MOLE “CAUGHT BY A *CROCODILE. 30 
rope was too great for him, and he had to let go the end. 
This was the first failure. Afterwards we landed several 
men on the opposite shore, and this time Idris and Abdi 
managed to row across with a rope, and give them the end, 
which they made fast to a tree; but we were bound to be 
disappointed again, — the rope broke. 
“The afternoon was now spent in making a raft, and in 
braiding a rope to triple its original size, so that there 
would be no danger of its breaking. When returning to 
camp, I was surprised by hearing a number of shots fired 
in quick succession at the water's edge. I could only 
imagine that the Gallas were attacking us, and rushed 
hastily to the spot, to find that Fred’s mule had been 
caught by a crocodile and dragged some distance into 
the water, before some of my boys had rescued him by 
their shots. Fred and Dodson came rushing in from 
different directions, as they too thought the camp had 
been attacked. One of the mule’s fore-legs was terribly 
lacerated, and there seemed to be scarcely a hope of saving 
him. We debated for a long time as to whether we should 
o1ve 
Ca 
shoot the mule or not, but Fred finally determined to 
the poor beast a chance for life." Owing to this incident, 
we dubbed the spot ‘ Crocodile Camp.’ 
“ August 26. The boys spent the day trying to get a 
rope across, and the new raft floated. They worked like 
Trojans, but the raft they made with so much patience was 
a failure. We all feel very blue. The river fell six inches 
the last twenty-four hours, so that the men could wade 
almost across the stream in the afternoon. There are many 
hippopotami about, but we have been unable to get a shot 
as yet. 
“ August 27. Fred’s mule seems to be recovering from 
1 And glad he was afterwards of his decision, as a more serviceable animal 
he could not have had. 
