The lake and rivers running into it abound with these savage monsters, a species of alligator or crocodile.  The man forced his horse into the stream and swam on some way.  Suddenly we were startled with the cry of "A cayman! a cayman!  Take care, man!"  The Indian threw himself from his horse and swam boldly to the bank, leaving his poor steed to become the prey of the monster.  The cayman made directly for the horse, and seized him with his huge jaws by the body.  The poor steed's shriek of agony sounded in our ears, but fortunately for him the saddle-girth gave way, and he struggled free, leaving the tough leather alone in the brute's mouth, and swam off to shore.  The cayman, not liking the morsel, looked about for something more to his taste.