284 THRILLING ADVENTURES. 



went on board his light canoe, and put out a short distance 

 from the shore, while we remained in the hut watching his 

 proceedings with great interest and curiosity. At a venture, 

 he threw the pig into the river, and scarcely a minute had 

 elapsed, ere a pair of enormous, widely extended jaws rose 

 above the surface, and quickly disappeared with the treache- 

 rous prize. The fisherman took advantage of this moment, 

 to fasten the end of the rope to his canoe, and, also, to attach 

 his two lances by ropes to the boat. The voracious animal 

 soon devoured his booty, and drew the boat, which of course, 

 followed his every movement, first to one side of the river, 

 and then to the other, always seeking for the deepest water. 

 The rope being continually drawn tighter and tighter, the 

 alligator darted with great violence above the surface, where- 

 upon the negro vigorously thrust the lance at his head, and 

 the monster again dived. Certain of approaching victory, 

 he stood calmly with uplifted lance, watching for an oppor- 

 tunity of throwing it again, whenever his adversary might 

 rise above the surface. We were much astonished at the 

 man's patient assiduity, for there was once a pause of half 

 an hour, during which the animal did not appear, but as he 

 gradually became weaker, he rose more frequently, and at 

 last always with his jaws wide open. The numerous wounds 

 inflicted by the lance, and consequent loss of blood, so com- 

 pletely exhausted the poor alligator, that he had great diffi- 

 culty in drawing the boat after him ; but suddenly collecting 

 his remaining strength, he pulled the boat on one side with 

 such violence, that the fisherman fell into the water. In an 

 instant he dexterously flung himself into the boat, and con- 

 tinued to strike his antagonist with the harpoon. The combat 

 lasted nearly an hour and a half, when the alligator yielded, 

 without resistance, to the superior force of the negro, who 

 gradually brought his boat alongside of us, and then suddenly 

 leaping on shore, fastened the rope to a cocoa-palm in front 

 of his hut. He then fearlessly approached the animal, which 



