8/14/2019 Alligator Tales by Kevin M. McCarthy

1/20

Fll`hftkr Yflcs

Nkop`lci ey

Dcv`m O. OnNfrtjyNklkr Wjktkhrfpjy ey Akjm Okrfm

Fll`hftkrYflcs

Dcv`mO

.OnNfrtjy

W`mcfpplc

Wrcss,@mn.

8/14/2019 Alligator Tales by Kevin M. McCarthy

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Fll`hftkrYflcs

8/14/2019 Alligator Tales by Kevin M. McCarthy

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Ikmt try tj`s ft jkoc.

Nrci`t1 Blkr`if ^tftc Frnj`vcs

8/14/2019 Alligator Tales by Kevin M. McCarthy

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Fll`hftkrYflcs

Nkllcntci ey

Dcv`m O. OnNfrtjy

Nklkr Wjktkhrfpjs ey

Akjm Okrfm

W`mcfpplc Wrcss, @mn.^frfsktf, Blkr`if

8/14/2019 Alligator Tales by Kevin M. McCarthy

5/20

Nkpyr`hjt 600: ey Dcv`m O. OnNfrtjy

Fll r`hjts rcscrvci. Mk pfrt kb tj`s ekkd ofy ec rcprkiunci `m fmybkro kr ey fmy ocfms, clcntrkm`n kr ocnjfm`nfl, `mnlui`mh pjktk-nkpy`mh, rcnkri`mh, kr ey fmy `mbkroft`km stkrfhc fmi rctr`cvfl

systco, w`tjkut pcro`ss`km `m wr`t`mh brko tjc puel`sjcr.

@mqu`r`cs sjkuli ec fiircssci tk1W`mcfpplc Wrcss, @mn.W.K. Ekx >:00^frfsktf, Blkr`if >95>7

L`erfry kb Nkmhrcss Nftflkh`mh `m Wuel`nft`km Iftf

Fll`hftkr Yflcs / nkllcntci ey Dcv`m O. OnNfrtjy 4 pjktkhrfpjs ey

Akjm Okrfm. 6st ci.p. no.

@mnluics e`el`khrfpj`nfl rcbcrcmncs.@^EM 6-32629-63:-: (ped. 1 fld. pfpcr)6. Fll`hftkrs. 5. Fll`hftkrsFmcniktcs. @. OnNfrtjy, Dcv`m.

VL222.N053F3: 600:308.0:in56

0:-57>73

N@WB`rst Ci`t`km67 0 : 8 2 3 9 > 5 6

Ics`hm ey Ksprcy Ics`hm ^ystcos, Erficmtkm, Blkr`ifWr`mtci fmi ekumi ey Ekkdnrfbtcrs, Njclscf, O`nj`hfm

8/14/2019 Alligator Tales by Kevin M. McCarthy

6/20

Bkr Ofrakry ^tkmcofm Ikuhlfs

6:07-600:

bkr jcr wkrd tk prcscrvc fmi

rcstkrc tjc Cvcrhlfics

8/14/2019 Alligator Tales by Kevin M. McCarthy

7/20

Y f e l c k b N k m t c m t s

@mtrkiunt`km `x

@. Icsnr`pt`km kb Fll`hftkrs

Yjc Fll`hftkrs kb tjc ^t. Akjms U`vcrey X`ll`fo Efrtrfo >

^koc Blkr`if Fll`hftkrs ey Jfo`ltkm Afy 6>

Yjc Hftkrs Uuoelc ey C.X. Nfrswcll 57

Yjc Lchcmi kb Ywk-Ykci Yko ey C.X. Nfrswcll 55

Flhy tjc Fll`hftkrey C.N. Erfibkri 50

@@. Ktjcr Fm`ofls Rcrsus Hftkrs

Nrknki`lc vs. Hftkr(fmkmyokus) >0

F ^jfrd Fttfnds fm Fll`hftkr(fmkmyokus) 99

Fm Clcpjfmt fmi Ywk Nfocls Fttfndciey Fll`hftkrs (fmkmyokus) 93

Ecfr fmi Fll`hftkr B`hjt(fmkmyokus) 9:

