But to resume: I fired, and never heard a ball strike with more satisfaction in my life.

It laid the alligator sprawling, feet uppermost.

There was no time to be lost in getting him on shore; two or three strokes with the oars brought us alongside of the monster, as he floated on the surface of the stream.

The business was to attach a line to one of his legs; and as we knew that he was not dead, but only stunned, this was rather a nervous operation.

I noticed indeed a hesitation among the men, as to who should venture, and fearing lest our prize should escape, I seized the line and made it fast to one of his fore-legs, when we proceeded to the shore, dragging him alongside.