-
| ward point on the shore which ap-
peared suitable for our purpose. We
cooked the rest of the fish left from
diner, which we had kept alive in a
small fish boat, with which we were
provided. After an enjoyable supper,
and after washing up in which all
hands turned to, we took out our pipes
and proceeded to mingle the fragrance
of our weed with the perfume OF the
blooms and. flowers surrounding us on
every hand.
For awhile we discussed our en-
joyable trip and then decided to turn
in, intending to make an early start
in the morning. We first however had
to put UP our mosquito netting to pro-
tect ourselves from the attacks Of that
poisonous little insect, which abound
ed here at that time in generous num-
| bers, and so protected, we threw our
selves upon our blankets, and to the
inharmonious croaking of the frogs
in the marsh, and a nocturne of the
various plight birds we fell asleep.
awoke once in the night. The moon
was sailing majectically aloft, throw
ing glorious mellow light over the
face of nature, while mocking bird
perched upon limb high above US,
was streaming its littel throat in a
| grand serenade, to which I again fell
asleep, soothed as by the lullaby OF
a fond mother.
| We were up betimes in the morning,
and oil our boat was missing, and
after a hasty search we discovered her
three or four hundred yards up river
err, on the other side. It was evident
that she had not been securely tied up
the previous evening, and had fioated
UP the river with the incoming tide and
following the current had become
lodged in some bushes on the other
side at which point there was con-
siderable of curve. How to reach
her was now the question, she had
not long left her mornings, for the tide
was still coming up strong. 1t was
decided that the youngest member of
our company, who happened to be my
son, should straddle a log, which was
convenient to hand, push OUT into the
stream, and trust to the current to
carry him to the boat. We watched
his passage with hopeful hearts, the
river was wide, swift and deep at this
point but we had the great satisfaction
of noting that the unwieldly vessel
bearing my son, was heading for our
recreant boat, and which he finally
reached and brought back without fur
Their mishap;
We had intended to catch a mess of
fish for breakfast as all sorts indi-