242 WANDKRINGS IN 



THIRD immediately. They pulled again, and out he 



JOURNEY. * r 



came, "monstrum horrendum, informe." This 



was an interesting moment. I kept my position 

 firmly, with my eye fixed steadfast on him. 



By the time the cayman was within two yards 

 of me, I saw he was in a state of fear and per- 

 turbation ; I instantly dropped the mast, sprung 

 up, and jumped on his back, turning half round 

 as I vaulted, so that I gained my seat with my 

 face in a right position. I immediately seized his 

 fore legs, and, by main force, twisted them on his 

 back ; thus they served me for a bridle. 



He now seemed to have recovered from his 

 surprise, and probably fancying himself in hostile 

 company, he began to plunge furiously, and lashed 

 the sand with his long and powerful tail. I was 

 out of reach of the strokes of it, by being near 

 his head. He continued to plunge and strike, 

 and made my seat very uncomfortable. It must 

 have been a fine sight for an unoccupied spectator. 

 The people roared out in triumph, and were so 

 vociferous, that it was some time before they 

 heard me tell them to pull me and my beast of 

 burden farther in land. I was apprehensive the 

 rope might break, and then there would have 

 been every chance of going down to the regions 

 under water with the cayman. That would have 

 been more perilous than Arion's marine morning 

 ride : 



" Delphini insidens vada caerula sulcat Arion." 



