ADVENTURES IN LOUISIANA. 179 



"What is the matter?" asked I. 



"^N~ot much the matter," he replied, drawing his 

 knife from its sheath. " Only an alligator : there it 

 is again." 



And in the place of the log, which had disappeared, 

 the jaws of a huge alligator gaped before us. I 

 raised my gun to my shoulder. The Yankee seized 

 my arm. 



" Don't fire," whispered he ; " don't fire so long as 

 you can help it. We ain't alone here. This will do 

 as well," he added, as he stooped down and drove his 

 long knife into the alligator's eye. The monster gave 

 a frightful howl, and lashed violently with its tail, be- 

 sprinkling us with the black slimy mud of the swamp. 



" Take that ! " said the squatter with a grim smile, 

 " and that, and that ! " stabbing the brute repeatedly 

 between the neck and the ribs, while it writhed and 

 snapped furiously at him. Then wiping his knife, 

 he stuck it in his belt, and looked keenly and cau- 

 tiously around him. 



" I've a notion there must be a tree-trunk here- 

 away ; it ain't the first time I've followed this track. 

 There it is, but a good six foot off." And so saying, 

 he gave a spring, and alighted in safety on the 

 stepping-place. 



" Have a care, man," cried I. " There is water 

 there. I see it glitter." 



"Pho, water! What you call water is snakes. 

 Come on." 



