30 WILD 8POET8 IN THE SOUTH. 



And now that I am listening I hear them on every side 

 zee-zee-zeeing all around me, and every moment taking 

 a nip. Oh, I see how it is ! I forgot to light my pipe. 

 There are Poke and Mike in undisturbed dreams of 

 tobacco and glory, smiling faintly at my convulsive slaps. 

 Now my pipe is lighted no more nips, blessed pipe. 

 Why are mosquitoes created ; and what do they feed on 

 when they can't get blood ? Please answer me an oft- 

 repeated thought, sage frequenters in Southern swamps. 



" Charlie, do you know what an alligator is ?" drawled 

 out the Doctor, after he saw me fairly roused to the com- 

 fort of the pipe. 



" No, do you ?" I replied. 



" Not precisely, but I came very near knowing to-day. 

 I was stooping to gather a strange flower on the bank of 

 the river, when the earth caved in with me, and let me 

 down with a fearful thump upon an old alligator that was 

 sunning himself beneath. He gave a snort, and plunged 

 into the river, and if he was half as frightened as I, he 

 will never come ashore again." 



*' Pooh, man ! why didn't you take him by the legs 

 and lay him over on his back ?" 



"Oh, I hadn't the time ; he wouldn't wait." 



" Doctor Poke was up the bank before the alligator 

 could see him," said Mike, in a low quizzical voice. 



" Oh Poke ! for shame, to decline a fair fight!" said I. 



"Who wants to fight with such a huge dragon? 

 Not you, I warrant !" 



" Whar your pup alligators ?" said Mike to the Doctor. 



