A TRAGEDY OF THE SEA.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXXVIII, Issue 11644, 4 May 1901, Page 2 (Supplement)

A TRAGEDY OF THE SEA.

THE ALLIGATOR AND HIS PREY. The very next day. a Greek trader came off to the ship accompanied by his son, a boy of shout ten years old. Leaving the youngster in the, canoe, the father came on board and tried to sell some fruit he had brought. We had a raft of mahogany alongside, about 20 huge logs, upon which a half-breed Spaniard was standing, ready to sling such as were pointed out to him by the stevedore-. The boy must needs get out of the canoe and amuse himself by stepping from log to log, delighted 'hugely by the way they bobbed and tumbled about beneath him. Presently a yell from the slings-man brought all hands to the rail on the jump, and there, about 50 yards from the raft, was to be seen the WiHTF. ARM Of TEE EOT limply waving to and fro. while a greasy ripple beneath it showed only "too plainly what horror had overtaken him. The distracted father sprang into the canoe, four men from our ship manned our own boat. and away they went in chase, hopelessly enough, to be sure. Yet. strange to say. the monster did not attempt to go down with his prey. He kept steadily breasting the strong current, easily keeping ahead of his purs icrs, that pitiful arm still waving . * if beckoning them onward to the rescue of its owner. Bo.it after boat from ship.- and shore joined in the pursuit, every man toiling as if possessed by an over-mastering energy and impervious to broiling sun or deadening fatigue. For five miles the chase continued : one by one the boats and canoes gave up as their occupants lost their i...st ounce of energy, until only one canoe still held on. one man still plied ids paddie with an arm that rose and Sell like the piston-rod of a steam engine. It was the bereaved father. At last the encouraging arm disappeared, as the alligator, having reached his lair, disappeared beneath the surface, leaving the river face unruined above him. Quick its a wild duck the solitary FfK.-teil swerved and made for the bank, where a score of his acquaintances met him tendering gourds of agudiente. cigaritos. and such comfort as they could put into -words. He took the nearest gourd and drank deeply of the fiery spirit, accepted a cigarette and lit it- mechanically, but never spoke a word. All the while his eyes were roving restlessly around in search of something. At last they lit upon a coil of line hanging upon a low branch to dry. He rushed toward it. snatched it from its place, and taking his cuchillo from his belt, felt its edge. Then roughly brushing aside all who attempted to hinder him. he boarded his canoe acain. taking no notice of one of his friends who got in after him. Under the pressure of the two paddles they rapidly reared the spot where the beast had sunk". As soon as they reached the place, the silent avenger laid aside his paddie. took one end of the coil in his hand, flinging the other to his companion, slipped overside and vanished. In about two minutes he returned to the surface ghastly, his eyes glaring, and taking a long, lone breath, disappeared again. This time he did not return. When th-j watcher above felt that ALL HOPE WAS GONE h* hauled upon the line as much as he dared. but could not move what it was secured to. Soon, however, boats came to his assistance, and presently extra help raised to the surface the huge armoured body of the manenter, the line being fastened round his hind legs. The bereaved father was clinging to the monster's'throat, one arm thrust between his horrid jaws, and the other hand still clutching the haft of the bowie-knife, whose blade was buried deep in the- leathery folds of the great neck. With bared heads and solemn faces the helpers towed the group ashore, and reverently removing the poor remains of father and sen. buried them deep under a wide-spreading tree.From Frank T. Bullous " Sack of Shavings.'' a collection of sea sketches published by"C. A. Pearson, (Limited).