The Boy Hunters Part 5

"Just so. The males went to devour the young, as they thought, and the females followed to protect them. Great battles are often fought between the males and females on this account."

"But how is it, Luce," inquired Francois, "how is it they can catch fish that appear so much swifter than themselves?"

"Very few kinds of fish are swifter. The alligator, by means of his webbed feet, and particularly his flat tail--which acts on the principle of a stern-oar to a boat, and a rudder as well--can pa.s.s through the water as swiftly as most of the finny tribe. It is not by hunting it down, however, but by stratagem, that the alligator secures a fish for his maw."

"By what stratagem?"

"You have often noticed them floating on the surface of the water, bent into a sort of semicircular shape, and without moving either body or limb?"

"Yes--yes; I have noticed it many a time."

"Well, if you could have looked under the water then, you would have seen a fish somewhere upon the convex side of the semicircle. The fish would be at rest--no doubt, watching the surface for his own prey: such flies or beetles as might come along. Thus occupied, he does not heed the great dusky ma.s.s that is gliding slowly towards him, and which presents no threatening appearance--for the head of the alligator is at this time turned away from his intended victim. Although apparently asleep, the alligator knows what he is about well enough. He floats silently on, until he has got the fish within sweep of his great tail, that is all the while bent like a bow; and then, taking sure aim, he strikes the unconscious prey a `slap' that kills it at once--sometimes throwing it directly into his jaws, and sometimes flinging it several feet out of the water!

"When on land the alligator strikes his prey in a similar manner. As he gives the blow, his head turns so as to meet the tail half-way--the whole body thus forming a semicircle. Should the prey not be killed by the blow of the tail, it is flung right into the jaws of the monster, where it is sure to be despatched in a trice."

"But, brother," inquired Basil, "why do the alligators eat stones and such substances? I have seen one that was opened, and his stomach was nearly quarter full of stones as big as my fist, and pieces of sticks and gla.s.s. They looked as if they had been there a long time, for the sharp edges were worn off. This I never could understand."

"No wonder, for wiser naturalists than we do not know the reason of this. Some think it is upon the same principle, and for the same reason, that birds and other creatures swallow gravel and earth--to a.s.sist the process of digestion. Others have affirmed that it is for the purpose of distending the stomach, so as to enable the reptile to bear his long fast while torpid during the winter. This latter reason I look upon as very absurd, and worthy only of the fabulous Buffon. For my part, I believe that the rubbish usually found in the alligator's stomach is collected there by accident--swallowed, from time to time, by mistake, or along with his prey; for his organs of taste are far from being delicate, and he will devour anything that is flung into the water, even a gla.s.s bottle. These substances, of course, remain in his stomach--perhaps acc.u.mulating there during his whole lifetime--and as, like most reptiles, his stomach being very strong, they do him little, if any, injury. We must not judge of an alligator's stomach as we would that of a human being; nor, indeed, of any of his organs. If our brain is seriously injured, we die; but an alligator's brain may be altogether removed, even in the most violent manner, and the animal will crawl off and live for days after. Instances have been known of alligators having had their brains blown out by a shot, and yet for hours after they would give battle to any one who might approach them. Their brain, like that of all reptiles, is exceedingly small--proving them lower in the scale of intelligence than birds and mammals."

"But, Lucien, you tell us that the habits of the crocodile family are alike, or nearly so: how comes it that the African crocodiles are so much more fierce, as we have heard, often attacking and devouring the natives of Senegal and the Upper Nile? Our alligators are not so. It is true they sometimes bite the legs of our negroes; and we have heard also of some boys who have been killed by them; but this was when through negligence they came in the animals' way. They do not attack one if they are left alone. We, for instance, are not a bit afraid to approach them with only a stick in our hands."

"That is, because we feel certain they are too clumsy on land to get at us, as we can easily leap out of the reach of their tails and jaws. How would you like to swim across that bayou at this moment? I dare say you would not venture it."

