XIII 
THE CROCODILE 
3i 
striking and hauling upon the line. After a 
rush of a few yards, the monster sulked among 
the aquatic reeds at the bottom of the lake, until 
prodded by a harpoon from a canoe, which I 
had sent to disturb it. The boatman could not 
pierce through the thick scales ; and suddenly the 
line slackened, and I hauled up my line, at the end 
of which was a completely flattened duck, together 
with my hook, compressed and useless, as I have 
described. 
I have shot immense numbers of crocodiles in 
various countries, and, if upon the shore, I have 
generally secured them. A very accurate rifle is 
necessary, as there are only two points that are 
immediately fatal—No. 1 is just behind the eye, 
No. 2 exactly through the centre of the shoulder. 
The latter shot will break both joints of the fore 
legs, and will pass directly through the lungs. 
Although I prefer a *5 77 rifle, the *450 solid bullet 
will be always fatal, if it is placed exactly as I have 
described. 
The hard scales of crocodiles were said to be 
proof against a rifle bullet. This may have been the 
case at the beginning of the century, when rifles 
were loaded with only 1 dram of powder ; it was at 
that date that the grizzly bear was considered almost 
bullet-proof, when the first settlers encountered it 
with no better weapon than the No. 70 pea-rifle ; 
but a hardened solid bullet, propelled by 6 drams of 
powder, will drive through a crocodile like a sheet 
of paper. 
