Big Game at Sea 



extent, but filled up with tall grasses common to such 

 places. The tide, in its rising and falling, had appar- 

 ently cut channels here and there, and through one 

 we passed, finding a succession of beaches of soft mud 

 leading up to the brush most inviting spots for the 

 sleepy reptiles. 



" Slowly we poled along, passing many such, but 

 no signs of a crocodile, and I was well nigh discour- 

 aged, and had put down my rifle, and was about to 

 fill my pipe, when the old Indian stopped the dinghy 

 suddenly, and gave a deep and mysterious hiss. I 

 sprang to my feet and looked in the direction indi- 

 cated, where, sure enough, was the black form of 

 something; perhaps a log, perhaps not. 



" ' That's him,' whispered Bob ; and taking hold of 

 the grass by clumps, he drew the dinghy along until 

 we were in a position concealed, yet commanding a 

 good view of the reptile. It was indeed a crocodile ; 

 even from that distance the difference between it and 

 an alligator being noticeable in a clearer and more 

 rakish built and sharper nose. He was at least thir- 

 teen feet long a big fellow even for an alligator. 



" It was evident that he could not escape us readily ; 

 so I determined to give him a rifle bullet, then shove 

 quickly to the mouth of the bay, and let him have the 

 grains or harpoon if he attempted to go out. Old 

 Bob steadied the dinghy, and, taking careful aim, I 

 fired. I heard the sharp ring of the bullet, and the 

 next second the tail of the monster swung around to 



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