"Not a bit of it--you are right there."

"And if you did, you would, in all probability, be attacked before you could reach the opposite sh.o.r.e. But our alligators are not now what they were an hundred years ago. We know, from the best authority, that they were then much more fierce and dangerous, and often attacked men without provocation. They have grown afraid of _us_, because they know that we are dangerous to them; and they can easily distinguish our upright form and shape from those of other animals. Look how they have been hunted by men during the mania for alligator-leather, and see how many of them are still killed for their oil and tails. It is quite natural, then, they should fear us; and you may notice they are much more timid near the plantations and settlements than in the wilder parts. I have no doubt--and I have so heard it--that there are places in the great swamps where they are still dangerous to approach. Those who a.s.sert that the African crocodiles are more fierce, do not draw their conclusions from facts. The caimans of South America--and these are alligators--are quite as fierce as the crocodiles. I have read many accounts of their attacking the natives of Guiana and Brazil, and devouring them, too. Much of this is fabulous, no doubt; but there are some stories of the kind well authenticated, and I have heard one which I am certain is true. I shall relate it, if you desire, though it is a very horrible and very melancholy tale, and I could well wish it had not been true."

"Oh! tell it--tell it us," cried Francois. "We can bear the narrative; neither Basil nor I have weak nerves. Have we, Basil?"

"No," replied Basil. "I guess we can stand it, Frank. Go on, Luce."

"Very well, then," said Lucien, "I shall give it, as it is not long, and is therefore not likely to weary you."

CHAPTER NINE.

THE INDIAN MOTHER AND CAIMAN.

"There is, perhaps, no part of America where the alligators grow to a greater size, and are more fierce in their nature, than upon the Magdalena, and other great rivers that run into it. These rivers flow through a low country within the tropics; their climate is of the hottest kind, and consequently most suitable to the development of the great reptiles. The indolent character of the natives, too-- half-Indian, half-Spanish--prevents them from attacking and destroying these creatures with that energy that is exhibited by the inhabitants of our own country. The consequence is, that the animals in their turn are less afraid of man, and often make him their prey. The alligators of the Magdalena--or `caimans,' as they are there called--frequently destroy natives, who by any unlucky accident may have fallen into the waters frequented by them. Not unfrequently the boatmen (_bogadores_) who navigate the river Magdalena in their _bogas_, or flat boats, drop overboard, and become the prey of the caimans, as sailors on the ocean do of sharks. These boatmen sometimes carry rifles, for the purpose of shooting the caimans; yet there are but few destroyed in this way, as the bogadores are too much occupied in navigating their crafts; and, moreover, it is a very difficult thing to kill an alligator by a shot.

You can only do it by sending the bullet into his eye, as the rest of his body is impervious even to a musket-ball. Of course, to hit one in the eye requires a sure aim, and a good opportunity when the animal is lying still upon the bank or on the water. When out of the water a caiman may be shot in the soft elastic skin behind the fore-shoulder; but this is a very uncertain method of killing one; and several shots fired into his body at this part will often fail to prove fatal.

Sometimes the natives of the Magdalena catch the caimans with la.s.sos; and after dragging them upon the bank, despatch them with axes and spears. Notwithstanding this, the caimans swarm upon these rivers, and are seldom molested by the inhabitants, except at intervals when some horrid tragedy happens--when some unfortunate victim has been s.n.a.t.c.hed off by them, torn in pieces, and devoured. When this occurs, the people, sympathising with the distress of their neighbour, awake from their habitual apathy, collect together, and destroy great numbers of these hideous reptiles. The story I have promised you ill.u.s.trates an affair of this kind.

"A _vaquero_ (cattle-herd) lived upon the Magdalena, some miles above the city of New Carthagena. His palm-thatched _rancho_, or cottage, stood at a little distance from the bank of the river, at a point where it was much infested by caimans--as the country around was wild and thinly settled. The vaquero had a wife and one child, a daughter--who was about six or seven years old; and being a pretty little girl, and the only one, she was of course very dear to both the parents.

