THfi SWAMPS OF THE MISSISSIPPI. 115 



was taken up by another monster at that distance, which entitled a man to 

 an additional fifty yards. 



On emerging from a very swampy place, which I had considerable diflBculty 

 in getting through, I observed Daiv coming out of a lagoon at such a rate as 

 convinced me that he had found a burster, (a western term invariably used 

 to express anything beyond the usual standard). As he holloed for me, I 

 went skimming along as if I had been raised in a wigwam. We entered the 

 lagoon together, and on reaching the far side, I found the Alligator em- 

 bedded amongst a quantity of weeds and sword grass, into which his 

 immense weight had partly sunk him, although his head and the greater 

 portion of his tail were quite exposed. We held a council of war as to the 

 best mode of attack. I proposed several things, which Uncle Daiv would 

 not second, informing me that, when the Alligator did start, he would make 

 for the lagoon by the shortest tracks. As this was the only point I could 

 see him from, I was exceedingly unwilling to change my opinion ; nor did I, 

 As no time was to be lost, I suggested that we should get as near to him as 

 possible, for to shoot him with No. 6, at fifteen yards distance, would 

 amount to about the same thing as spitting in his face; and the only plan to 

 accomplish this, was, to run our peroques over the reeds, and up till within 

 five yards of him. This could only be done by my getting into Daiv's canoe, 

 and shoving my own ahead. This was the very thing ; but unfortunately, in 

 making for my own canoe, I sunk up to the waist. Daiv hauled me out 

 immediately by the neck, amidst a frightful storm of snoring and hissing, 

 which the monster had got up out of compliment to me; in my confusion I 

 could not get at my gun, and on searching for my knife (a bowie one, by the 

 way) I found that I had left it amongst the shells. I was all right veiy soon, 

 and as the brute had not shifted his position, I made another attempt to get 

 into my peroque, in which I succeeded. I snatched up my gun, in a second, 

 with the intention of shutting up both his eyes ; but, as I could only see one 

 of them, I sent the whole charge into it, which caused him to raise his 

 head and open his jaws, (to allow me to look down his throat, I suppose), 

 for the hissing and snoring which followed were tremendous. On turning 

 his head and looking my way, an opportunity was aftbrded me of filling tip 

 his other 03*6 ; this was my intention from the first, for I knew very well, 

 that, if I could shut him up, the odds would be in my favour. I loaded 

 again, and gave him two other in the same place; and the wallowing, 

 snoring, hissing, and splashing, was renewed with redoubled fury. It was 

 at this moment that I discovered the great muscular violence of the tail ; he 

 cleared the cane brake like so much chaff around him, showers of which fell 

 about me, and in some of the violent surges which he made with his tail, he 

 brought it completely round to his shoulder, which was veiy far beyond 

 what I considered any such animal capable of doing. I remarked this to 

 some of my foreign acquaintances, -who appeared all perfectly aware of the 