Yjc Lkmc Eull kb Ofyefmdey Frnj`efli Uutlcihc 90

@@@. Juofms Rcrsus Hftkrs

Yjc Fll`hftkr Jumtcrs (fmkmyokus) 38

Fll`hftkr Jumt`mh w`tj ^co`mklcs ey D`rd Oumrkc 30

Nftnj`mh Fll`hftkrs ey D`rd Oumrkc 2:

Fivcmturcs w`tj Fll`hftkrs (fmkmyokus) 8>

Fll`hftkr ^jkkt`mh `m Blkr`if ey Akjm Okrt`ocr Ourpjy :6

NKLKU WJKYKHUFWJ^ ey Akjm Okrfmectwccm pfhcs :9 fmi :3

8/14/2019 Alligator Tales by Kevin M. McCarthy

8/20

F Mkrtjcrm H`rls Jumt`m kb f Hf`tfjey Ofr`km Wryic Vufy :8

Yjc Wfss`mh kb tjc Blkr`if Fll`hftkrey F.X. I`oknd 02

Fll`hftkrs ey Ofrakr`c D`mmfm Ufwl`mhs 678

Efec Uutj fmi tjc Fll`hftkrey Dcv`m OnNfrtjy 657

Ofstcr kb Oy Lfdc ey Afnd Uuilkc 655

Fll`hftkr Jumt`mh `m tjc 6007s ey Akjm Okrfm 6>7

Xfld km tjc X`li ^`ic ey Nftjy I`llkm 696

Hftkrs1 Fm Smnuiily Ecstscllcrey Hfry D`rdlfmi 692

@R. Mft`vc Focr`nfm Bkldtflcs fekut tjc Fll`hftkr

Xjy tjc mfdc fmi tjc Fll`hftkr Frc Br`cmis 636

Jkw Ufee`t Bkklci Fll`hftkr 635

Jkw tjc Fll`hftkrs Mksc Hkt Erkdcm 639

Jkw fm Fll`hftkr Jclpci f Jumtcr 632

R. Fll`hftkr O`sncllfmy

Jkw fm Fll`hftkr ^kli ^t. Wctcrseurhey Akjm U`njfri Ektjwcll 626

Jkw fm Fll`hftkr Nlcfmci tjc ^cwcrskb Yfrpkm ^pr`mhs (fmkmyokus) 623

Yjc Fll`hftkr fs Ofsnktey Dcv`m OnNfrtjy 622

Wlfnc Mfocs w`tj Fll`hftkrey Dcv`m OnNfrtjy 687

8/14/2019 Alligator Tales by Kevin M. McCarthy

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8/14/2019 Alligator Tales by Kevin M. McCarthy

10/20

`x

@ m t r k i u n t ` k m

Oy bfsn`mft`km w`tj fll`hftkrs echfm `m 6020, wjcm @ okvci

brko fll`hftkrlcss Mcw Acrscy fmi Mkrtj Nfrkl`mf tk tjc

Sm`vcrs`ty kb Blkr`if, wj`nj jfi Lfdc Fl`nc, tcco`mh w`tj

hftkrs, fmi f pcmmci-up hftkr ofsnkt `m tjc o`iilc kb nfopus. Oy

nlksc-up fmi pcrskmfl cmnkumtcr w`tj tjc rcpt`lc nfoc wjcm @ v`s`tci

cmv`rkmocmtfl`sts Afnd fmi Fmmc Uuilkc `m tjc Blkr`if Wfmjfmilc, fmi

wc wcmt scfrnj`mh bkr f hftkr mcst.

Fbtcr trf`ps`mh tjrkuhj strcfos fmi iccp ound bkr scvcrfl

jkurs, wc bkumi f mcst, fmi `t wfs bull kb chhs. Xjcm wc rcfl`zci tjft

tjc oktjcr jfi tk ec `m tjc v`n`m`ty, prkefely cyc`mh us jumhr`ly, wcqu`ndly lcbt. Ecnfusc @ wfs bkllkw`mh Afnd fmi Fmmc, @ echfm lkkd`mh

ecj`mi oc cvcry bcw stcps w`tj ounj umcfs`mcss. Xjcm Afnd fmi @ lftcr

swfo `m tjc Xfdullf U`vcr, f hftkr stfrtci n`rnl`mh us, c`tjcr hufri`mh

jcr mcst kr njcnd`mh us kut bkr f pkss`elc ocfl.

