“That’s him. I told you he was at home. Now then, you aren’t afraid, are you?”
“Not a big one, is it?”
“No, not very; only tidy size; but we shall see if we get him out.”
I looked rather aghast at Morgan, for the idea of getting a large alligator out there in the marshy place, and both of us unarmed, was rather startling.
“Now then, give him a good stir up.”
Sooner than seem afraid, but with my heart beating heavily, I took hold of the pole, and gave it a good shake, and left go again, for it seemed as if some one had given it a good rap with a heavy stick, and a jarring sensation ran up my arm.
“No mistake about it this time,” said Morgan, grinning. “Puts me in mind of sniggling for eels, and pushing a worm at the end of a willow-stick up an eel’s burrow in a muddy bank. They give it a knock like that sometimes, but of course not so hard. Well, why don’t you go on?”
“Go on with what?” I cried, wishing myself well out of the whole business.
“Stirring of him up, and making him savage. But stop a moment, let’s have this ready.”
He took out the piece of rope, and made a large noose, laying it on some thick moss, and then turning to me again.