"The vaquero was often absent from home--his business with his cattle carrying him to a great distance into the woods. But his wife thought nothing of being thus left alone. She was an Indian woman, and used to dangers, such as would terrify the females that live in great cities.

"One day when her husband was absent as usual, looking after his cattle, this woman took some clothes to the river bank for the purpose of was.h.i.+ng them. The river was the only water near the rancho; and by thus carrying the clothes to it, she saved herself the trouble of fetching the water a good way; besides, there was a broad, smooth stone by the bank, where she was accustomed to beat out her linen. Her little daughter accompanied her, carrying one of the bundles.

"On reaching the spot, the woman filled her vessels with water, and commenced her work; while the child, having nothing else to occupy her, began to gather some ripe guavas, plucking them from a tree that grew out from the bank, and hung somewhat over the river. While the Indian mother was thus engaged, she was startled by a wild scream and a plunge, that were heard almost together; and, on looking round, she saw her child just sinking in the water. At the same time, she beheld a hideous object--a huge caiman--making for the spot! Filled with horror, the woman dropped her linen, and rushed out upon the bank. She did not hesitate a moment, but plunged into the river, which buried her to the neck. At that moment the child rose again to the surface. The mother seized her by the arms; and was about raising her out of the water, when the caiman swept forward open-mouthed, caught the limbs of the little girl, and with one crunch of his powerful jaws severed them from the body! The little girl screamed again; but it was her last scream. When the mother struggled to the sh.o.r.e, and laid the mutilated body upon the bank, the child had ceased to breathe.

"For some moments sat the wretched mother, gazing upon the still quivering remains. At intervals, she stooped down and kissed the pale, withering lips. She did not weep. I have said she was an Indian. They do not act as whites do; but, anyhow, her anguish was too keen to allow her tears to flow. She did not scream or call for help. It could be of no use now. It was too late. She knew there was no one near--no one within miles of her. When she raised her eyes from the mangled corpse, it was only to rest them upon the black water, and there, under the shadow of the guava bushes, swam the hideous reptile, to and fro. He had swallowed the morsel, and was eagerly watching for more.

"The countenance of the woman betrayed a mingled expression of agony and vengeance. All at once a thought seemed to strike her--a sudden resolve. She rose; and, casting a look first at the dead body, and then upon the caiman, hurried off to the house. In a few minutes she came back, bringing with her a long spear. It was the hunting-spear of her husband--often used by him in his encounters with the Brazilian tiger, and other fierce creatures of the forest. She brought also several other articles--a la.s.so, some cords of the _pita_, and a couple of knives.

"On arriving at the bank, she looked anxiously over. The caiman was still there; and she turned, and stood for a moment as if considering what to do. Her mind was soon made up; and, bending forward, she thrust the spear lengthwise through what remained of her child's body! It was a fearful act, but the feeling of revenge was strong within her. She next caught the blade of the spear--now red with blood--and placing the knives lengthwise--so that they might serve as barbs--tied them firmly upon it with the _pita_ cord. Close up to these she pushed the mangled body, and then looped the la.s.so tightly to the shaft of the spear. The other end she made fast to the trunk of a guava tree--for she well knew that her own strength would avail but little against such a monster as the caiman.

"When all was ready she poised the shaft, and flung spear, body, and all, into the water. Then taking the rope in her hand, she crouched behind the bushes to await the result.

"She had not long to wait. The reptile, thirsting for more blood, saw the tempting morsel; and, darting forward, seized it in his huge jaws, crus.h.i.+ng it in the act. The woman remained motionless, biding her time.

"The caimans do not masticate their food. Their teeth are not formed for that. They are only made for seizing; and the tongue--which they cannot extend forward--only serves to a.s.sist them in swallowing. In a few moments the body had disappeared down the capacious throat of the monster. Seeing this, the woman suddenly sprang to her feet, and dragged violently upon the rope, and the next moment a wild scream announced that she had succeeded in her intentions. The barbed blades had taken hold, and the caiman was secured!

