THE STORY OF THE CROCODILE . 
321 
on his knee and left hand, holds out as a bait his right hand, which grasps 
the double-pointed stick. The alligator opens its jaws and shuts them vio¬ 
lently on the hand; but finding itself caught, makes in all haste for the river. 
The negro holds on till the alligator, unable to close its mouth, drowns. 
On our voyage up the Amazon we halted, from time to time, when we 
came in sight of a good place for fishing. It was generally the mouth of 
some branch, or one of the numerous shallows. We had no> difficulty in 
finding the spot, no need even to ask a native. The flocks of snowy herons, 
ranged like sentries, or the abundance of long alligators about the spot, 
announced not only this fact, but the intention of their presence there. 
Although Indian women are sometimes snapped up by these uncouth 
monsters, the Indian men scarcely heed them, entering the water to fish and 
bathe, as though there was not the least danger, and as though there were 
no such thing in the world as the tail or tooth of a jacare. 
In fact the danger was on their side. Our stock of alligator meat was 
just out, and one of the Canichanas asked leave to have some sport and 
lay in a stock. Of course we always gave permission, as it kept up their 
spirits, and saved us from a drain on our stock of provisions. 
