560 BIG GAME OF NORTH AMERICA. 



the nearest of which fell an easy prey, and turned toes up, 

 one foot moving to and fro in a dreamy sort of way. I soon 

 sculled alongside of him, threw a noose around his neck, 

 took a half-hitch around his jaws to keep them shut, drew 

 his head over the stern of the boat, and with a small knife 

 severed his spinal cord. He was not over eight feet in 

 length, so I easily dragged him aboard. 



Returning to the first ' Gator, I got the rope around his 

 neck and began pulling him up, when he began rolling, thus 

 winding the rope around his body until ray hands were 

 brought against his rough back, when I had to let go, and 

 he went down, and, as the rising bubbles plainly told, was 

 crawling along the bottom. Picking up my striking- pole, 

 to which was attached a lily-iron and long line, I followed 

 the path of bubbles, and when over my game endeavored to 

 plunge it into him; but striking under such conditions is 

 uncertain work, and it was a good half -hour before I made 

 a fortunate throw that buried the iron in his back. Then 

 away we went. I rested from my exertions, while taking a 

 ride at his expense, until, tired out, he sulked at the bottom. 



Being anxious to dispatch him, I punched him with the 

 oar until he, now in fighting humor, came up in good style, 

 with an ugly glare in his eyes, and with open mouth made for 

 the boat. I thrust the pine oar into his mouth, and picked up 

 my rifle. With a snap and a twist, the oar flew through the 

 air, the handle striking against the boat; the 'Gator having 

 broken off a mouthful. He again made for the boat, when, 

 with the muzzle of the rifle within two feet of his head, 

 another bullet met him, and caused his jaws to drop 

 together limp and lifeless. He was eleven feet long, and too 

 heavy to lift aboard; but tying a rope near each end of the 

 boat, and passing the loose ends under the 'Gator, then 

 taking an end in each hand, and standing on the gunwale so 

 as to sink it to the water's level, by heavy hauling on the 

 ropes I rolled him aboard, just as a log is rolled upon a 

 wagon. 



On the way to the landing I killed a third 'Gator, that, 

 from the way in which he allowed me to approach him, 



