“There isn’t any other way that I know of,” replied Phil; “and we might as well do it first as last.” “All right,” said Chap and Phœnix; and turning the boat, they began to row down-stream. “You’d better go slowly when you get among them,” said Phil; “and of course we won’t fire at them. I guess that Coot was right when he thought that it wouldn’t do to rouse their angry passions when we are among them.” “It is a shame to leave all those splendid teeth and hides here, but I suppose it can’t be helped,” said Chap. “I’d rather leave the teeth here than to have them in me,” said Phœnix; “and I guess I wouldn’t want to wrestle with an alligator for his hide, either.” They soon reached the part of the creek where the alligators began to be numerous, and as they rowed on, they found that the sun had got higher, and as the day had become warmer the number of the ugly creatures who were basking in the sunshine was much greater than before. The boys rowed very gently, and the alligators paid but little heed to the boat, except as they regarded it as an object of curiosity. Many of them seemed engaged in crossing the stream, and Phil frequently called out to the boys to slacken up a little or they would run into the lazy fellows. On the banks some of them were lying perfectly still, as if they were asleep, while others moved sluggishly about, occasionally turning their heads and yawning, opening their great mouths so wide that the boys could see half-way down their throats. Sometimes the boys were quite frightened, especially when the swimming beasts came near them; and once, when an enormous fellow rose close to the boat, and suddenly turning gave it a tremendous stroke with his tail, the boys thought, for an instant, that it was the creature’s intention to upset them. But the blow was not repeated, and they breathed easier. It was impossible, however, to look upon the horrid heads and writhing bodies of these great, lizard-like creatures without disgust and fear, especially when they were so numerous and so near. “Nobody can say we haven’t seen alligators,” said Chap, as the boat slowly moved on. “No, indeed!” said Phœnix; “but as far as I am concerned, I never want to lay eyes on one again.” “Look at that wretch!” exclaimed Phil. “I really believe he was going to take hold of your oar.” “I hope none of them will do that,” said Chap, looking round apprehensively, “for I want to get out of this, and I don’t want to trust to floating down, either.” Fearful as the boys were that they might at any moment run afoul of some bad-tempered creature, they kept steadily on, and at last, in safety, reached the mouth of the creek. Even here an occasional alligator showed itself, but the boys took no notice of these, and rowed swiftly toward The Rolling Stone. “Hurrah, boys!” cried Chap, when they had made the small boat fast to the other. “Now, at last, we are masters of our own vessel! This is splendid! Nobody on board to tell us what to do!”