(原版)澳大利亞語文第六冊(cè) LESSON 4

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LESSON 4 A TERRIBLE STRUGGLE

A TERRIBLE STRUGGLE

On a cattle ranch [1] in South Florida one of the old bulls went down to the water to quench [2] his thirst. As he was drinking, a big alligator came up and seized him by the nose. The bull, a big black one, with a pair of large sharp horns curving slightly backwards, was taken at a great disadvantage, and began to bellow loudly and try to shake off his enemy.

The alligator had got a firm hold, however, and clung firmly, lashing the water into foam with his tail, and making the blood stream from the bull's nose. Presently, with a mighty effort, the bull plunged backward, pulling the alligator after him to dry land. Then the fight got furious.

The bull, frantic [3] from the pain of the alligator's grip on his nose, tried to gore [4] his foe. Failing in that, he stamped at him and plunged madly about trying to get rid of him. Hearing his bellowing, two other bulls came rushing down to the shore, and, observing the alligator, went to the aid of their wounded comrade.

On seeing his new enemies the latter tried to escape, but too late. One of the bulls caught his horn near the alligator's fore-leg, and, with an upward toss, tore a big hole in his side. As the other bull came on to the attack, the alligator struck around with his tail, and gave the animal a terrible blow, which knocked him over on his side with a dull thud.

The first bull was now free, and the three animals went round their foe with lowered heads. They presented a picket [5] of sharp horns, which the reptile did not like. As he tried to get back into the water, the three bulls began a regular plan of battle. Each in turn would dash at him, and, keeping clear of his flying tail, give him a dig with his horns, and try to toss him.

The alligator was now getting weaker, and, though still game, seemed anxious to stop fighting. At length one of the bulls let his anger blind him to the danger he was running. He rushed at the alligator without his usual caution, and the reptile gave a blow with his tail that caught the animal's legs, breaking them like pipestems.

The old fellow as he fell gave a roar of madness that could have been heard a mile away, while the alligator's eyes seemed to gleam with triumph [6] as they glared at his enemies. The other two bulls now plunged at him and gored him, sometimes striking one another in their mad rushes, while the alligator swept his big tail around and gave them terrible whacks on their sides and legs.

For over twenty minutes the combat went on in this manner, the mingled roars of the animals producing sounds not to be forgotten in a hurry by those who heard them. The alligator again seized his first victim by the nose, and this time with a death grip.

The third bull rushed at the alligator, and, thrusting both horns under his side, gave him a toss that nearly killed him. The effect was seen at once, as his tail played more feebly, but his hold on the bull's nose could not be broken. Several more wounds were given by the bull, and the reptile's roars of anger turned to those of pain and fear.

The bull charged him again and again, wounding him terribly. At last no resistance was offered to the attacks of the bull, even when the victor trampled on the alligator's body. The iron jaws, however, still kept their hold on the nose of the first bull, who had been forced to his knees, and was dying fast from the blows he had got and from the great loss of blood.

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[1] ranch: A large farm for raising cattle and horses; a station.

[2] quench: Satisfy.

[3] frantic: Mad.

[4] gore: Pierce with his horns.

[5] picket: Barricade of pointed stakes.

[6] triumph: Joy of victory.