dangerously, causing Alice and Ruth to scream.

And once, when they were almost out of the haunts of the saurians, an
immense specimen reared itself out of the water and thrust its ugly nose
over the bow.

"Oh!" cried Alice, shrinking back.

In an instant Jed fired, aiming, however, along the keel of the boat, and
not broadside across it, so there was no danger from the recoil.

The alligator sank at once.

"I hit him!" cried the hunter, "but it wasn't a mortal wound. I'll come
back and get him."

"Please don't shoot again!" begged Ruth.

"I won't, Miss, and I beg your pardon; but I really couldn't help it," he
apologized.

There was considerable excitement aboard the _Magnolia_ when the party
returned with word about the alligators, and when Paul and Russ went back
with Jed, Russ taking a large camera, another boatload of men with guns
was made up for the hunt.

Even Jed was satisfied later with the day's work, and Russ got a film
that created quite a sensation when shown, for never before had an
alligator hunt been given in moving pictures.