"Finding himself thus caught, the huge reptile dived to the bottom, then rose again, bellowing loudly, and las.h.i.+ng the water into foam, the blood all the while running from his jaws and nostrils. At intervals, he would rush from point to point--until suddenly checked by the strong raw-hide la.s.so--making the tree shake with his great strength; and this he did for a long while. His struggles at length grew fainter, and more feeble, and he lay motionless in the water. Throughout all this scene the mother sat upon the bank of the river, at times in deep silence and dejected, while at intervals her face would light up with a vengeful expression as she cast her eyes upon the monster that had robbed her of her child.

"At length the gallop of a horse roused her from her reverie. She looked around. It was her husband!

"The melancholy tale was soon told; and shortly after was carried to those that dwelt nearest them. The grief was general; and the sympathy that followed caused a general rising throughout the neighbourhood; and for several days afterwards a war of extermination was waged against the caimans.

"This, brothers," said Lucien, "is a true narrative; and, in fact, it is only a year or two since the painful incident occurred."

"And a painful incident it was," cried Basil, with some excitement.

"Thunder! it makes one hate those monsters so I feel like having a shot at one this very moment; besides I want a tooth for a powder-charger;"

and as he said this, he took up his rifle, and stepped out to the water's edge. None of the alligators appeared to be within range at the moment, though dozens of them were seen moving about on the bayou.

"Hold, brother!" shouted Francois. "Have patience a little, and I'll bring them near enough. Place yourself in ambush, while I call them."

Now one of Francois' accomplishments was an unusual talent for mimicry.

He could imitate everything, from the crowing of a c.o.c.k to the bellowing of a bull, and so naturally as to deceive even the animals themselves.

Running down towards the bank, he crouched behind some yucca-bushes, and commenced whining and barking like a young puppy. Basil also concealed himself among the bushes.

In a few seconds, several alligators were seen swimming over the bayou, coming from all sides at once. They were not long in reaching the bank where Francois lay concealed, and foremost of all a large male, throwing up his snout, crawled out of the water. He was calculating, no doubt, on making a meal of something; but was doomed to disappointment, and worse than that, for the sharp crack of Basil's rifle rang upon the air, and the hideous reptile rolled over in the mud; and, after sprawling about for a while, lay motionless. He was quite dead, as the well-aimed rifle had sent a bullet right into his eye.

Basil and Francois now showed themselves--as they did not care to waste their ammunition by shooting any more--and the rest of the alligators, seeing them, swam off faster than they had come. By the aid of Lucien's hatchet, the largest teeth were knocked out of the jaws of the one that had been killed; and the horrid carca.s.s was left where it lay, to feed the wolves and vultures, or anything else that chose to make a meal of it.

After cooking a pot of coffee and a venison-steak for supper, our adventurers spread their buffalo-robes within the tent, and went to rest for the night.

Next morning they were astir by daybreak; and after breakfasting heartily, they saddled their horses, and resumed their journey.

CHAPTER TEN.

THE FOOD OF THE SILKWORM.

After leaving Bayou Crocodile, our young hunters travelled due west, over the prairies of Opelousas. They did not expect to fall in with buffalo on these great meadows. No. The bison had long since forsaken the pastures of Opelousas, and gone far westward. In his place thousands of long horned cattle roamed over these plains; but these, although wild enough, belonged to owners, and were all marked and tended by mounted herdsmen. There were white settlements upon the prairies of Opelousas, but our adventurers did not go out of their way to visit them. Their purpose was to get far beyond; and they did not wish to lose time.

They crossed numerous bayous and rivers, generally running southward into the Mexican Gulf. The shallow ones they forded, while those that were too deep for fording, they swam over upon their horses. They thought nothing of that--for their horses, as well as the mule Jeanette and the dog Marengo, were all trained to swim like fishes.