He found it to be a dead mule swollen to gigantic size.

While looking at it its tail flipped out of the water as though it were alive.

It was then he became aware of the fact that a swarm of alligators were feeding on it, and he pulled away with about as much speed as he has ever been able to attain.
During the day he ran through a thickly populated country, along what is known as the lower coast of Louisiana; the river was fringed with rich sugar plantations, and a majority of the negroes who rowed out to see him, spoke the language of the French Creole.

Magnolia trees were thick on either side and framed a picture of rare beauty.
While paddling for a short distance close in shore, Paul discovered a most unique and lazy style of angling.

Happening to look up at the bank, he saw two pair of bare feet of heroic size, from which two fishing lines hung, the corks bobbing on the surface a few yards from the shore.