Seeing this, the woman suddenly sprang to her feet, and dragged violently upon the rope, and the next moment a wild scream announced that she had succeeded in her intentions.

The barbed blades had taken hold, and the caiman was secured! "Finding himself thus caught, the huge reptile dived to the bottom, then rose again, bellowing loudly, and lashing the water into foam, the blood all the while running from his jaws and nostrils.

At intervals, he would rush from point to point--until suddenly checked by the strong raw-hide lasso--making the tree shake with his great strength; and this he did for a long while.

His struggles at length grew fainter, and more feeble, and he lay motionless in the water.

Throughout all this scene the mother sat upon the bank of the river, at times in deep silence and dejected, while at intervals her face would light up with a vengeful expression as she cast her eyes upon the monster that had robbed her of her child.
"At length the gallop of a horse roused her from her reverie.