272 CROCODILES. 



crocodile emerge on the opposite shore, holding in 

 his blood-stained mouth the unfortunate swimmer, 

 who no longer exhibited any sign of life. At this 

 sight the companions of the victim uttered terrible 

 cries, in the hope of compelling the monster to 

 abandon his prey ; but the crocodile squatted clown on 

 the desert shore, and, scarcely sensible of this tumult, 

 was grinding between his teeth the body extended 

 before him. Some guns had been hastily procured, 

 which were discharged at the* ferocious beast ; and 

 whether they had any effect, or the monster, frightened 

 by this brisk detonation, wished to shelter himself 

 from a new attack, he plunged into the river, carrying 

 with him the remains of his victim in the presence 

 of a numerous crowd, which had run together from 

 all parts, and which followed in breathless consterna- 

 tion the different phases of this exciting and terrible 

 drama. We remained still for some time on the 

 banks of the river, but the crocodile did not reappear, 

 and we retired in silence." 



We have already seen Mr. Combes' argument against 

 the ferocity of the crocodile, in the facts he mentions 

 of the sailors not fearing to go into the Nile, and the 

 women and children taking water and washing therein. 

 What shall we think of this argument when we shall 

 presently see our traveller himself, his mind still 

 filled with the catastrophe which we have just related, 



