cr own readers

o
to A~ IO ~G TH E ALLIGATORS.
over the backs of the older ones, and tumbling about
with the liveliest and most graceful movements, Sometimes
a large one would sweep a tri be of small fellows
oft' his back , and pursue them to the bottom of the
river. Returning with one in his jaws, he would let
it go and catch it again, playing with it some time
before allowing it to escape.
8. After th e frolicking company went out of sight,
I followed th em in th e canoe, and soon overtook th em.
Paddling quickly, I dashed through the startled
th rong. They dived in great alarm und er the wat er,
and for some time I could trace them by the phosphorescent
gleam they made in th eir headlong rush.
I passed herd after herd as I made for the mouth of
th e river. Their not unpl easant musky odour was
wafted to where our schooner lay moored, half a mile
out at sea; and now and then, high above th e wash
of the waves on the low, sandy shore, rose that low,
hoarse bellowing, as th eir curious voices blended in n
chorus of strange sounds.
aI~li-ga-tors
un-in-hab-it-ed
ex-quis-ite
my r-i-ads
fo-ll-age
a-goon'
o-cour
ex-pe-ri-ence
ne~:es-sa-ry
col-lt-sion
for~mid-a·ble
pre-cau-tions
shriek~ing
con-ve-ni-ent
gam-bolled
frol-icked
live-li-est
phos-phor-es-cent
schoon-er
cho-rus
W ORD EXERCISE :-
1. Show th e connect ion in meaning between sluggish, sluggard,
slug, slack, and slouch.
2. ~Iak e a few sentences containing word. like per'fume and perfume',
whose meaning changes with a change of accent.
3. Give th e mean ing of chant, and show how th e root -meaning has
chan ged in th e words enchantment an incantation.
FCYr N OTES , see pafJe £511.