132 AFRICAN ADVENTURE STORIES 



gone to water to drink was grabbed by the nose 

 by a croc and hauled under the surface. There 

 is even an authentic record of a full-grown rhinoc- 

 eros being caught by the leg and dragged into 

 deep water and drowned, and the witness took 

 several photographs of the beast as it was 

 gradually pulled farther and farther toward its 

 doom. 



When a crocodile discovers where the natives 

 gather at a watering-place, it lurks near by, com- 

 ing to the top only when compelled to breathe. 

 It may float on the surface, several rods away, 

 until a native approaches to fill a water-jar. 

 Instantly it dives, and, swimming under water, 

 is not seen again until it has grabbed him by 

 the legs, or the hand, and dragged him in. Per- 

 chance it will first strike its victim with its tail, 

 knock him off the bank, and then seize him; at all 

 events the result is the same. 



Women and children are the chief victims, 

 because upon them rests the duty of providing 

 the household with water. 



A little girl was given a gourd water-bottle 

 and sent to the river to fill it, but she never 

 returned. Through friends, with whom she 

 stopped to play en route, she was traced to the 



