NARROW ESCAPE. 
27 
anecdote that happened to me on the St. Luey’s 
month, where it runs into St. Lucia Bay. I shot a 
goose, almost full grown, though a flapper, and 
he was drifting nicely to my feet, when he un¬ 
accountably disappeared. Not taking particular 
notice at the time, I thought lie might possibly 
have partly recovered and dived. Gibson was with 
me at the time, and, disappointed of our intended 
roast, as we had not breakfasted, I shot another, and 
he likewise disappeared in the same place and manner. 
There being plenty, I shot a third, and, determined 
not to lose this one, went gradually into the river to 
meet him, armed with a heavy lancewood loading-rod 
shod with iron, and had nearly got up to my middle, 
making a tremendous noise and splashing to scare 
the crocodiles, when, just as I was stretching out my 
arm to reach my goose, he suddenly went under 
water. I had no fears in those days, and did not 
know the real danger, so I made a grasp and caught 
the goose by the leg, striking the water as hard as 
ever I could. In an instant the goose came in halves, 
the legs, back, and some of the entrails falling to my 
share, Mr. Crocodile getting the better half, and two 
or three violent blows on the nose into the bargain. 
I need hardly say I lost not an instant in getting 
ashore again, and did not think much at the time 
(which is often the case) of what a foolish thing it 
was to do, and what a narrow escape I had had. 
It is only once in a man’s lifetime he does these dare¬ 
devil sort of things, and it is wonderful how lucky 
