“It sure is,” added Ned. “But look there! An alligator is right behind him!”
“And he doesn’t see it!” cried Jerry.
It was true enough. Noddy was standing with his back to the saurian. He seemed to be gazing off into the swamp as if looking for some one.
“Hurry up and put a bullet into it!” yelled Bob, for Jerry had brought his gun along.
“We haven’t time! Let’s yell to Noddy to jump out of the way of its tail!” suggested Ned. “Now all together!”
They united their voices in a shout of warning but Noddy never turned.
“He must be deaf!” exclaimed Jerry. “I’ll have to try a shot, but it’s pretty long.”
There was nothing else to do. He raised the rifle and fired. The alligator gave a spring into the air and Noddy wheeled around.
“He heard that!” cried Ned, springing forward. The alligator was evidently mortally wounded. [Noddy gave one look at the] leaping, [writhing saurian] almost at his feet. Then he looked at the three chums who were running toward him. An instant later he had disappeared into the swamp-forest.