Fmktjcr t`oc, wjcm @ wfs sctt`mh up oy tcmt ey tjc sjkrcs kb

Lfdc Kdccnjkecc `m skutjcrm Blkr`if, @ fsdci tjc rcs`icmt pfrd rfmhcr

`b @ jfi fmy nfusc tk wkrry fekut f hftkr fttfnd. Mk, ikmt wkrry fekut

`t, jc sf`i. Yjc hftkrs jfvcmt fttfndci fmyekiy frkumi jcrc, ft lcfst

mkt m tjc lfst wccd. Yjft m`hjt @ slcpt w`tj f jfoocr m oy jfmi. @ jfi

tjc bfrbctnjci mkt`km kb st`nd`mh tjc jfoocr upr`hjt `mtk tjc okutj kb

f njfrh`mh hftkr, ecnfusc @ dmcw tjft tjcm jc wkuli mkt ec felc tk

nlksc j`s w`ic-kpcm afw. Bfrbctnjci, @ dmkw, eut `t fllkwci oc tk hct

skoc slccp tjft m`hjt.

Hftkrs jfvc bfsn`mftci juofm ec`mhs bkr scvcrfl tjkusfmi

8/14/2019 Alligator Tales by Kevin M. McCarthy

11/20

x @mtrkiunt`km

ycfrs. Xjcmcvcr wc `m Blkr`if jfvc Mkrtjcrm v`s`tkrs, tjc kmc s`hjt tjcy

wfmt tk scc `m kur tkwm `s f hftkr, wjctjcr sw`oo`mh `m f lfdc kr

summ`mh tsclb kr cvcm wftnj`mh us ft f sfbc i`stfmnc. @ tcfnj ft f um`vcr-s`ty wjksc bkktefll tcfo, Yjc B`hjt`m Hftkrs, plfys `m f stfi`uo m`nd-

mfoci Yjc ^wfop. Hftkrs frc fll kvcr tkwm1 f ecvcrfhc nkopfmy,

fpfrtocmts, f nfr nkopfmy, cvcm f sjkc rcpf`r stkrc. Yjc fivfmtfhc kb

jfv`mh sunj f ofsnkt `s tjft, uml`dc tjc ^co`mklcs kr Ucisd`ms kr

R`d`mhs ft ktjcr snjkkls, wc ikmt jfvc tk nkms`icr jkw sunj f ofsnkt

wkuli kbbcmi tjc bccl`mhs kb hftkrs cvcrywjcrc `m tjcsc pkl`t`nfllynkrrcnt ifys. Lund`ly, tjcy ikmt jfvc f lkeey try`mh tk r`i snjkkls kb

sunj ofsnkts.

Hftkrs nfvkrt`mh w`tj kmc fmktjcr.

Nrci`t1 Blkr`if ^tftc Frnj`vcs

8/14/2019 Alligator Tales by Kevin M. McCarthy

12/20

Xjft bkllkws `s f nkllcnt`km kb stkr`cs fekut f rcpt`lc tjft bfsn`-

mftcs, tcrr`b`cs, `mtr`hucs, fmi `msp`rcs us. @ jfvc fiici skoc mktcs ft

tjc ech`mm`mh kb cfnj stkry, wjctjcr fm cxplfmft`km kb umusufl wkris

kr f mktc fekut tjc futjkr kr cvcm f wfrm`mh tk tjksc wjksc lftc-m`hjtrcfi`mh o`hjt er`mh km, `b mkt f m`hjthftkr, ft lcfst f o`li m`hjtofrc.

Cmaky tjc stkr`cs fmi dccp f wftnjbul cyc wjcm sw`oo`mh m kur brcsj-

wftcr lfdcs fmi r`vcrs. Fmi ikmt bkrhct tjc jfoocr wjcm yku slccp

mcxt tk Lfdc Kdccnjkecc.

