Just at that moment they came to the rise in the ground, then passed on to descend to the boat.
“No alligators here——” Tom began again, but paused, paling and staring aghast.
For out of the water and up onto the beach crawled two monstrous twelve-foot alligators. They halted on the land just before the boat, opening and snapping their great jaws.
“Ugh! That’s a fine sight to run upon when a fellow hasn’t any firearms,” grated Halstead, hoarsely. He felt the gooseflesh starting all over him.
CHAPTER VII
DODGING THE OLDEST INHABITANTS OF THE EVERGLADES
JUST in the instant that he halted young Halstead thrust out his left arm, sweeping Ida Silsbee behind him.
“Don’t treat me as though you believed me a coward,” she remonstrated, speaking in a low voice.
“You’ll make me less of a coward if you don’t expose yourself needlessly to danger,” Tom retorted, in an equally low voice.