rust it down his throat, in case he
gave me an opportunity. I certainly felt somewhat uncomfortable in this
situation, and I thought of Cerberus on the other side of the Styx ferry.
The people pulled the cayman to the surface; he plunged furiously as soon
as he arrived in these upper regions, and immediately went below again on
their slackening the rope. I saw enough not to fall in love at first
sight. I now told them we would run all risks, and have him on land
immediately. They pulled again, and out he came--'monstrum horrendum,
informe.' This was an interesting moment. I kept my position firmly,
with my eye fixed steadfast on him.

"By the time the cayman was within two yards of me, I saw he was in a
state of fear and perturbation: I instantly dropped the mast, sprang up,
and jumped on his back, turning half round as I vaulted, so that I gained
my seat with my face in a right position. I immediately seized his
fore-legs, and by main force twisted them on his back; thus they served
me for a bridle.

"He now seemed to have recovered from his surprise, and probably fancying
himself in hostile company, be began to plunge furiously, and lashed the
sand with his long and powerful tail. I was out of reach of the strokes
of it, by being near his head. He continued to plunge and strike, and
made my seat very uncomfortable. It must have been a fine sight for an
unoccupied spectator.

"The people roared out in triumph, and were so vociferous, that it was
some time before they heard me tell them to pull me and my beast of
burthen farther in. I was apprehensive the rope might break, and then
there would have been every chance of going down to the regions under
water with the cayman. That would have been more perilous than Arion's
marine morning ride:--

'Delphini insidens vada caerula sulcat Arion.'

"The people now dragged us about forty yards on the sand; it was the
first and last time I was ever on a cayman's back. Should it be asked,
how I managed to keep my seat, I would answer--I hunted some years with
Lord Darlington's fox-hounds.

"After repeated attempts to regain his liberty, the cayman gave in, and
became tranquil through exhaustion. I now managed to do up his jaws, and
firmly secured his fore-feet in the position I had held them. We had now
another severe struggle for superiority, but he was soon overcome, and
again remained quiet. While some of the people were pressing upon his
head and sho