rboard when
discovered," returned Frank.

"And swam across to the other side. He was followed by a 'gator, that
might have got him, too, only for our chum, Bluff, here, giving the
reptile a shot," proceeded Jerry; while aside he said: "Get busy, Will,
with that shebang of yours. Now's your chance to snap him off!"

"What's that, suh? If anybody tries to snap me off they're sure liable
tuh get punctured some!" exclaimed the sheriff, whose ears were as keen
as his eyes.

Frank laughed as he said:

"He means with a camera, Mr. Sheriff. My friend was sorry he didn't get
your picture before, that's all. But if you want to cross over we can let
you use our little dinghy here."

"Now, that's very considerate o' yuh, suh. I accept with pleasure, and
when we round that rapscallion up, as we surely will before callin' the
game off, yuh can have the satisfaction of knowing yuh hev helped the
forces of law an' order, suh, to put an end tuh the career o' a most
notorious rascal. I neglected tuh tell yuh before that this Bob Young is
wanted fo' many crimes."

Frank tied a long rope to the dinghy, so that after the sheriff and his
men and dogs were well over he could pull the boat back again. The dogs
swam across, and the three men filled the small craft so full that there
was danger of its capsizing.

However, they managed to get over in safety, and Will took a fine view of
the strange ferry, with the dogs swimming alongside, while they were in
midstream. The sheriff was so obliging as to actually pose for the
picture.

"Heah's yuh 'gator over on the bank, suh. He must have crawled out to
die, a most unusual thing for the varmints to do, as they generally sink
like a rock, tuh stay down fo' several days!" he called out.

Then the posse vanished on the fresh trail of the desperado.

"I rather think they'll get Bob," ventured Frank. "That sheriff is a
determined man, and he's enlisted in this hunt for keeps. How about going
over to view the remains, Bluff?" he asked as he pulled the dinghy in.

"That's just what I was about to propose. My first 'gator, so perhaps I'd
like to get his hide, if possible, or some of his teeth, anyway,"
returned the other, getting into the small boat with Frank.

Sure enough, they found a dead alligator up on the bank. The load of
shot, fired at such a short distance, must have gone pretty much like a
bullet. Some of them had entered his protuberant eyes, and by accident
must have pierced his