e, I saw that the boat would go
through the narrower one--the swifter evidently; and at the same moment
a pile of wood and dead rubbish on the sandspit ceased to obstruct the
view, and to my horror I saw that the little long islet, whose sands
were only just above the level of the water, was occupied by a group of
seven or eight alligators, the nearest being a monster, the rest varying
to the smallest, which was not above three feet long.

I involuntarily ceased rowing and Pomp did the same, just as we were
entering the narrow channel, and so close to the sandspit, that the
blade of the boy's oar held ready for the next dip swept over the sand.

Pomp was gazing in the other direction, scanning the river-bank; and as
I saw what was about to happen, I said in a quick whisper--

"Look out!"

Almost as I spoke, the blade of Pomp's oar swept over the rugged horny
coat of the largest alligator, which, like the rest, was sleeping in the
hot sunshine perfectly ignorant of our near approach.

The effect was instantaneous. As the boy turned sharply round to look
out, the great reptile sprang up, opened its huge jaws, and made a snap
at the oar-blade, whisked round its tail, striking the boat, and then
made a series of plunges to reach the water on the other side, its
actions alarming the rest, which on their retreat made the sandspit seem
alive, and the water splash and foam; while Pomp uttered a yell of
horror, loosed his hold of his oar, and dived down into the boat, to
rise again and stare over the stern as soon as I told him the danger was
past.

It was all the work of a few moments, during which I was startled
enough, especially when I saw the gaping jaws of the great reptile, and
heard the snap it made at the oar-blade; but we were going swiftly by,
and mingled with the terror there was something so comic in Pomp's
actions, that in the reaction I began to laugh.

This brought Pomp's face round directly, and his reproachful black eyes
seemed to ask me what I could see to laugh at.

"Come," I said, "you can't tell me I was playing tricks then.--Why,
Pomp, your oar's overboard," I cried as I realised that fact.

"Yes, Mass' George. Dat great 'gator 'wallow um."

"Nonsense!" I cried, as I tried to check the progress of the boat on
catching sight of the oar gliding swiftly down stream twenty yards away.
"There it is. Wait till it comes close. I'll try and manage to get
you near it."

"Dah it am! Whah?"

"The