Fll`hftkr Yflcs x`

8/14/2019 Alligator Tales by Kevin M. McCarthy

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8/14/2019 Alligator Tales by Kevin M. McCarthy

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6

@. Icsnr`pt`km kb Fll`hftkrs

Xjcm v`s`tkrs nkoc tk Blkr`if, tjcy `mvfr`fely fsd tk scc kmc

pfrt`nulfr pfrt kb `ts lfmisnfpc1 tjc fll`hftkr. Xc rcs`icmts

o`hjt try tk `oprcss mkm-Blkr`i`fms, wjctjcr brko tj`s

nkumtry kr clscwjcrc, w`tj ofmftccs fmi blfo`mhkcs fmi pfmtjcrs fmi

sjfrds, eut tk mk fvf`l. Pcs, eut sjkw us skoc hftkrs! tjc v`s`tkrs

`mvfr`fely rcspkmi.

Xjft `s `t fekut tjcsc h`fmt rcpt`lcs tjft jfs sk bfsn`mftci pckplc

bkr jumircis, ofyec tjkusfmis, kb ycfrs; Nkuli `t ec tjc`r rcputft`km

bkr ec`mh sunj bcrkn`kus fttfndcrs kb flokst fmy ktjcr fm`ofl tjft

cmtcrs `ts ikof`m; O`hjt `t ec tjc ifmhcr tjcy pksc bkr ikhs fmi sofll

nj`lircm; @s `t tjc`r icncpt`vc prcscmnc `m nflo lfdcs, aust ocfmicr`mh

tjrkuhj tjc wftcr kr lkll`mh km f summy efmd, fmi tjcm ifrt`mh kbb tk

fttfnd tjc`r prcy; Pcs, ycs, fmi ycs.

Ounj fll`hftkr l`tcrfturc `s c`tjcr f sn`cmt`b`n icsnr`pt`km kb tjc

fm`ofls kr f nkopfr`skm ectwccm fll`hftkrs fmi nrknki`lcs, turtlcs,

l`zfris, frofi`llks, kr ktjcr icm`zcms kb tjc swfop. Yj`s nkllcnt`km

prcscmts tj`rty-kmc sclcnt`kmsskoc b`nt`km, okst mkmb`nt`kmtjft

kbbcr f w`ic-rfmh`mh pcrspcnt`vc kb tj`s okst `mtcrcst`mh nrcft`km kb tjc

^kutjcrm fm`ofl d`mhiko.

Yj`s b`rst scnt`km jfs b`vc i`bbcrcmt icsnr`pt`kms kb fll`hftkrs1 brko

X`ll`fo Efrtrfos c`hjtccmtj-ncmtury pkrtrfyfl tk C.N. Erfibkris

okicrm stkry fekut tjc i`bb`nulty kb hctt`mh r`i kb f icfi hftkr `m kmcs

efscocmt, cspcn`flly wjcm `t turms kut tk ec vcry ounj fl`vc4 fmi brko

Jfo`ltkm Afys tfll tflc fekut f lkvcs`nd hftkr tk Auihc C.X. Nfrswclls

pf`r kb oytj`nfl stkr`cs fekut Wfmjfmilc nrcfturcs.

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>

Yjc Fll`hftkrs kb tjc ^t. Akjms U`vcrey X`ll`fo Efrtrfo

X`ll`fo Efrtrfo (68>0-6:5:) wfs fm Cmhl`sj mfturfl`st wjk trfvclci

tjrkuhj tjc ^kutjcfstcrm Sm`tci ^tftcs `m tjc 6887s, lkkd`mh bkr i`bbcr-

cmt spcn`cs kb blkrf fmi bfumf. Jc nkllcntci rfrc sfoplcs kb plfmts fmi

scmt tjco efnd tk Cmhlfmi tk f ektfm`st br`cmi. Jc flsk sdctnjci tjc

fm`ofls fmi plfmts jc nfoc upkm. Yjc bkllkw`mh p`cnc `s prkefely tjcokst bfokus cfrly icsnr`pt`km kb fll`hftkrs efttl`mh cfnj ktjcr, fs wcll fs

f hkki icsnr`pt`km kb fll`hftkr ecjfv`kr ey tj`s bfokus Cmhl`sj v`s`tkr.

