THE CAMP FERE. 37 



one of the many banks of Alabama on the Gulf coast, and 

 whose plantation was intersected by several little creeks. 

 One of these inlets was quite near the house, and the 

 morning after my arrival, while dressing at my window, 

 I saw a large alligator crawl out of the water and settle 

 himself down on the grassy bank on the other side of this 

 creek. Between the house and the creek was a rice 

 field, and the rice bank built along this inlet intercepted 

 all view except from the upper part of the house, so I 

 would have an easy approach. 



Immediately I seized my double-barrel shot gun, and 

 loaded it with the heaviest size shot I could find in my 

 room, descended the stairs, and made my way across the 

 rice-field to the rice bank, and there lay my prize on the 

 other side of the creek, wholly unconscious of his fate. 

 He was a huge beast, with scales glistening in the rising 

 sun, and his big yellow eye shining like a golden pippin. 

 After a moment's survey and a mental congratulation 

 that there was a creek separating me from the monster, 

 I took aim at the largest part of his body and fired. I 

 heard a splash in the w r ater, and when the smoke cleared 

 away the waves showed me the spot where my friend had 

 disappeared, and after waiting some time to see if he 

 would float ashore dead, I gave it up and went back 

 discomfited. As I entered the house I saw a dozen 

 grinning rows of teeth at the kitchen window, and was 

 thus made aware that the negroes were enjoying the 

 spectacle of my skill in hunting. 



At breakfast my friends questioned me about my shot, 



^86753 



