hile they waded through the mud by her side, half
lifting, half thrusting, and succeeded at last in getting her to where a
sloping portion of the bank ran down to the river.

"Now all together, my lads," cried Joe. "Keep step, and hold her well
in hand, for she'll soon begin to slide; and as soon as she reaches the
water, jump in. Make ready. I'll give the word."

"Stop!" shouted Rodd. "What about the crocodiles?"

"Oh, murder!" cried Joe. "I forgot all about them. Well, never mind.
This aren't no time to be nice. It's got to be done, so here goes."

Rodd seized one of the poles, and going right to the bows knelt down in
the bottom, and holding the pole lance fashion, prepared to try and use
it.

"That won't be no good, my lad," cried Joe. "Now, my lads--one, two,
three! Off she goes!"

They ran the gig quickly down the muddy slope, and as they touched the
water and the foremost part began to float they took another step or
two, gave her a final thrust, and sprang in, just as Rodd realised the
truth of the sailor's words, for as they glided out with tremendous
force, before they were a dozen yards from the water's edge the gig's
stem collided just behind two muddy-looking prominences that appeared
above the surface of the water, and as the shock sent the boy backwards
over the next thwart the boat, which was bounding up and down with the
result of the men springing in, received another shock from something
dark which rose out of the water, and then they glided on past a
tremendous ebullition and were carried onward by the rising tide.

"Here, let me come, Mr Rodd," cried Joe Cross, as he scrambled forward.
"Here, catch hold, sir, and help me drag my jersey over my head. The
brute's stove us in, and if I don't look sharp--Pull, sir, pull--right
over my head! That's got it," he cried, and he set to work thrusting
the woollen knitted shirt bit by bit along between the edges of two of
the planks, through which the water was rapidly gurgling in. "There,"
he said; "that'll keep some on it out; but don't all on you stand
looking at me as if I was playing a conjuring trick. Get a couple of
those poles over the sides. Nay, nay, it's no use to try to punt.
Dessay the water's fathoms deep. Just keep her head straight, and let
the tide carry us on. Look out, my lads! There's another of them up
yonder. See, Mr Rodd, sir--them two nubbles? Them's his eyes. He
just keeps his beautiful muddy carcase all hid u