ALLIGATORS. 
135 
at its aggressor's legs, but as the effort was made 
without any vigour or quickness, the elephant easily 
evaded the intended infliction by actively retreat- 
ing beyond the reach of its dreadful fangs. Care- 
fully avoiding a nearer approach to an enemy who 
it was evident had still the power to do him a se- 
rious mischief, he cautiously advanced towards the 
other alligator which was lying on the bank in an 
almost exhausted state, and on getting close to it, 
coiled up his trunk as before that it might be be- 
yond the reach of harm, then placing his foot upon 
the body of the huge reptile, pressed upon it with 
the whole weight of his own. The creature imme- 
diately opened its mouth to a hideous extent and 
gave a shrill scream ; but though crushed by such a 
weight, it was so tenacious of life, that it was not 
dead when we left the ground, and revived consi- 
derably upon water being thrown over it. The gnash- 
ing of the monster’s jaws, when the elephant trod 
upon it, might I should think have been heard at a 
distance of at least two hundred yards. 
A pariah dog was now fastened by a strong cord 
to this alligator, which immediately took him into 
its mouth, but to our utter astonishment the dog 
soon released himself from his horrible prison, and 
attacking the animal’s nose, bit it so severely that 
the blood copiously flowed. The creature seemed to 
be quite insensible of the infliction, and was mani- 
festly so nearly exhausted as to be almost bereft of 
sensation. To this circumstance must of course be 
attributed the dog’s escape from his perilous con- 
finement. His head, however, was more than once 
