Equipped for Service

　　A NEGRO in a boat, gathering1 driftwood, saw a sleeping Alligator2,

　　and, thinking it was a log, fell to estimating the number of

　　shingles3 it would make for his new cabin. Having satisfied his

　　mind on that point, he stuck his boat-hook into the beast's back to

　　harvest his good fortune. Thereupon the saurian emerged from his

　　dream and took to the water, greatly to the surprise of the man-

　　and-brother.

　　"I never befo' seen such a cyclone4 as dat," he exclaimed as soon as

　　he had recovered his breath. "It done carry away de ruf of my

　　house!"