BLOWING UP A CROCODILE. 



357 



KINGFISHER. 



to the spot where the accident happened ; but all was still 

 there, not a wavelet disturbed the surface of the stream. A 

 small speckled kingfisher was hovering overhead, as if ba- 

 lanced in the air, with its beak bent down on its breast, watch- 

 ing the fish beneath ; presently it darted like an arrow into 

 the water ; returned with an empty bill, and then went off, 

 with its clear, sharp, twittering note as if to console itself for 

 the failure. 



One day I was sitting on the high bank of the river, taking 

 snap shots with my gun at the large fish who were every now 

 and then leaping out of the water. A favorite spaniel was 

 bringing fish out of the water that I had hit. It had swum 

 already half-way across the stream when the water about six 

 yards below her became suddenly disturbed ; and to my horror, 

 up started the head and open jaws of an enormous crocodile. 

 The dog gave a loud shriek, and sprang half out of the water. 

 The mugger swam rapidly, and got within a yard of his in- 

 tended victim, when I raised my gun, and took aim at the 



