DOI Seite / Zitierlink:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.5834#0138
FIGHT BETWEEN TWO ALLIGATORS. 1 1 3
some weeks companions in suffering, neither mani-
fested a disposition to commence hostilities, but oc-
cupied different parts of the tank, sinking to the
bottom, and occasionally thrusting their noses above
the surface to take breath. The water did not ex-
ceed five feet in depth, so that unless they kept the
middle of the tank they might be seen as they lay
at the bottom almost immovable. Though the place
was crowded with spectators, the huge reptiles did not
appear to be disturbed by so unusual a concourse,
and even occasionally bore to be poked with a long
pole before they would move from the mud in which
they had embedded themselves. At length, the car-
cass of a sheep was thrown into the water just above
where the smallest alligator lay. The voracious
creature immediately rose and seized it; which it
had no sooner done than its companion appeared on
the surface, and with the swiftness of a shaft rushed
towards its rival to participate in the tempting ban-
quet, the turbid element dividing before it as if
ploughed with the keel of a ship. In a moment both
sank, and for some time the water was much dis-
turbed, the black mud rising in considerable quan-
tities, and an occasional splashing sufficiently attested
the severity of the struggle that was taking place
below. After a while one of the combatants
appeared with a portion of the sheep in its jaws,
which having devoured, it again sank, and the strug-
gle was evidently renewed. In a short time the
water was strongly tinged with blood, the mud con-
tinued to rise and the splashing cncreased. The
anxiety of the spectators was excited to the highest
L 3
some weeks companions in suffering, neither mani-
fested a disposition to commence hostilities, but oc-
cupied different parts of the tank, sinking to the
bottom, and occasionally thrusting their noses above
the surface to take breath. The water did not ex-
ceed five feet in depth, so that unless they kept the
middle of the tank they might be seen as they lay
at the bottom almost immovable. Though the place
was crowded with spectators, the huge reptiles did not
appear to be disturbed by so unusual a concourse,
and even occasionally bore to be poked with a long
pole before they would move from the mud in which
they had embedded themselves. At length, the car-
cass of a sheep was thrown into the water just above
where the smallest alligator lay. The voracious
creature immediately rose and seized it; which it
had no sooner done than its companion appeared on
the surface, and with the swiftness of a shaft rushed
towards its rival to participate in the tempting ban-
quet, the turbid element dividing before it as if
ploughed with the keel of a ship. In a moment both
sank, and for some time the water was much dis-
turbed, the black mud rising in considerable quan-
tities, and an occasional splashing sufficiently attested
the severity of the struggle that was taking place
below. After a while one of the combatants
appeared with a portion of the sheep in its jaws,
which having devoured, it again sank, and the strug-
gle was evidently renewed. In a short time the
water was strongly tinged with blood, the mud con-
tinued to rise and the splashing cncreased. The
anxiety of the spectators was excited to the highest
L 3