RIDING AN ALLIGATOR.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume 5, Issue 1508, 13 October 1883, Page 4

RIDING AN ALLIGATOR.

I came in my journey to the banks of a river which was crossed by a ford. A train of pack mules was passing, and while waiting my turn I went into tho ferry liouso to escape the heat of the morning sun, Several other gentlemen were there. Presently an Indian came to the door and addressed us in Spanish, saying, • c Would the senores like to seo me ride die alligator?" Handing round his hat, he received with satisfaction gold pieces amounting to nearly live dollars. He placed these in his money-belt, and saying, "I am ready," lead the way. lie then drew out a sharp-pointed knife, and felt it edge as he walked.

The river lay before us, with deep, black water on either side the shallow ford, The opposite bank was steep, and a don at my side remarked that below the water's edge it was dug out in burrows, where the caymans (as they are called in thoso parts) were wont to lie in bad weather tier above tier, Now they were out in full force, spread over the sand on our shore like scaly dogs, Our Indian, a lithe, active fellow, ran lightly up to one of the beasts, and before the astonished animal could recover himself enough to sweep his tail around and dash him down, his enemy was upon his back, and had seated himself directed'behind his fore legs, clasping the body, and holding the knife still in his hand. Kage and fury entered the beast's heart. lie slipped into deep water, and made for his particular place of refuge. Once there, woe 10 his rider! But the dominion given to man over all beasts did not fail now. With a prick of the knife in the creature his rider defeated bis purpose, and he plunged madly around the water basin.

No ride was ever wilder, no circus rider more skilful, than tho clinging Indian in the wild nice than was now begun. Stirring the muddy depths, churning the waves with the greatest commotion, round and round they flew, ever faster and faster, now above, now below the surface. The Indian, cool and wary, by an occasional prod of the knife csused his strange steed to swerve from dangerous points. Which-, ever direction he wished him to take, he pricked him on the opposite side.

When it became evident to our circus-rider that he had given us a fair display of his powers, we saw him watchfully and cautiously prepare to land. And this part of the exploit was most wonderful of all. How to leap in mid-career from the furious creature—this was the task—and it was as admirably executed as any other part of the performance. As they neared our shore, the Indian, having gathered himself up, leaped lightly off, waded to .shore, and came toward us with as much of a smile on his sad countenance as any of his race ever show.

Now downward, swifter than if a thousand spurs were driving him, dived the great creature'to solace himself in tho cool sunless caverns of the river's depths. —ln Harper's Young People,