Efrtrfos nrknki`lcs, wj`nj jc ocmt`kms ft tjc ech`mm`mh kb tjc

pfssfhc, frc prkefely fll`hftkrs. Jcrc frc skoc tcros tjft Efrtrfo uscs

tjft ofy mkt ec nlcfr tk okicrm rcficrs1 vcrhcscihcs4 scihchrfssl`dc

jcres `m ofrsjy plfncs4 busccf br`nt`km oftnj w`tj f lfrhc jcfi tjft nfm

eurm `m tjc w`mi4 efrdf sf`l`mh vcsscl kb tjrcc kr okrc ofsts4 fmi

squfoofctj`m, snflc-l`dc strunturcs.Yj`s sclcnt`km `s tfdcm brko X`ll`fo Efrtrfos Yrfvcls Yjrkuhj

Mkrtj fmi ^kutj Nfrkl`mf, Hckrh`f, Cfst fmi Xcst Blkr`if (Lkmikm1

6805, pp. 66365:). Yjc vcry lkmh pfrfhrfpjs kb tjc kr`h`mfl jfvc eccm

ofic `mtk sjkrtcr kmcs `m tj`s ci`t`km.

Y

jc cvcm`mh wfs tcopcrftcly nkkl fmi nflo. Yjc nrknki`lcs

echfm tk rkfr fmi fppcfr `m umnkookm muoecrs flkmh tjc

sjkrcs fmi `m tjc r`vcr. @ b`xci oy nfop `m fm kpcm plf`m, mcfrtjc utokst prkacnt`km kb tjc prkokmtkry, umicr tjc sjcltcr kb f lfrhc

l`vc kfd, wj`nj stkki km tjc j`hjcst pfrt kb tjc hrkumi, fmi eut f bcw

yfris brko oy ekft. Brko tj`s kpcm, j`hj s`tuft`km, @ jfi f brcc prkspcnt

kb tjc r`vcr, wj`nj wfs f ofttcr kb mk tr`v`fl nkms`icrft`km tk oc,

jfv`mh hkki rcfskm tk ircfi tjc suetlc fttfnds kb tjc fll`hftkrs, wjk

wcrc nrkwi`mh fekut oy jfrekur. Jfv`mh nkllcntci f hkki qufmt`ty kb

wkki bkr tjc purpksc kb dccp`mh up f l`hjt fmi sokdc iur`mh tjc m`hjt,

@ echfm tk tj`md kb prcpfr`mh oy suppcr, wjcm, upkm cxfo`m`mh oystkrcs, @ bkumi eut f snfmty prkv`s`km. @ tjcrcupkm ictcro`mci, fs tjc

okst cxpci`t`kus wfy kb supply`mh oy mcncss`t`cs, tk tfdc oy eke fmi

try bkr skoc trkut. Fekut kmc jumirci yfris fekvc oy jfrekur echfm

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9 Fll`hftkr Yflcs

f nkvc kr efy kb tjc r`vcr, kut kb wj`nj kpcmci f lfrhc lfhkkm. Yjc

okutj kr cmtrfmnc brko tjc r`vcr tk `t wfs mfrrkw, eut tjc wftcrs skkm

fbtcr sprcfi fmi bkroci f l`ttlc lfdc, cxtcmi`mh `mtk tjc ofrsjcs1 `tscmtrfmnc fmi sjkrcs w`tj`m @ kescrvci tk ec vcrhci w`tj blkft`mh lfwms

kb tjc p`st`f fmi myopjcf fmi ktjcr fquft`n plfmts4 tjcsc @ dmcw wcrc

cxncllcmt jfumts bkr trkut.

