ALLIGATOR-SHOOTING IX FLORIDA. 557 



fidently toward his 'Gatorship, now lying toes up. When 

 within a few yards of him, he suddenly began a series of 

 revolutions that would have done credit to an acrobat, and 

 as he turned the top of his head, displayed a hole as large 

 as an orange, where the bullet had knocked out a bone. 



In his struggles, he came within reach of my club, when 

 I dealt him a blow that I expected would finish him; but 

 the green pine proved too springy to be effective, as it only 

 called his attention to my presence, and, with a stroke of 

 his tail, he shot toward me. Not having time to retreat, or 

 even to raise my club, I quickly stuck the end of it into the 

 hole in his skull, and thus keeping him at a short distance, 

 began backing toward shore. 



Time and again he freed himself from the end of my 

 club, and each time advanced to the attack, but only to 

 again realize the point of my protest in the sharp end of 

 the sapling firmly inserted in his sore spot. 



Thus remonstrating, I finally reached shore, where I 

 expected him to give up the attack; but no, his blood was 

 up, and in spite of the blows that I rained upon liim with 

 the springy sapling, he followed me a couple of rods on 

 land, when, by a quick grasp, he got my pole in his mouth, 

 and by rolling rapidly over in the mud, twisted it from me. 

 I soon regained it, however, and belabored him so severely 

 that he turned and ran to the water. Having 'begun to look 

 upon his skin as belonging to me, I did not like the pros- 

 pect of losing it, and so grasping" the end of his tail as he 

 was entering the water, a struggle ensued that fanned me 

 around pretty lively, and frequently landed me in the mud; 

 but he finally became exhausted, and taking advantage of 

 a passive moment, I dragged him back, and beat him u ntil 

 he was stunned; then, turning him over, used a knife on 

 him in a way that I thought would be effectual. After 

 regaining my breath, I measured him, and found him to be 

 eight feet in length. 



On returning to the boat, I saw W — fast asleep, with 

 fisliing-line in hand. In response to my excited calling, he 

 jumped up, grasped the oars, and began making earnest 



