nder water and squints
along the top with them pretty peepers of hisn to look out for his
breakfast. Keep back, sir; I believe he's coming on at us, big as the
boat is. Oh, this is a pretty place, upon my word! He means me,
because he can see my white skin."

Instead of answering, Rodd picked up the bamboo pole, which had been
jerked from his hands when they encountered the other reptile.

Three of the men followed his example of holding them ready to strike at
what they could see of the crocodile, and as they were carried closer by
the tide and Rodd could just make out below the muddy surface that the
water was being stirred by the undulation of the tail of the monster,
which was apparently fourteen or fifteen feet long, three poles were
sharply thrust together, two of them coming in contact with the
creature's head just behind its eyes.

The blows were heavy, having behind them the weight and impetus of the
loaded boat, and once more there was a tremendous swirl in the water, as
the crocodile raised its head right out, turned completely over,
displaying its pallid buff under portion, and then curved itself over,
and in the act of diving down threw up its tail and struck the surface
of the water with a blow that deluged the occupants of the cutter with
spray.

"Well," cried Joe, as the boat glided on, "I don't know what you chaps
think of it, but I am getting warm again, and I call this 'ere sport.
But I say, Mr Rodd, I am beginning to wish you was aboard the _Maid of
Salcombe_, and you'd took me with you."

"Same 'ere, sir," cried the men, in chorus.

"See any more, Mr Rodd?"

"No, not yet, Joe."

"Well, there's no hurry, sir. Let's get our breath. But do you call
this 'ere fishing or shooting?"

"There's another," cried Rodd excitedly; "but it's going the other way."

"Got to know perhaps, sir, how we upset t'other. But we can spare him,
for I'll be bound to say there's plenty more of them. Now I wonder what
they are all for--pretty creatures!"

"What they are for, Joe?" cried Rodd, without taking his eyes from the
surface of the muddy stream which was carrying them onward.

"Yes, sir; I don't see as they are much good. I say, there's another
one! No, he's ducked his head down. Ah, he's coming up again. Look
out, my lads!" cried the man. "I wish there was another pole. There's
nothing left for me but my knife, and they are as hard as shoehorns, I
know. I don't want to break my whittle aga