gun were loaded, but one only contained a charge of powder,
which surprised them.

"What do you suppose he was going to do with only a charge of powder?"
asked Mark, when this discovery was made.

"I've no idea," answered the captain; "perhaps he forgot the shot, or
hadn't any left."

When they reached home with the big alligator, the whole household came
out to look at it, and Mrs. Elmer and Ruth shuddered when they saw the
monster that had so nearly dragged the boy into the river.

"Oh, Mark!" exclaimed Ruth, "just think if you hadn't come along just
then."

"How merciful that your father thought of taking the rifle!" said Mrs.
Elmer. "I don't suppose we could keep it for Mr. Elmer to see, could
we?" she asked of Captain Johnson.

"Oh no, ma'am, not in this warm weather," answered the captain; "but we
can cut off the head and bury it, and in two or three weeks you will
have a nice skull to keep as a memento."

"And what will you do with the body?"

"Why, throw it into the river, I suppose," answered the captain.

"Wouldn't it be better to bury it too?"

"Hi! Miss Elmer; yo' sho'ly wouldn't tink of doin' dat ar?" exclaimed
Aunt Chloe, who had by this time become a fixture in the Elmer
household, and had come out with the rest to see the alligator.

"Why not, Chloe?" asked Mrs. Elmer, in surprise.

"'Kase ef you's putten um in de groun', how's Marse Tukky Buzzard gwine
git um? Can't nebber hab no luck ef you cheat Marse Tukky Buzzard dat
ar way."

"That's another of the colored folks' superstitions," said Captain
Johnson. "They believe that if you bury any dead animal so that the
turkey buzzards can't get at it, they'll bring you bad luck."

"'Taint no 'stition, nuther. Hit's a pop sho' fac', dat's what!"
muttered Aunt Chloe, angrily, as she walked off towards the house.

So the head of the alligator was cut off and buried, and the body
disappeared, though whether it was buried or served to make a meal for
the buzzards no one seemed exactly to know.

That afternoon Captain Johnson went off down the river with his
lighter, saying that he could always be found at St. Mark's when
wanted, and Mark and Jan went into the woods to look for cedar
fence-posts.

After the day's work was finished, and the family were gathered in the
sitting-room for the evening, Mark had a long and earnest conversation
with his mother and Ruth. At its close Mrs. Elmer said, "Well, my son,
wait until we hear what your father