Pomp was gazing in the other direction, scanning the river-bank; and as I saw what was about to happen, I said in a quick whisper—
“Look out!”
Almost as I spoke, the blade of Pomp’s oar swept over the rugged horny coat of the largest alligator, which, like the rest, was sleeping in the hot sunshine perfectly ignorant of our near approach.
The effect was instantaneous. As the boy turned sharply round to look out, the great reptile sprang up, opened its huge jaws, and made a snap at the oar-blade, whisked round its tail, striking the boat, and then made a series of plunges to reach the water on the other side, its actions alarming the rest, which on their retreat made the sandspit seem alive, and the water splash and foam; while Pomp uttered a yell of horror, loosed his hold of his oar, and dived down into the boat, to rise again and stare over the stern as soon as I told him the danger was past.
It was all the work of a few moments, during which I was startled enough, especially when I saw the gaping jaws of the great reptile, and heard the snap it made at the oar-blade; but we were going swiftly by, and mingled with the terror there was something so comic in Pomp’s actions, that in the reaction I began to laugh.
This brought Pomp’s face round directly, and his reproachful black eyes seemed to ask me what I could see to laugh at.
“Come,” I said, “you can’t tell me I was playing tricks then.—Why, Pomp, your oar’s overboard,” I cried as I realised that fact.
“Yes, Mass’ George. Dat great ’gator ’wallow um.”
“Nonsense!” I cried, as I tried to check the progress of the boat on catching sight of the oar gliding swiftly down stream twenty yards away. “There it is. Wait till it comes close. I’ll try and manage to get you near it.”
“Dah it am! Whah?”