Page:Ornithological biography, or an account of the habits of the birds of the United States of America, vol 2.djvu/330

294 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 tremen- dous weapon there might have been an end of his assailant's life, but he for- tunately 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 swim- ming directly for the bows of our vessel, attracted by the gentle ripphng of the water there. One of the officers, who had watched him, fired and scattered his brain through the air, when he tumbled and rolled at a fear- ful 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 secui-e him, and after a while he sunk to the bottom. Early one morning I hired a boat and two men, with the view of re- turning to St Augustine by a short cut. Our baggage being placed on board, I bade adieu to the officers, and off we started. About four in the afternoon we arrived at the short cut, forty miles distant from our point of departure, and where we had expected to procure a waggon, but were disappointed. So we laid our things on the bank, and, leaving one of my assistants to look after them, I set out, accompanied by the other, and my Newfoundland dog. We had eighteen miles to go ; and as the sun was only two hours high, we struck oft' at a good rate. Presently we entered a pine barren. The country was as level as a floor; our path, although narrow, was well beaten, having been used by the Semi- nole Indians for ages, and the weather was calm and beautiful. Now and then a rivulet occurred, from which we quenched our thirst, while the magnolias and other flowering plants on its banks relieved the dull uni- formity of the woods. When the path separated into two branches, both seemingly leading the same way, I would follow one, while my companion took the other, and unless we met again in a short time, one of us would go across the intervening forest.

The sun went down behind a cloud, and the south-east breeze that sprung up at this moment, sounded dolefully among the tall pines. Along the eastern horizon lay a bed of black vapour, which gradually rose, and soon covered the heavens. The air felt hot and oppressive, and we knew that a tempest was approaching. Plato was now our guide, the white spots on his skin being the only objects that we could discern amid the darkness, and as if aware of his utility in this respect,