第34章

Soon after the loss of the boat, Yamba made me a small bark canoe about fifteen feet long, but not more than fourteen inches wide, and in this we undertook various little excursions together to the various islands that studded the bay.The construction of this little canoe was very interesting.Yamba, first of all, heated the bark, and then turned the rough part underneath in order that the interior might be perfectly smooth.She then SEWED up the ends, finally giving the little craft a coat of resin, obtained by making incisions in the gum-trees.Of course, I missed my own substantial boat, and it was some little time before I grew accustomed to the frail canoe, which necessitated the greatest possible care in handling, and also on the part of the passengers generally.

One day I decided to go and explore one of the islands that studded Cambridge Gulf, in search of a kind of shell mud-fish which I was very partial to.I also wanted to make the acquaintance of the bats or flying foxes I had seen rising in clouds every evening at sunset.I required the skins of these curious creatures for sandals.This would perhaps be a year after my advent amongst the blacks.As usual, Yamba was my only companion, and we soon reached a likely island.As I could find no suitable place for landing, Iturned the canoe up a small creek.From this course, however, my companion strongly dissuaded me.Into the creek, nevertheless, we went, and when I saw it was a hopeless impasse, I scrambled ashore and waded through five inches or six inches of mud.The little island was densely covered with luxuriant tropical vegetation, the mangroves coming right down to the water's edge; so that I had actually to force my way through them to gain the top of the bank.

I then entered a very narrow track through the forest, the bush on both sides being so dense as to resemble an impenetrable wall or dense hedge.It is necessary to bear this in mind to realise what followed.I had not gone many yards along this track, when I was horrified to see, right in front of me, an enormous alligator!

This great reptile was shuffling along down the path towards me, evidently making for the water, and it not only blocked my advance, but also necessitated my immediate retreat.The moment the brute caught sight of me he stopped, and began snapping his jaws viciously.I confess I was quite nonplussed for the moment as to how best to commence the attack upon this unexpected visitor.It was impossible for me to get round him in any way, on account of the dense bush on either side of the narrow forest track.Idecided, however, to make a bold dash for victory, having always in mind the prestige that was so necessary to my existence among the blacks.I therefore walked straight up to the evil-looking monster; then, taking a short run, I leaped high into the air, shot over his head, and landed on his scaly back, at the same time giving a tremendous yell in order to attract Yamba, whom I had left in charge of the boat.

The moment I landed on his back I struck the alligator with all my force with my tomahawk, on what I considered the most vulnerable part of his head.So powerful was my stroke, that I found to my dismay that I could not get the weapon out of his head again.

While I was in this extraordinary situation--standing on the back of an enormous alligator, and tugging at my tomahawk, embedded in its head--Yamba came rushing up the path, carrying one of the paddles, which, without a moment's hesitation, she thrust down the alligator's throat as he turned to snap at her.She immediately let go her hold and retreated.The alligator tried to follow her, but the shaft of the paddle caught among some tree trunks and stuck.In this way the monster was prevented from moving his head, either backwards or forwards, and then, drawing my stiletto, Iblinded him in both eyes, afterwards finishing him leisurely with my tomahawk, when at length I managed to release it.Yamba was immensely proud of me after this achievement, and when we returned to the mainland she gave her tribesmen a graphic account of my gallantry and bravery.But she always did this.She was my advance agent and bill-poster, so to say.I found in going into a new country that my fame had preceded me; and I must say this was most convenient and useful in obtaining hospitality, concessions, and assistance generally.The part I had played in connection with the death of the two whales had already earned for me the admiration of the blacks--not only in my own tribe, but all over the adjacent country.And after this encounter with the alligator they looked upon me as a very great and powerful personage indeed.

We did not bring the dead monster back with us, but next day a number of the blacks went over with their catamarans, and towed the reptile back to the mainland, where it was viewed with open-mouthed amazement by crowds of admiring natives.So great was the estimation in which my prowess was held, that little scraps of the dead alligator were distributed (as relics, presumably) among the tribes throughout the whole of the surrounding country.Singularly enough this last achievement of mine was considered much more commendable than the killing of the whale, for the simple reason that it sometimes happened they caught a whale themselves stranded on the beach; whereas the killing of an alligator with their primitive weapons was a feat never attempted.They chanted praises in my honour at night, and wherever I moved, my performances with the whales and alligator were always the first things to be sung.