of maledictions upon the whole animal creation, and in particular
on that part of it who would not be eaten by alligators without signs
of resistance and opposition. Whether this new turn of events had any
influence, or that the matter was more owing to "natural causes," I
cannot say; but, just then, the horse which had been already bitten,
reared straight up, and with a loud snort plunged forward, carrying with
him the other. By his plunge he had reached a deep part of the stream,
where the water came half way up his body. Another spring smashed one of
the traces, and left him free to kick violently behind him,--a privilege
he certainly hastened to avail himself of. His fellow, whether from
sympathy or not, imitated the performance; and there they were, lashing
and plunging with all their might, while the wagon, against which the
strong current beat in all its force, threatened at every instant
to capsize. The Friar struggled manfully, as did his follower; but,
unfortunately, one of the reins gave way, and by the violent tugging
at the remaining one, the animals were turned out of their course, and
dragged round to the very middle of the stream. About twenty yards lower
down, the river fell by a kind of cascade some ten or twelve feet, and
towards this spot now the infuriated horses seemed rushing. Had it been
practicable, a strong man might, by throwing himself into the water,
have caught the horses' heads and held them back; but the stream swarmed
with poisonous reptiles, which made such an effort almost inevitable
death.

It was now a scene of terrible and most exciting interest.

The maddened horses, alternately rising and sinking, writhed and twisted
in agonies of pain. The men's voices mingled with the gushing torrent
and the splashing water, which rose higher and higher at each plunge,
while a shrill shriek from within the wagon topped all, and in its
cadence seemed to speak a heart torn with terror. As I looked, the sun
had set; and as speedily as though a curtain had fallen, the soft light
of evening gave way to a gray darkness. I rode down to the bank, and as
I reached it, one of the horses, after a terrific struggle to get free,
plunged head foremost down and disappeared. The other, unable by himself
alone to resist the weight of the wagon, which already was floating in
the stream, swung round with the torrent, and was now dragging along
toward the cataract. The dusky indistinctness even added to the terror