294 UNDER THE AFRICAN SUN 



the water was deep enough. The river teems with crocodiles, 

 but there is a general belief, that the splashing and the shouting 

 frightens the crocs away. The men toiled all day ; but, if 

 anything, we got more firmly fixed than ever on the sand. In 

 the evening the captain told me, that one of the natives was 

 supposed to have been drowned, as he had disappeared in the 

 water. It seems to me, however, just as possible that he was 

 quietly "annexed" by a crocodile, in whose "sphere of in- 

 fluence " he happened to be. As the steamer could not be got 

 off, boats came from higher up the river to our assistance and 

 took us to the landing-station. 



On our way we saw numbers of crocs basking on the sand- 

 banks and plunging into the water as our boat drew near to 

 them. One huge monster refused to budge. My boat- 

 companion got greatly excited, and begged the loan of my 

 revolver, the only weapon we had. 



When thirty yards off, he fired at the eye of the croc. A 

 furious switch of the tail followed and the monster lay still. I 

 knew my companion was a good shot, but I was amazed at this 

 marvellous exhibition of skill, and at the astounding accuracy of 

 his aim from a moving boat ; but there, apparently, lay the proof 

 before my eyes. My companion was naturally doubly sure, and 

 he decided to land and secure the croc. I agreed to follow, but 

 not a native would stir from the boat. I do not wonder now, 

 since I have had a little more experience of crocs. Once on the 

 same sand-bank with our motionless croc, I suggested that my 

 companion should fire another shot to make quite sure that the 

 reptile was dead. This shot was followed by such a furious 

 lashing of the tail and such an unpleasant opening and clapping 

 together of the huge jaws, that we thought it advisable to retreat 

 backwards, scramble into the boat, and push off, especially as 

 the croc was trying to screw himself round on its fore-legs in 

 our direction. We should probably not have troubled ourselves 

 further about it, if one of the other boats had not appeared on 

 the scene. My companion borrowed a rifie from one of the 

 new-comers. Once more we ventured on the sand-bank, and my 

 companion sent the bullet crashing into the head of the reptile. 

 Instantly the croc began rolling over and over, but fortunately 

 towards the distant end of the sandbank. We had not a spare 

 cartridge, and were on the point of losing the croc, when my 

 companion produced a knife. 