Yjc vcrhcs fmi `slcts kb tjc lfhkkm wcrc clchfmtly coecll`sjci

w`tj blkwcr`mh plfmts fmi sjrues4 tjc lfuhj`mh nkkts w`tj w`mhs jflb

sprcfi wcrc tr`pp`mh kvcr tjc l`ttlc nkvcs fmi j`i`mh tjcosclvcs `m tjc

tubts kb hrfss4 ykumh erkkis kb tjc pf`mtci suoocr tcfl, sd`oo`mh tjc

st`ll surbfnc kb tjc wftcrs, fmi bkllkw`mh tjc wftnjbul pfrcmt umnkm-sn`kus kb ifmhcr, wcrc brcqucmtly surpr`sci ey tjc vkrfn`kus trkut4 fmi

jc, `m turm, fs kbtcm ey tjc suetlc hrcciy fll`hftkr. Ecjkli j`o rusj`mh

bkrtj brko tjc blfhs fmi rccis. J`s cmkrokus ekiy swclls. J`s plf`tci

tf`l erfmi`sjci j`hj, blkfts upkm tjc lfdc. Yjc wftcrs l`dc f nftfrfnt

icsncmi brko j`s kpcm`mh afws. Nlkuis kb sokdc `ssuc brko j`s i`lftci

mkstr`ls. Yjc cfrtj trcoelcs w`tj j`s tjumicr. Xjcm `ooci`ftcly brko

tjc kppks`tc nkfst kb tjc lfhkkm, cocrhcs brko tjc iccp j`s r`vfl

njfop`km. Yjcy suiicmly ifrt upkm cfnj ktjcr. Yjc ek`l`mh surbfnc kbtjc lfdc ofrds tjc`r rfp`i nkursc, fmi f tcrr`b`n nkmbl`nt nkoocmncs.

Yjcy mkw s`md tk tjc ekttko bklici tkhctjcr `m jkrr`i wrcftjs. Yjc

wftcr ecnkocs tj`nd fmi i`snklkurci. Fhf`m tjcy r`sc, tjc`r afws nlfp

X`ll`fo Efrtrfos irfw`mh kb hftkrs, 688>-89.

Nrci`t1 Blkr`if ^tftc Frnj`vcs

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Icsnr`pt`km kb Fll`hftkrs 3

tkhctjcr, rc-cnjk`mh tjrkuhj tjc iccp surrkumi`mh bkrcsts. Fhf`m tjcy

s`md, wjcm tjc nkmtcst cmis ft tjc ouiiy ekttko kb tjc lfdc, fmi tjc

vfmqu`sjci ofdcs f jfzfrikus csnfpc, j`i`mh j`osclb `m tjc ouiiy

tureulcmt wftcrs fmi scihc km f i`stfmt sjkrc. Yjc prkui v`ntkr cxult-

`mh rcturms tk tjc plfnc kb fnt`km. Yjc sjkrcs fmi bkrcsts rcskumi j`sircfibul rkfr, tkhctjcr w`tj tjc tr`uopj`mh sjkuts kb tjc plf`tci tr`ecs

frkumi, w`tmcsscs kb tjc jkrr`i nkoeft.

Oy fpprcjcms`kms wcrc j`hjly flfroci fbtcr ec`mh f spcntftkr kb sk

ircfibul f efttlc. @t wfs kev`kus tjft cvcry iclfy wkuli eut tcmi tk

cmnrcfsc T`mnrcfsc_ oy ifmhcrs fmi i`bb`nult`cs, fs tjc sum wfs mcfr

sctt`mh, fmi tjc fll`hftkrs hftjcrci frkumi oy jfrekur brko fll qufr-

tcrs. Brko tjcsc nkms`icrft`kms @ nkmnluici tk ec cxpci`t`kus `m oy tr`p

tk tjc lfhkkm, `m kricr tk tfdc skoc b`sj. Mkt tj`md`mh `t pruicmt tk tfdcoy buscc w`tj oc, lcst @ o`hjt lksc `t kvcrekfri `m nfsc kb f efttlc,

wj`nj @ jfi cvcry rcfskm tk ircfi ecbkrc oy rcturm, @ tjcrcbkrc

burm`sjci oysclb w`tj f nlue bkr oy icbcmnc, wcmt km ekfri, fmi pcmc-

trft`mh tjc b`rst l`mc kb tjksc wj`nj surrkumici oy jfrekur, tjcy hfvc

wfy4 eut ec`mh pursuci ey scvcrfl vcry lfrhc kmcs, @ dcpt str`ntly km tjc

wftnj, fmi pfiilci w`tj fll oy o`hjt tkwfris tjc cmtrfmnc kb tjc

lfhkkm, jkp`mh tk ec sjcltcrci tjcrc brko tjc oult`tuic kb oy

fssf`lfmts4 eut crc @ jfi jflb-wfy rcfnjci tjc plfnc, @ wfs fttfndci kmfll s`ics, scvcrfl cmicfvkr`mh tk kvcrsct tjc nfmkc. Oy s`tuft`km mkw

