280 MARTIN RATTLER.

rude sort of couch, on which he lay down comfortably,
placing his knife and bow beside him, and using the
hammock rolled up as a pillow. As the sun was
setting, and while he leaned on his elbow looking
down through the leaves with much interest at the
alligators that gambolled in the reedy lake, his atten-
tion was attracted by a slight rustling in the bushes
near the foot of the tree. Looking down, he perceived
a large jaguar gliding through the underwood with
cat-like stealth. Martin now observed that a huge
alligator had crawled out of the lake, and was lying
on the bank asleep a few yards from the margin.
When the jaguar reached the edge of the bushes it
paused, and then, with one tremendous spring, seized
the alligator by the soft part beneath its tail. The
huge monster struggled for a few seconds, endeavour-
ing to reach the water, and then lay still, while the
Jaguar worried and tore at its tough hide with savage
fury. Martin was much surprised at the passive
conduct of the alligator. That it could not turn its
stiff body so as to catch the jaguar in its jaws did
not indeed surprise him, bub he wondered very much
to see the great reptile suffer pain so quietly. It
seemed to be quite paralyzed. In a few minutes the
jaguar retired a short distance. Then the alligator

made a rush for the water; but the jaguar darted