Fish or cut bait.
Wonder if ol Nomad would volunteer to be towed behoind the pirogue. That would save even more money as long as you snatched back in on time.
Or...tie a rope around his waist, give him the hatchet and let him stand in the swamp while everyone watches for a gator coming for him.
Man, we's be havin some fun back home gator huntin. It's almost as much fun as going into someone's house and takin back the stereo system and bunk beds they ain't payin for.
My motto back then was "If YOU don't pay, IT don't stay!"
One Saturday mornin, went into a crack house to repo a stereo. My partner told me he had permission from the householder to grab the stereo, so I agreed to help. They had put black trash bags over all the windows so you couldn't see in. We walked in the front door and John turns around and tells me to be quiet. Stereo is still blasting, but you can't see anything in this place until your eyes adjust to the darkness.
I'm following behind him, and as my eyes start adjusting I can see passed out folks everywhere. On the coffee table there are drugs, money, and some pistols. John turns around and reminds me "Ok buddy, we need to be quiet so we don't wake anyone."
This stereo is gonna take two trips for each of us to get it out. John reaches over and slowly lowers the volume and then unplugs the main unit and disconnects the speakers. He reminds me to be quiet and we start removing the property. This was leased equipment, so it belonged to our employer not the householder.
We made it out with no issues --- but it was a rush doing it. Almost as much fun as gator hunting, and nearly as dangerous.