92 GUN, RIFLE, AND HOUND. 



noticing it he reached for a rifle. They were 

 hanging in slings at the sides of the cart. The 

 driver's protest, " Dorai, dorai " (sir, sir), roused me, 

 and I turned round just in time to see Will aiming 

 at one of a couple of alligators, who were basking on 

 a sand-bank. 



Bang ! went the rifle, and in spite of the driver's 

 best endeavours, the bullocks bolted into deep water. 

 In less than a minute the smart cart was upset, and 

 Will, I, driver, bullocks, and for all I knew the 

 alligators too, were all struggling for the opposite 

 shore. The incident ended better than might be 

 expected, for the cart being closed in behind like a 

 London tradesman's cart, nothing was lost except 

 Will's socks, which served him right. Although 

 everything was sopping wet, the weather and water 

 were both warm, and we were soon at work drying 

 and cleaning ourselves and our property on the 

 opposite bank. Fortunately most of our things and 

 all our stores were in the country cart, which was 

 following, and the ammunition being in the tight- 

 fitting drawer, had escaped. I always have rifle 

 cartridges soldered up in tin cases holding ten ; but 

 to have had our gun cartridges wetted would have 

 been a serious loss. 



Will was so penitent I couldn't abuse him as he 

 deserved for his recklessness, which after all had had 

 no serious consequences ; but as it was obvious there 

 would be a long delay here, we decided to camp till 

 after dinner. I may add that the bullocks never 

 forgot the incident, and refused absolutely to allow 



