The hounds had fallen into the water--one dead, the other badly wounded.
The latter could not have escaped, as one of his legs had been struck
by the bullet, and his efforts to swim were but the throes of
desperation. In a few minutes he must have gone to the bottom; but it
was not his fate to die by drowning. It was predestined that his
howling should be brought to a termination in a far different manner.
The voice of the dog is music to the ear of the alligator. Of all other
animals, this is the favourite prey of the great saurian; and the howl
of hound or cur will attract him from any distance where it may be
heard.
Naturalists have endeavoured to explain this in a different way. They
say--and such is the fact--that the howling of a dog bears a resemblance
to the voice of the young alligator, and that the old ones are attracted
towards the spot where it is heard--the mother to protect it, and the
male parent to devour it!
This is a disputed point in natural history; but there can be no dispute
that the alligator eagerly preys upon the dog whenever an opportunity
offers--seizing the canine victim in his terrible jaws, and carrying it
off to his aqueous retreat. This he does with an air of such earnest
avidity, as to leave no doubt but that he esteems the dog a favourite
morsel.
I was not surprised, then, to see half-a-dozen of these gigantic
reptiles emerging from amid the dark tree-trunks, and hastily swimming
towards the wounded hound.
The continued howling of the latter guided them; and in a few seconds
they had surrounded the spot where he struggled, and were dashing
forward upon their victim.
A shoal of sharks could not have finished him more expeditiously. A
blow from the tail of one silenced his howling--three or four pair of
gaunt jaws closed upon him at the same time--a short scuffle ensued--
then the long bony heads separated, and the huge reptiles were seen
swimming off again--each with a morsel in his teeth. A few bubbles and
blotches of red froth mottling the inky surface of the water, were all
that remained where the hound had lately been plunging.
Almost a similar scene occurred on the opposite side of the log--for the
water was but a few feet in depth, and the dead hound was visible as he
lay at the bottom. Several of the reptiles approaching on that side,
had seen this one at the same time, and, rushing forward, they served
him precisely as his companion had been served by the others. A crumb
of bread could not have disappeared sooner among a shoal of hungry
minnows, than did the brace of deer-hounds down the throats of these
ravenous reptiles.
Singular as was the incident, it had scarce drawn my notice. I had far
other things to think of.
After firing the pistol, I remained standing upon the tree, with my eyes
fixed in the direction whence came the hounds.
I gazed intently among the tree-trunks, away up the dark vistas of the
forest, I watched the cane-brake, to note the slightest motion in the
reeds. I listened to every sound, while I stood silent myself, and
enjoined silence upon my trembling companion.
I had but little hope then. There would be more dogs, no doubt--slower
hounds following in the distance--and with them the mounted man-hunters.
They could not be far behind--they could not fail to come up soon--the
sooner that the report of my pistol would guide them to the spot. It
would be of no use making opposition to a crowd of angry men. I could
do nothing else than surrender to them.
My companion entreated me to this course; abjured me not to use my
weapons--for I now held the second pistol in my hand. But I had no
intention of using them should the crowd of men come up; I had only
taken out the pistol as a precaution against the attack of the dogs--
should any more appear.
For a good while I heard no sounds from the forest, and saw no signs of
our pursuers. What could be detaining them? Perhaps the crossing of
the bayou; or the tract of marsh. I knew the horsemen must there leave
the trail; but were they all mounted?
I began to hope that Gabriel might yet be in time. If he had not heard
the signal-whistle, he must have heard the reports of my pistol? But,
on second thoughts, that might only keep him back. He would not
understand the firing, and might fear to come with the pirogue!
Perhaps he had heard the first signal, and was now on his way. It was
not too late to entertain such a supposition. Notwithstanding what had
passed, we had been yet but a short while upon the spot. If on the way,
he might think the shots were fired from my double-barrelled gun--fired
at some game. He might not be deterred. There was still a hope he
might come in time. If so, we would be able to reach his tree-cave in
safety.
There was no trace of the dogs, save a blotch or two of blood upon the
rough bark of the log, and that was not visible from the shore. Unless
there were other dogs to guide them to the spot, the men might not in
the darkness so easily discover these marks. We might yet baffle them!
With fresh hope I turned once more towards the water, and gazed in the
direction in which I expected the pirogue to come. Alas! there was no
sign of it. No sound came from the lake save the wild calling of the
affrighted birds.