black rock at the upper end of it they were rocks 

 right enough, for I had examined them carefully when 

 bathing. This was the only other sandbank in sight : 

 it was higher than it appeared to be from a distance 

 and the crocodile whilst hidden from us was visible 

 to the natives on the opposite bank as it lay in the 

 shallow water and emerged inch by inch to resume 

 its morning sun bath. The crocodile was so slow in 

 showing up that I quite thought it had been scared 

 off again, and I turned to examine other objects and 

 spots up and down the stream ; but presently glancing 

 back at the bank again I saw what appeared to be 

 a third rock, no bigger than a loaf of bread. This 

 object I watched until my eyes ached and swam ; it 

 was the only possible crocodile ; yet it was so small, 

 so motionless, so permanent looking, it seemed absurd 

 to doubt that it really was a stone which had passed 

 unnoticed before. 



As I watched unblinkingly it seemed to grow bigger 

 and again contract with regular swing, as if it swelled 

 and shrank with breathing ; and knowing that this 

 must be merely an optical delusion caused by staring 

 too long, I shut my eyes for a minute. The effect was 

 excellent : the rock was much bigger ; and after that 

 it was easy to lie still and wait for the cunning old 

 reptile to show himself. 



It took half an hour of this cautious manoeuvring 

 and edging on the part of the crocodile before he 

 was comfortably settled on the sand with the sun 

 warming all his back. In the meantime the waggon 

 boys behind me had not stirred ; on the opposite side 



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