A NATURALIST ON THE WHITE RIVER. 379 



preferably with his boot, and to kick the Tortoise hastily back 

 to that element from which it should never emerge. Does he 

 in his nightly prowl ever encounter his brother of the rocks, the 

 Eock- Tortoise, and do they both share the same capacity of 

 abstaining from food for an incredible period? 



The stroll is ended, the White Eiver discharges its burden 

 and the sorrows of its tragedies into the broader, deeper Crocodile 

 Eiver, where nature continues the cruel war — those shuddering 

 reptiles with the iron jaw r s ever awaiting their prey. Only very 

 recently, some miles below, a traveller, resting from the glaring 

 heat of the tropical sun, observed a Crocodile on a rock, in 

 appearance an excrescence of the rock as it lay basking in the 

 fierce sunlight and still air, apparently asleep. It would have been 

 well had it slept, for two stately Impala Antelopes* step silently 

 from the bordering bush to the water's edge, and as a cautious 

 glance around gives promise of safety, the ram enters the water. 

 Before he has reached the other side the enemy silently slips 

 off its rock, — making no noise, only a swirl upon the water, — and 

 this is quickly seen by the swimming Antelope, which seeks, at 

 desperate redoubled speed, to gain the safety of the shore, which 

 he reached. Scarce had his feet left the water when out rushed 

 the protruding and repulsive head of the Crocodile, and as quickly 

 withdrawn — too late, baffled. Surely some cry would be given by 

 the one who so narrowly escaped to his mate waiting on the 

 other bank ; but the gazer saw the doe slowly enter and begin 

 to swim across. Anxiously her course was watched, and the 

 reaching of well-nigh the centre of the river gave hope, but 

 then, without warning, without a cry, high up out of the water 

 sprang the head, shoulders and fore legs, and as silently the 

 doomed animal disappeared beneath the waters ; just a circling 

 swirl, closing like a pall, the little ripples ever-widening reaching 

 to the bank as if conveying one more message, one more warn- 

 ing of the tragedy and danger of the water to those that dwell 



upon the land. 



* Aepyceros melam/pus. 



2 g 2 



