286 ADVENTURES OF AN ELEPHANT HUNTER CH. xxxn 



At Mpimbi, there occurred, some years ago, a 

 most extraordinary incident. A native, having just 

 stepped into his canoe and being in a talkative 

 mood, remarked to a companion standing on the 

 bank : ' Only a week ago, a crocodile killed my 

 mother and some day, I dare say, I shall share the 

 same fate.' With these words he bent down to 

 reach for the pole with which he propelled his canoe. 

 Immediately a crocodile seized him by the arm, and 

 before his friend could even make an attempt at 

 rescue, the poor fellow had vanished into the water, 

 never to reappear. 



Once, on the Shire River, a similar tragedy was 

 only averted by the timely presence of a European. 

 As a canoe was being poled across stream by a 

 native, a crocodile thrust his snout over the frail 

 vessel, capsizing it, and, as the occupant fell 

 headlong into the water, seized him by the arm and 

 was about to disappear, when a European (I believe 

 his name was Henderson) who was fortunately on 

 the opposite bank of the river, on the look-out for 

 crocodiles, seeing the native's predicament, at once 

 fired and killed the reptile. The injured man was 

 promptly rescued and taken ashore, where his arm 

 was amputated, and, recovering from his dreadful 

 experience, for years earned his living as a letter- 

 carrier. 



