KILLING THE ALLIGATOR. 127 



A most strenuous contest immediately ensued ; the 

 man with the spear holding it in the sand as 

 firmly as his strength allowed him, and clinging 

 to it as it became necessary to shift his position 

 with the agility of a monkey ; while his companion 

 occasionally ran in as opportunity offered, and 

 with much dexterity gave the animal a thrust 

 with his long knife, retreating at the same mo- 

 ment from within reach of its capacious jaws as 

 it whirled round upon the extraordinary pivot 

 which his companion had so successfully placed 

 in its tail. The battle lasted about half an hour, 

 terminating in the slaughter of the alligator, and 

 the triumph of his conquerors, who were not long 

 in cutting him into pieces and loading their 

 canoes with his flesh, which they immediately 

 carried to the shore and retailed to their country- 

 men. It is evident that the success of this plan 

 depended on the nerve and dexterity of the man 

 who pinned the animal's tail to the ground ; and 

 his contortions and struggles to keep his position 

 were highly ridiculous and entertaining. 



On the 5th of December, Mr. Lander, accom- 

 panied by Captain Hill, went on shore to inform 

 the king of our intention to leave him on the fol- 

 lowing morning; but after a fruitless attempt to 



