The Houssa, however, had run up, and, placing the muzzle of his gun within a foot of its eye, fired, and the creature rolled over dead, and was swept away by the stream.
The Houssa gave a loud shout which was answered in the distance.

He then shouted two or three words, and turning to Frank said: "Men get alligator," and proceeded on his way without concerning himself further in the matter.
On his return to camp in the evening Frank found that the alligator had been discovered and fished out, and that its steaks were by no means bad eating.

Frank told Mr.Goodenough of the narrow escape he had had, and the latter pointed out to him the necessity of always keeping his eyes on the watch.
"Alligators frequently carry off the native women when engaged in washing," he said, "and almost invariably strike them, in the first place, into the river with a blow of their tails.

Once in the water they are carried off, drowned, and eaten at leisure.

Sometimes, indeed, a woman may escape with the loss of a foot or arm, but this is the exception." "What is the best thing to do when so attacked ?" Frank asked.