the thickness of a man's thumb. These were tied
to the end of a stout rope made of raw hide, and so arranged that their
points were directed backwards, and curved somewhat outwards--thus
forming as it were four huge barbs. The dead monkey was placed on and
around this horrible hook--if we may so term it. The delicate morsel
was then attached to the end of a pole which stretched over the stream,
so that the bait, when fixed, remained suspended just above the water.
The slack of the rope was then made fast to a tree. Thus the
arrangement was such as to compel the alligator to raise himself well
out of the water to obtain his mouthful.

While Leetle Cub was engaged in erecting this cumbrous machine, a young
alligator, about a foot long, crawled out from under some leaves on the
bank close to him. The urchin saw it instantly, seized his bow, and in
a moment transfixed it with an arrow. The fury of the little creature,
infant though it was, seemed tremendous. It turned round, snapping
viciously at the arrow, and would probably have escaped with it into the
water if another shot from the same unerring hand had not terminated its
career.

After setting his line, the Cub carried the little alligator to the
canoe, and put it carefully therein.

"Das what dey make de soup ob," said Quashy.

"The ragout, you mean."

"Dun' know what's a ragoo, massa. We calls it soup. Anyhow, it's bery
good."

"Yes, Quash, it's not bad. But look there, our daring and expert young
hunter evidently wants us to land, for he is pointing to the bush.
Shall we go?"

"P'r'aps it's as well, massa. Ob course no alligator's sitch a fool as
swaller dat little mout'ful when we's a-lookin' at it. I s'pose Leetle
Cub wants us to go away, an' gib 'em a chance."

Having made up their minds to gratify the little fellow, they landed and
accompanied him into the woods. He seemed quite to expect that they
would do so and follow his lead. He set off at a smart pace in advance
of them, carrying his bow on his shoulder. Lawrence was well repaid by
this walk, because it led him into and through scenery of a more
striking and beautiful character than he had yet seen of its kind. In
many places the trees formed long aisles and vaulted colonnades and
arches so regular that it seemed as though they had been planted by the
hand of man. Elsewhere the chaos of tree and shrub, flower and fern and
twining root was so indescribable, that it seemed as if