ism. It may, however, be considered an Irish way
of proceeding, as he would certainly have rendered her more service by
swimming out and supporting her. As soon as I had recovered from my
terror, which for the moment almost deprived me of reason, I leaped into
the current and swam towards her.

Though at first almost paralysed with fear, she had recovered her
presence of mind, and had begun to strike out, so as to support herself
above water. I swam with all my might to overtake her, dreading every
moment lest another alligator should appear and seize one or both of us.
The shouts and cries of the men, however, and the furious disturbance
of the water caused by the monster Tim bestrode, effectually prevented
any other from venturing out of its hiding-place, and therefore I
believe Tim rendered us effectual aid.

Now up the stream, now across from one side to the other, the alligator
and his rider dashed at a tremendous speed. The creature would have
dived had not Tim, exerting all his strength, held back its head, thus
keeping its jaws open, and preventing it from plunging. All this time
Tim had been shouting to Sambo to come and join him on the creature's
back, and to the Indians to shoot at it again; but Sambo, though a brave
fellow, not having been accustomed to steeplechasing in his youth, had
no fancy for such a ride; and the Indians well knew that their arrows
would glance harmlessly off the scaly back of the saurian, or that they
were more likely rather to wound brave Tim himself. Still Tim held on
in a way a practised fox-hunter could alone have done, hitting now on
the monster's jaws, now behind him, and now on its side. It was a
question who would first get tired, the Irishman or the alligator.

Meantime I had got close to Marian, and knowing the importance of
keeping up as much noise as possible, I shouted and shrieked, telling
her to do the same, while Uncle Paul and Arthur were making the most
strenuous efforts with their paddles to reach us. It was important,
indeed, that they should do so, for Marian's strength, overcome by her
terror, was rapidly failing her. I did my utmost to keep her head above
water; for I am very sure had she been alone she must have sunk. The
Indians, seeing Uncle Paul and Arthur coming to our assistance, and
knowing that I was a good swimmer, hastened up the bank with Sambo to
aid Tim: for they saw that should the alligator hold out much longer, he
would be compelled t