mp
boy.

Nor was Phil far behind him in seeking a place where he too might be a
witness to Tony's wonderful skill in riding the wild alligator bull.

The baffled saurian, roaring with the pain entailed upon him when the
boy thus thrust both thumbs down into his eyes, still lashed the water
with his sweeping tail, and had started to swim aimlessly about, unable
to see whither he might be heading.

Tony's usually sallow face was aflame with delight. He seemed
"dreadfully tickled," as Larry would say over the splendid opportunity
to show off before his new Northern friends. They knew all about
reading, and the world at large; but neither of them would have dared
thus ride a savage bull 'gator. It was surely Tony's hour!

But presently the huge reptile, driven frantic by pain, made a sudden
lurch, and dived down into the depths of the river, as though hoping in
this way to relieve himself of the terrible enemy that was blinding him.

Amid the foam-crested wavelets Phil saw the swamp boy reappear; and his
heart, which had seemingly risen into his throat, resumed its normal
beating once more.

"Oh! look, there he is again! Bully for Tony; but didn't he do it
fine! Come ashore, Tony, before he gets after you again!" called out
the excited Larry.

Tony was leisurely swimming toward them, his face still wearing that
broad grin.

"Not much danger he do that, I tell yuh," he answered, coolly. "Old
mossback, he get in hole, an' hide a week. Skeer him heap that time.
Know him come out o' swamp. Get him hide yet, yuh see if I don't."

Reaching the dangling rope-end Tony climbed up unassisted, scorning the
helping hand Phil thrust downward. It was as if he desired to show how
differently he might have acted had he been in Larry's place. And that
individual immediately made up his mind that after such a humiliating
experience he would daily practice such useful stunts as climbing a
rope, since there could be no telling when it might come in handy as a
life saving exercise.

Tony, upon reaching the top of the bank, shook himself like a big New
Foundland dog might have done. He had no coat on at the time, nor had
Larry, which proved doubly fortunate, considering their immersion.

And Larry, full of gratitude, insisted on squeezing Tony's hand, while
he poured out boyish congratulations on the wonderful feat he had seen
the other perform. Tony looked greatly pleased. These two chums had
done so much for him that