back, and splashing and beating the water with all my might
to scare the reptile, I made for the shore.

The distance was only short, but to me then it seemed interminable.

I had only glanced over my shoulder once, to see that the alligator was
in full pursuit, with its open jaws well above the surface, and
evidently gaining upon me fast, as I tore through the water, sending all
I could back over the monster's muzzle; but in those agonised moments
all seemed in vain, as in imagination I felt myself seized, dragged
under, and drowned.

The thought was far too horrible to bear; and, in spite of myself, I
felt that I must turn round and face the brute, to make one brave
struggle for life, and not let it seize me by the leg and drag me down,
when just as I was about to yield to this feeling, and in the act of
turning, my horror culminated, for there was a rush, and a great wave of
water rose from the open patch of reeds on my left, and I knew that a
second enemy had rushed out from its lair and was making for me.

I uttered a hoarse gasp, and began swimming again toward the shore, when
once more a strange sensation ran through me, mingled of horror,
despair, and wonder, as I heard in a hoarse, hollow voice I well knew,
though it sounded strange--

"Oh, oh, Mass' George! Help! Great 'gator, Mass' George--help!"

The cry did not come from the bank, nor from among the trees, but from
close behind me where the first alligator was in full pursuit, and as I
once more ceased swimming, paralysed by wonder, I saw my first pursuer
rise up in a peculiar way in the water, raise its two black paws to its
head, take it off, and dash it at the second alligator, which seized it
on the instant, a second head appearing just above the surface, closing
upon the first with a snap, and then there was a tremendous swirl in the
water, a tail appeared above the surface as the brute dived down, and as
I swam on panting, the surface of the water behind grew calm.

But I was not swimming alone. Pomp's black head was close by me, and
his voice rose in a sobbing howl as, shivering with horror, he kept on--

"Oh, swim fass, Mass' George; swim fass, Mass' George, 'fore de 'gator
catch us. Oh, swim fass, Mass' George; swim fass, Mass' George! 'Fore
de 'gator catch us," till we reached the shore and scrambled out, white
and black, in the blazing sun, the water streaming down us, and both
panting hard and trembling in every limb.

CHAPTER