BRUNO 63 



a whole flock of geese, the while snapping at 

 him with his teeth and striking at him with 

 his tail, which he had a most astonishing way 

 of flourishing around. 



When the steak was cut the meat looked 

 white and fine-grained, like the more delicate 

 kinds of fish. When cooked it was very invit- 

 ing, being a compromise between fish and the 

 white meat of domestic fowls. 



We enjoyed it very much and were loud in 

 our praises of alligator steak, but we did n't 

 want any more ! 



I cooked the rest of it for Bruno, and he ate 

 one more meal of it ; then he struck. We 

 have since heard that most people who try 

 alligator steak have the same experience. A 

 first meal is thoroughly enjoyed, but one not 

 brought up on such a diet never gets beyond the 

 second. It is a useful article of food in southern 

 camp-life, because it makes the campers go back 

 to bacon and beans with renewed relish. The 

 same may be said of roast 'possum and stewed 

 gopher, that is, for the human campers. 



Just before our house was ready for us, while 

 we were still living in the little shanty, I noticed 

 one night when Julius came in that he was 

 empty-handed. He had been in the habit of 



