CREATURES OF THE WILDERNESS 145 



among the bathers with a terrific commotion, 

 and pandemonium reigned while the lascars 

 squealed and scrambled for the ladder, up 

 which the last of them only just managed to 

 clamber as the alligator snapped its jaws just 

 clear of his feet. Meanwhile the officer was 

 busy emptying the chambers of his revolver all 

 round the brute, which evidently realized that 

 it had been defrauded of its meal, since it 

 lashed the water furiously with its great tail, 

 showing every sign of disappointed rage. 



