ALLIGATOES OF LOUISIAl^A AND TEXAS. 279 



After a time, we felt a slif^ht shock upon the line, 

 and then a convulsion which shook the whole boat. 

 Presently it was clear that the prey had swallowed 

 the bait, and then our fisherman, who had in his 

 custody the box which contained the electric tele- 

 graph, connected the wires. The effect was tre- 

 mendous, for, after a terrible shock, we had hurled 

 over our heads the throbbing remains of an enormous 

 alligator, mingled with a rain of water and blood. 

 The battery had done its work, and my friend Dan- 

 tonnet received from every spectator the applause 

 due for having hit his mark. 



Once more was the experiment repeated, and in 

 the evening we returned to Miro's hut to enjoy a 

 young boar-pig roasted whole, with a most savoury 

 stuffing inside. This we enjoyed thoroughly, and 

 also a stew, or gumbo, made of all sorts of materials, 

 game, fish, fowl, meat, &c., with all manner of spice 

 and flavours ; and when the hour of repose arrived 

 Miro pointed out to us two hammocks which were 

 slung beneath the trees, and in which we slept the 

 sleep of the just. 



Next morning, at day-break, we returned to New 

 Orleans, and that very evening Dantonnet's fiddle- 

 stick was as active as ever. 



