A plunge, as of one leaping from a high elevation into the pond--a
quick, bold swimmer from the shore--a dark-skinned face, with long black
hair that floats behind it on the water--a breast gleaming with bright
spangles--a body clad in bead-embroidered garments--a man? a boy!
Who is this strange youth that rushes to our rescue?
He is already by our side--by the side of our terrible antagonist. With
all the earnest energy of his look, he utters not a word. He rests one
hand upon the shoulder of the huge lizard, and with a sudden spring
places himself upon its back. A rider could not have leaped more
adroitly to the saddle.
A knife gleams in his uplifted hand. It descends--its blade is buried
in the eye of the alligator!
The roar of the saurian betokens its pain. The earth vibrates with the
sound; the froth flies up under the lashings of its tail, and a cloud of
spray is flung over us. But the monster has now relaxed its gripe, and
I am swimming with my sister to the shore.
A glance backward reveals to me a strange sight--I see the alligator
diving to the bottom with the bold rider upon its back! He is lost--he
is lost!
With painful thoughts, I swim on. I climb out, and place my fainting
sister upon the bank. I again look back.
Joy, joy! the strange youth is once more above the surface, and swimming
freely to the shore. Upon the further side of the pond, the hideous
form is also above water, struggling by the edge--frantic and furious
with the agony of its wounds.
Joy, joy! my sister is unharmed. The floating skirt has saved her;
scarcely a scratch shows upon her delicate limbs; and now in tender
arms, amidst sweet words and looks of kind sympathy, she is borne away
from the scene of her peril.