As the crocodile came up Jock went straight for 

 him his eyes gleaming, his shoulders up, his nose 

 out, his neck stretched to the utmost in his eagerness 

 and he ploughed along straining every muscle to catch 

 up. When the crocodile went under he slackened and 

 looked anxiously about, but each fresh rise was greeted 

 by the whimpering yelps of intense suppressed excite- 

 ment as he fairly hoisted himself out of the water with 

 the vigour of his swimming. 



The water was now breast-high for us, and we were 

 far out in the stream, beyond the sand spit where the 

 crocodile had lain, when the kaffirs on the bank got 

 their first chance and a flight of assegais went at the 

 enemy as he rose. Several struck and two remained 

 in him ; he rose again a few yards from Jim, and that 

 sportsman let fly one that struck well home. Jock, 

 who had been toiling close behind for some time and 

 gaining slowly, was not five yards off then ; the 

 floundering and lashing of the crocodile were bewilder- 

 ing, but on he went as grimly and eagerly as ever. 

 I fired again not more than eight yards away but 

 the water was then up to my arms, and it was impossible 

 to pick a vital part ; the brain and neck were the only 

 spots to finish him, but one could see nothing beyond 

 a great upheaval of water and clouds of spray and 

 blood-stained foam. 



The crocodile turned from the shot and dived up 

 stream, heading straight for Jock : the din of yelling 

 voices stopped instantly as the huge open mouthed 

 thing plunged towards the dog ; and for one sick 

 horrified moment I stood and watched helpless. 



388 



