178 LIFE OP AUDUBON. 



the superb feathered game of the swampy thickets, and with 

 both he comes to offer them for our acceptance. Alas ! thou 

 fallen one, descendant of an ancient line of free-born hunters, 

 would that I could restore to thee thy birthright, thy natural 

 independence, the generous feelings that were once fostered in 

 thy brave bosom ! But the irrevocable deed is done, and I can 

 merely admire the perfect symmetry of his frame, as he dex- 

 terously throws on our deck the trout and turkeys which he has 

 captured. He receives a recompense, and without a smile or 

 bow, or acknowledgment of any kind, off he starts with the 

 speed of an arrow from his own bow. 



"Alligators were extremely abundant, and the heads of the 

 fishes which they had snapped off lay floating around on the dark 

 waters. A rifle bullet was now and then sent through the eye 

 of one of the largest, which, with a tremendous splash of its tail, 

 expired. One morning we saw a monstrous fellow lying on the 

 shore. I was desirous of obtaining him, to make an accurate 

 drawing of his head, and, accompanied by my assistant and two 

 of the sailors, proceeded cautiously towards him. When within 

 a few yards, one of us fired, and sent through his side an ounce 

 ball, which tore open a hole large enough to receive a man's hand. 

 He slowly raised his head, bent himself upwards, opened his huge 

 jaws, swung his tail to and fro, rose on his legs, blew in a fright- 

 ful manner, and fell to the earth. My assistant leaped on shore, 

 and, contrary to my injunctions, caught hold of the animal's 

 tail, when the alligator, awakening from its trance, with a last 

 effort crawled slowly towards the water, and plunged heavily 

 into it. Had he thought of once flourishing his tremendous 

 weapon, there might have been an end of his assailant's life ; 

 but he fortunately went in peace to his grave, where we left 

 him, as the water was too deep. The same morning, another 

 of equal size was observed swimming directly for the bows of 

 our vessel, attracted by the gentle rippling of the water there. 

 One of the officers who had watched him fired, and scattered 

 his brains through the air, when he tumbled and rolled at a 

 fearful rate, blowing all the while most furiously. The river 

 was bloody for yards around, but although the monster passed 

 close by the vessel, we could not secure him, and after a while 

 he sank to the bottom. 



