“It may be a whole school of fishes,” said Bob.
Just then there came a more violent agitation of the water, and the auto began to move backward slightly.
“Whatever it is, it seems bound to get us,” Jerry remarked. “Wait until I see if I can’t beat the fish or whatever it is.”
He turned on more power and threw in the first speed gear. The auto shivered and trembled, and then moved ahead slightly. But the big fish, or whatever it was, with powerful strokes of its tail began a backward pull that neutralized the action of the automobile.
“I see what it is!” cried the professor.
“What?” asked Jerry.
“A big alligator! It has one wheel in its mouth and is trying to drag us back. Hand me a rifle!”
Jerry passed over a gun. The professor, who was a good shot, leaned down over the back of the tonneau. He could just make out the ugly head of the ’gator beneath the surface. In quick succession he sent three bullets from the magazine rifle into its brain.
There was a last dying struggle of the beast, the waters swirled in a whirlpool under the lashing of the powerful tail, and then the little waves became red with blood and the alligator ceased struggling.