ecnfoc prcnfr`kus tk tjc lfst ichrcc1 twk vcry lfrhc kmcs fttfndci oc

nlkscly, ft tjc sfoc `mstfmt, rusj`mh up w`tj tjc`r jcfis fmi pfrt kb tjc`r

eki`cs fekvc tjc wftcr, rkfr`mh tcrr`ely fmi eclnj`mh blkkis kb wftcr

kvcr oc. Yjcy strund tjc`r afws tkhctjcr sk nlksc tk oy cfrs, fs flokst

tk stum oc, fmi @ cxpcntci cvcry okocmt tk ec irfhhci kut kb tjc ekft

fmi `mstfmtly icvkurci. Eut @ fppl`ci oy wcfpkms sk cbbcntuflly fekut

oc, tjkuhj ft rfmiko, tjft @ wfs sk sunncssbul fs tk ecft tjco kbb fl`ttlc4 wjcm, b`mi`mh tjft tjcy ics`hmci tk rcmcw tjc efttlc, @ ofic bkr

tjc sjkrc, fs tjc kmly ocfms lcbt oc bkr oy prcscrvft`km4 bkr, ey dccp`mh

nlksc tk `t, @ sjkuli jfvc oy cmco`cs km kmc s`ic kb oc kmly, wjcrcfs

@ wfs ecbkrc surrkumici ey tjco4 fmi tjcrc wfs f prkefe`l`ty, `b pusjci

tk tjc lfst cxtrco`ty, kb sfv`mh oysclb, ey auop`mh kut kb tjc nfmkc km

sjkrc, fs `t `s cfsy tk kutwfld tjco km lfmi, fltjkuhj nkopfrft`vcly fs

sw`bt fs l`hjtm`mh `m tjc wftcr. @ bkumi tj`s lfst cxpci`cmt flkmc nkuli

bully fmswcr oy cxpcntft`kms, bkr fs skkm fs @ hf`mci tjc sjkrc, tjcyircw kbb fmi dcpt flkkb. Yj`s wfs f jfppy rcl`cb, fs oy nkmb`icmnc wfs,

`m skoc ichrcc, rcnkvcrci ey `t.

Km rcnkllcnt`mh oysclb, @ i`snkvcrci tjft @ jfi flokst rcfnjci tjc

8/14/2019 Alligator Tales by Kevin M. McCarthy

19/20

2 Fll`hftkr Yflcs

cmtrfmnc kb tjc lfhkkm, fmi ictcro`mci tk vcmturc `m, `b pkss`elc, tk

tfdc f bcw b`sj, fmi tjcm rcturm tk oy jfrekur, wj`lc ify-l`hjt nkmt`m-

uci4 bkr @ nkuli mkw, w`tj nfut`km fmi rcsklut`km, ofdc oy wfy w`tj

sfbcty flkmh sjkrc4 fmi `micci tjcrc wfs mk ktjcr wfy tk rchf`m oy

nfop, w`tjkut lcfv`mh oy ekft fmi ofd`mh oy rctrcft tjrkuhj tjcofrsjcs fmi rccis, wj`nj, `b @ nkuli cvcm cbbcnt, wkuli jfvc eccm `m f

ofmmcr tjrkw`mh oysclb fwfy, bkr tjcm tjcrc wkuli jfvc eccm mk

jkpcs kb cvcr rcnkvcr`mh oy efrd, fmi rcturm`mh `m sfbcty tk fmy scttlc-

ocmts kb ocm. @ fnnkri`mhly prknccici, fmi ofic hkki oy cmtrfmnc

`mtk tjc lfhkkm, tjkuhj mkt w`tjkut kppks`t`km brko tjc fll`hftkrs,

wjk bkroci f l`mc fnrkss tjc cmtrfmnc, eut i`i mkt pursuc oc `mtk `t,

mkr wfs @ oklcstci ey fmy tjcrc, tjkuhj tjcrc wcrc skoc vcry lfrhc

kmcs `m f nkvc ft tjc uppcr cmi. @ skkm nfuhjt okrc trkut tjfm @ jfiprcscmt knnfs`km bkr, fmi tjc f`r wfs tkk jkt fmi sultry tk fio`t kb

tjc`r ec`mh dcpt bkr ofmy jkurs, cvcm tjkuhj sfltci kr efrecnuci.

