202 WILD ANIMAL CELEBRITIES 



patience was nearly exhausted, two or three 

 of the travelers went cautiously forward and 

 tried to look into the burrow. But frequent 

 and severe prods from sharp iron stakes are 

 not comfortable even to an alligator with a 

 skin as tough as anything in the world and, 

 after awhile, there appearing to be no way 

 of getting any peace in the burrow, Old Mose 

 decided to go out of it. 



Accordingly, when they were all thinking 

 of giving the big alligator up for that day and 

 trying another burrow, the travelers coming 

 to the conclusion that alligator hunting was 

 very slow sport, there was a sudden rush and 

 flounder, loud shouts from the men who had 

 a tight hold of the end of the noose, and out 

 came Old Mose, only too ready to do any- 

 thing in his power to destroy his tormentors. 

 But it was no use; the noose tightened round 

 his thick throat, his strength went from him 

 with the terrible pressure and loss of breath 

 and, in a very short time, but after a terrific 

 struggle, Old Mose had lost his freedom for 

 life. 



