ABOUT ALLIGATORS.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume 6, Issue 1837, 12 November 1884, Page 2

ABOUT ALLIGATORS.

The passenger, who was going down the big river for the first tinio in his life, secured permission to climb up beside the pilot, a grim old greyback, who never told a lie in his life.

"Many alligators iu tho riverf inquired tLo stranger after ut look around.

" Not so many, now, since they got to shootin' 'qui for their hides and taller," was tlje reply.' " Used to be lots, ql) ]" " I don't want to tell you about 'em, stranger," replied the pilot, sighing heavily.

"Wbyf " 'Cause you'd think I was a-lying to you, and that's sumthin' I never do. I can cheat at keerds, drink whisky, or chaw poor terbackev, bqfc I can't lie,"

" Then there used to be lots of'em V inquired the passenger, " I'm most afraid to tell ye, mister, but I've counted 1100 allygators to the mile from Vicksburg cl'ar down to New Orleans, That was years ago afore a shot was ever fired at 'em,"

"Well, I don't doubt it," replied the stranger. " And I've counted 3456 of 'em on sand bar," continued: tbe pilot. "it looks big to tell, but a Government surveyor was abroad, and he checked 'em off as I called out."

" I haven't the least doubt of it," said the passenger, as be heaved a sigh. " I'm glad o 1 that, stranger. Some fellars would think I was a liar, when I'm telling the solemn truth This used to be a paradise for alligators, and they were so thick that the wheels of tho boat killed an averags of forty-nine to the mile I" "Is that sol"

" True as Gospel, mister I I used to almost feel sorry for the cussed briits, 'cause they'd cry out e'en most like a human being. We killed lots of 'em, as I said, and we hurt a pile more. I sailed with one captain who alius carried a thousand bottles of liniment to throw over the wounded ones 1" "He didf

" True as you live, he did. I don't spect I'll ever see anether such a kind, Christian man. And the alligators got to know the Nanay Jane, and to know Capt. Tom, and they'd swim out and rub their tails again the boat, and purr like oats, and look up and try to smile I" "They would f

" Solemn truth, stranger! And once when we grounded on a bar, with an opposition boat right behind, the alligators gathered around, got under her stern, and jumped her clean, oyer the bar by a grand push! It looks like a big story, but I never told a lie yet, and T never shall; wouldn't lie for all the money-you could put aboard this boat."

There was a painful pause, and after a while the pilot continued, " Our ingines gin out once, arid a :rowd of alligators took a tow line and hauled us forty-five miles up stream to Yicksburg." "They didr " And when the news got along the river that Copt, Tom was dead, every alligator on tho river daubed his left ear with mud as a badge of mournin', and lots of 'cm pined and died." The passenger left the pilot-house with tha remark that he didn't doubt the statement, and the old man gave the wheel a turn and replied. " Thar's only one thing I won't do for love nor raonay, and that's make a liar of myfolf. I whs lining up by a good mother, and I'll stick to the truth it' this boat don't make a cent,"