Bartleby of the Big Bad Bayou Read Online Free Page A

the four great gators to twitch their tails. “Perhaps no alligator you know. But I am Ssseezer of the Mighty Mississippi. This ssstream is my home, too. It’s where I was hatched.”
    â€œSeezer and I were probably even nest mates,” Grub added. “Don’t we look like bro’s?”
    All four big gators snorted loudly.
    â€œI’ll tell you what. Since we’re kin, I’ll let you give us that snack on your back,” the first gator hissed. He slithered down the bank toward Seezer.
    â€œI’m not a snack—I’m a present. But not for you!” Bartleby had had enough of these giant goons. “I don’t think Old Stump would like it if he knew you were thinking of keeping me. You’d better go and tell him that we’re here. Right now!”
    The gators swung their heads together and grumbled to one another. The sounds they made were like distant thunder. “All right, all right. I’ll go,” Number Four said loudly. He skulked down the bank, dragging his tail, which had a single band of yellow at the tip.
    â€œHey, little bro’,” Grub whispered to Bartleby. “That was very brave. Even if I could eat you, I might not. Too bad Old Stump’s always hungry.”
    â€œEr, thank you.” While they waited for the reply, Bartleby thought about his little pond in New York. Even in that cozy water place, the Claw, the Paw, and the Jaw had always been near. During the time he’d lived there, Bartleby had been captured by a raccoon, stalked by a snake, and mauled by a fox. But no enemy had been so big or powerful that it ruled all the others. Only when he’d lived in a tank had there been a boss—his boy, Davy.
    Suddenly the bayou began to sway. Waves splashed over the alligators’ backs. Deep in the woods, birds began crying their alarm.
    â€œIs a storm coming?” Bartleby asked.
    â€œThat is no ssstorm,” Seezer replied as a massive creature broke through the water. It was a murky, dark green like the color of old mold. Its teeth looked as sharp and curved as fishhooks. The scutes on its back were as pointy as thorns. Its tail was almost as long as Seezer! When it opened its mouth, a rotten smell drifted into the air.
    â€œOld Stump thanks you for the present. You may leave it in the water. Now go home.” The giant gator’s voice was low and slow. He definitely sounded irritated.
    â€œBut I am home,” Seezer told the smelly giant. “I was born in this bayou, and I have ssswum many traveling waters to return here. Ssso has Bartleby.”
    â€œWell, you can ssswim right back where you came from. Old Stump doesn’t care,” the bull gator said mockingly. He waved his amazingly long tail. “Come on, Present. Old Stump will take you to his cave and add you to his stock of goodies.”
    â€œYou can’t sssend me anywhere,” Ssseezer insisted. “My mother and all of my sssiblings lived here, although I don’t know what happened to them. But I plan to ssstay—and ssso does Bartleby.”
    â€œNonsense! There are already enough alligators in Old Stump’s bayou—too many. Look! They are all starving. They haven’t enough to eat.” Old Stump cast a pitying glance at the gators on the bank.
    â€œIt’s true, bro’. He doesn’t leave a morsel around for any of us,” Grub murmured. “Though I think his four guards sneak some of his food when he’s not in his cave.”
    Bartleby’s throat began to quiver. Probably the greedy old gator had eaten all the red-eared turtles that used to live here. That must be why he hadn’t seen a single one.
    â€œYou don’t have to worry about me,” Seezer said. “I sssurvived in a place much less hospitable than this one. I ssshall be glad to hunt my own sssupper.”
    Old Stump emitted a long, stinking hiss. “Old Stump doesn’t like you. You think you are special