I'd advise you to do the same," cried
Denis. "Lionel may stick on his horse's back if he likes."

Saying this he slipped off, and grasping hold of his horse's tail, was
towed across, while he laughed and shouted to Percy to imitate his
example. Neither Percy nor Lionel felt willing to make the attempt.

"Just try it," cried Denis again; "you'll find that your animal swims
twice as fast. He can't kick, if he were to try."

They had already got more than half-way over, when, gaining courage,
Percy slipped off, and had just got hold of his horse's tail when
Lionel, who was, as has been said, a short distance off, uttered a cry
of alarm. What was Percy's horror to see his horse frantically beating
the water with his fore-legs and making no progress! The dreadful
thought instantly occurred to him, that a crocodile had caught hold of
the animal's legs, and that the boy, who had acknowledged a short time
before that he was not much of a swimmer, would either be seized by the
monster, or be drowned. Percy, though quiet and unassuming in his
manners, possessed more courage and resolution than he was aware of.
Another crocodile might seize him even while swimming behind his horse,
but he did not think of that risk. He could not bear to see his young
companion perish without an effort to save him.

"Throw yourself off, and swim towards me," he shouted.

Lionel did as he was advised, narrowly escaping being struck by the
horse's hoofs. On this, Percy, letting go his horse's tail, and
exerting all his strength, swam to meet Lionel, who, although supporting
himself in the water, was evidently unable to reach the bank towards
which they had been directing their course.

"Keep up, keep up until I come to you," cried Percy, and in a few
seconds he was up to Lionel. "Now place your hand on my back, and
strike out with the other and your feet at the same time. Don't attempt
to clutch me, and we will, please heaven, gain the bank."

Lionel, who kept his presence of mind, did as he was bid. At first
Percy was in hopes of regaining his horse's tail, but the animal had got
too far ahead, and was now abreast of Denis's horse. Denis himself was
too much ahead to see what had happened, and not until Percy's horse had
got up to him was he aware of the danger of his two companions. His
first impulse was to let go and swim to their assistance, but his next
thought was that his powers were insufficient for the task.

As he look