t, and just at sunset muddy patches began to
make their appearance, upon which Rodd noticed three times over,
portions of the rugged trunks of trees that had been denuded of every
branch as they floated down with the stream.

All at once, just where the mud glistened ruddily in the rays of the
setting sun, Rodd started, for a thick stumpy tree trunk suddenly began
to move gently, then glided a few feet over the mud, and finally went
into the river with a tremendous splash.

"Why, what's that?" cried Rodd excitedly.

"Croc," grunted the skipper gruffly. "Thousands of them along here."

CHAPTER THIRTY FOUR.

HOW TO GET BACK?

"Almost as bad as you tacking out of the harbour, Morny," said Rodd that
evening, as the two vessels glided up the rapidly narrowing and greatly
winding river.

"Oh no," replied the French lad. "There is no tremendous storm of wind
blowing, threatening to tear the sails to ribbons, no soldiers in boats
using their muskets, no big guns sending heavy balls from the forts."

"No," said the skipper, who had overheard the remarks; "not a bit like
it, Mr Rodd. It is rather awkward work, though, and we have to be
always on the dodge, else the next thing would be we should go ramming
our noses right in the muddy banks and getting stuck fast; and that
wouldn't do."

"Oh, you would get off again next tide," said Rodd carelessly.

"Mebbe," said the skipper. "As the old country chaps at home say, we
mought and we moughtn't."

"Look, Morny," cried Rodd. "There's another of those great crocs. What
a thick one! Why, that one must be five-and-twenty feet long."

"Fourteen," grunted the skipper.

"No, no; it must have been twenty," cried Rodd.

"Fourteen, outside," growled the skipper. "How can you tell when you
only catch sight of them on the move?"

"Well, it was a tremendous thickness," said Rodd.

"Ay, it was thick enough, and heavy enough; and they are stronger than
horses. And just you look here, youngster, while we are up this river,
where I dare say they swarm, you had better keep your eyes open, for
those chaps will pull a deer or a bullock into the water before the poor
brute knows where it is, and as to human natur', they lie waiting close
to the banks for the poor niggers, men, women or children, who come down
to get water, and they nip them off in a moment."

"Ugh! Horrible!" cried Rodd.

"Yes, and what made me speak to you was that we are going to settle down
for a b