Page 112 - Adventures in Africa

Near our camp a stream of clear water fell into the
river, and in the evening- Harry asked me to go down
and bathe. Hans said lie would join us.

“ Are there no crocodiles there ? ” I asked, and I
told him of the numbers I had seen In the river.
“ No fear of the brutes there,” answered Mans;
“ the water is too shallow----- ■”

u Or hippopotami ?” I put in.
Still less likely," said Hans. The monsters
never come up such streams as these.”

We started olf, and on reaching the stream sepa­
rated from each other. While looking out for a clear
pool free fnom lilies, or other aquatic plants, presently
Harry, who had gone up the stream, cried out—

I've found a capital place. W e can leap into
deep water from the bank.”
Just then I heard my uncle shout out—

tl Where are you going, boys ? The crocodiles come
up here to lay their eggs. It is as dangerous a part
as any in the country.”
At that moment Harry shouted out, “ Hulloa!
I * I
m in !
I was rushing to his assistance, when I heard a
fearful cry from Hans, who, his foot slipping, had

fallen into the water. As he did so, a huge cro­
codile darted across the stream.
My uncle and Mr. Welbourn were descending the
bank, and were much nearer than I was. I was un­

decided to whose assistance I should run, when, to my
horror, I saw the crocodile seize Hans by the arm,
before he could regain his feet. I fortunately had my

large hunting knife in my belt, though I had not