on us as we pass by."

"No fear of that," answered Uncle Paul. "Alligators, although they
venture out of the water, never go far from it. The creature you see,
large as it looks, is only an iguana, a sort of lizard which lives in
trees; and though it is ugly to look at, it is said to be very good to
eat, so we will try to get the gentleman."

On getting under the tree, we saw what certainly looked like a huge
lizard, about four feet in length, including its long tail. The tree
not being a large one, we shook it, when down came the creature to the
ground. In spite of its rather formidable appearance, Tim dashed boldly
forward and caught it by the neck and the small of the back, and held it
fast. It lashed about very fiercely with its tail, its only weapon of
defence, as its teeth, though numerous, were small. Uncle Paul having
formed a noose, slipped it over the creature's head and told me to hold
it tight while he made another, which he dexterously threw over its
tail. Tim and I then going ahead began to drag it along; and though it
made some resistance, we at length got it to the settlement.

As we knew that Marian would like to see it alive, Uncle Paul went to
call her. The creature, with its huge dewlap, ugly face, long claws,
and row of spines on its back, looked indeed truly formidable. Marian,
who with Arthur and our father soon came, recollecting all about the
alligator, cried out under the idea that it might break loose and attack
us. Just at that moment the after-rope, which Tim was holding loosely,
slipped off the tail of the creature; when finding that member at
liberty, it began to lash about with it on every side. Tim
thoughtlessly rushed forward to seize it; but it gave him a cut on the
leg, which brought him to the ground howling with pain; and had not
Uncle Paul hauled him out of the creature's way, he might have received
a still more serious blow. As it showed an inclination to inflict
further damage, Sambo coming up speedily despatched it by a blow on the
head. Ugly as it looked, he assured us that it would afford us most
delicious food; and at dinnertime we found his prediction amply
fulfilled. We had become so accustomed to eat odd-looking creatures,
that however repulsive the appearance of an animal, we never hesitated
to try it; and we agreed that we should have no objection to eat another
iguana as soon as one could be caught.

Kallolo was our chief hunter; and Arthur and I, when