k or in a piece of
silk--there was another, in which I was hoping the alligator would hold
on tightly, so that we might get it right out of the hole, and I could
attack and kill it with the pole, so that I could show Morgan and--much
more important--myself that I was not afraid to behave as boldly as the
man who had hold with his hands touching mine.

My last ideas were gratified, for as we hauled together there was
another savage shaking of the pole, which quivered in our grasp; then a
strong drag or two, and we knew by the length of the pole that we must
have the reptile within a yard of the surface, when Morgan looked down
where a bright gleam of the sunlight shot from above.

"All right, Master George," he cried; "this way--over with you!" and
setting the example, he dragged the pole over in the opposite direction
to that in which we had it bent, when I perforce followed with him, and
the next moment we were dragging a great alligator through the wet moss
and black mud, the creature making very little resistance, for it was on
its back, this being the result of Morgan's last movement when he
dragged the pole across the hole.

The shape of the reptile's head and back made our task the more easy,
and we had run with it a good fifty feet before it recovered from its
surprise, loosened its hold of the pole, and began to writhe and thrash
about with its tail as it twisted itself over into its proper position,
in a way that was startling.

"Now, Master George, we've got him. I'll keep him from running back
into his hole; you go and get the rope."

I could not stir for a few moments, but stood watching, as I saw Morgan
raise up the pole, and bring it down bang across the alligator's back,
but without doing it the slightest injury, for the end struck a
half-rotten log, and the pole snapped off a yard above Morgan's hands.

"Never mind! I'll keep him back," roared Morgan, as the reptile kept
facing him, and half turning to strike at him with its tail. "Quick,
lad! The rope--the rope!"

I started off at once, and picked up the rope with its noose all ready,
and then seized my pole as well, too much excited now to think of being
afraid. Then I trotted back to Morgan just as he was having a fierce
fight with the creature, which kept on snapping and turning at him in a
way that, to say the least, was alarming.

"Ah, would you!" Morgan kept crying, as the brute snapped at him, and
he presented the broken pole, upon