270 CROCODILES. 



numerous in those parts, and in throwing themselves 

 into the river, they would run great risk of being 

 devoured by. these terrible animals. This was re- 

 marked to the Turkish merchant, but he, far from 

 being touched by so grave a consideration, proposed 

 a still higher reward, sufficient to tempt the cupidity 

 of the camel- drivers. In spite of the danger which 

 menaced him, one of them, the oldest, suffered him- 

 self to be seduced. He took off his clothes and 

 leaped into the Nile, uttering loud shouts. He was 

 not yet two lengths from the shore, when, towards 

 the middle of the river, a monstrous crocodile 

 elevated his hideous head above the water, and then 

 plunged almost immediately. The swimmer had not 

 perceived the animal, but the apparition had not 

 escaped the anxious looks of the other camel-drivers 

 standing upon the shore. These hastened to call 

 to their companion, signalling the imminence of his 

 danger. We were all in a state of the most cruel 

 anxiety, fearing at each instant to see the rash 

 fellow become the prey of the formidable amphibian. 

 But, thank God ! it was not so ; at the first warning 

 of the camel-drivers the swimmer turned round, and 

 it was with the most vivid satisfaction that I saw 

 him regain the shore, and he was not slow in 

 securing his safety. He was received jeeringly by 

 the merchant, who perhaps regretted the horrible 