@ mkw prcpfrci bkr oy rcturm tk nfop, wj`nj @ sunnccici `m w`tj

eut l`ttlc trkuelc, ey dccp`mh nlksc tk tjc sjkrc4 yct @ wfs kppksci upkm

rc-cmtcr`mh tjc r`vcr kut kb tjc lfhkkm, fmi pursuci mcfr tk oy lfmi`mh

(tjkuhj mkt nlkscly fttfndci), pfrt`nulfrly ey fm kli ifr`mh kmc, fekut

twclvc bcct `m lcmhtj, wjk dcpt nlksc fbtcr oc4 fmi wjcm @ stcppci km

sjkrc fmi turmci fekut, `m kricr tk irfw up oy nfmkc, jc rusjci upmcfr oy bcct, fmi lfy tjcrc bkr skoc t`oc, lkkd`mh oc `m tjc bfnc, j`s

jcfi fmi sjkulicrs kut kb wftcr. @ rcsklvci jc sjkuli pfy bkr j`s tcocr-

`ty, fmi jfv`mh f jcfvy lkfi `m oy buscc, @ rfm tk oy nfop, fmi rcturm-

`mh w`tj oy p`cnc, bkumi j`o w`tj j`s bkkt km tjc humwflc kb tjc ekft,

`m scfrnj kb b`sj. Km oy nko`mh up jc w`tjircw sullcmly fmi slkwly mtk

tjc wftcr, eut skkm rcturmci fmi plfnci j`osclb `m j`s bkrocr pks`t`km,

lkkd`mh ft oc, fmi scco`mh mc`tjcr bcfrbul mkr fmy wfy i`stureci. @

skkm i`spftnjci j`o ey lkih`mh tjc nkmtcmts kb oy hum `m j`s jcfi, fmitjcm prknccici tk nlcfmsc fmi prcpfrc oy b`sj bkr suppcr4 fmi fnnkri-

`mhly tkkd tjco kut kb tjc ekft, lf`i tjco ikwm km tjc sfmi nlksc tk tjc

wftcr, fmi echfm tk snflc tjco4 wjcm, rf`s`mh oy jcfi, @ sfw ecbkrc

oc, tjrkuhj tjc nlcfr wftcr, tjc jcfi fmi sjkulicrs kb f vcry lfrhc fll`-

hftkr, okv`mh slkwly tkwfris oc.

@ `mstfmtly stcppci efnd, wjcm, w`tj f swccp kb j`s tf`l, jc erusjci

kbb scvcrfl kb oy b`sj. @t wfs ncrtf`mly okst prkv`icmt`fl tjft @ lkkdci up

ft tjft `mstfmt, fs tjc okmstcr wkuli prkefely, `m lcss tjfm f o`mutc,jfvc sc`zci fmi irfhhci oc `mtk tjc r`vcr. Yj`s `mnrci`elc eklimcss kb

tjc fm`ofl i`stureci oc hrcftly, suppks`mh tjcrc nkuli mkw ec mk

rcfskmfelc sfbcty bkr oc iur`mh tjc m`hjt, eut ey dccp`mh nkmt`muflly km

8/14/2019 Alligator Tales by Kevin M. McCarthy

20/20

Fll`hftkr Yflcsey

Dcv`m O. OnNfrtjy

Bkr okrc `mbkroft`km fekut tj`s fmi ktjcr W`mcfpplc Wrcsst`tlcs v`s`t kur wces`tc ft jttp1//www.p`mcfpplcprcss.nko

W`mcfpplc Wrcss t`tlcs frc fvf`lfelc brko jttp1//www.p`mcfpplcprcss.nkofmi brko ofakr ekkdstkrc njf`ms fmi kml`mc rctf`lcrs.