Then, while Jake sat near by deeply interested in the experiment, the boys moved their lines to and fro, forced to wade quite a distance into the water, and ten minutes passed before there was any sign that their efforts would be rewarded by success.
"I've got a bite," Teddy whispered excitedly. "By the way he pulled it must have been a big fel—— Hello, he's taken hook and all!"
"Tie on another quick while I try to catch him," and Neal ventured further into the water, throwing the line as far as possible toward the other side.
The thought came into Jake's mind that, while no alligators had been seen when they first entered it was by no means certain one or more would not follow down the course of the stream, and he was on the point of warning Neal not to venture too far from the edge of the shore, when there was a mighty splash, a cry of fear and pain from the fisherman, and the engineer shouted regardless of the fact that the enemy might be close at hand:
"Help! An alligator has got Neal!"
CHAPTER XX.
A DESPERATE STRUGGLE.
There was no necessity for the outcry. The splashing of the water told Cummings what had happened even before Jake had time to shout, and he started forward at full speed, carrying with him the materials for torches.
When Jake and Teddy were in a condition to understand anything, for the sudden attack had bewildered them to a certain extent, Neal was lying face downward upon the sand, and being slowly dragged backward.