ed round he saw them both swimming on steadily, while Lionel's
unfortunate horse was gradually sinking beneath the surface, although
its fore-feet were still striking out in the vain attempt to escape from
the jaws of its captor.

"Shall I come and help you?" he shouted out. "I'll try to do so if you
want me."

"No, no," answered Percy. "If you are not a good swimmer, you'll do no
good. Get to shore as fast as you can, and send off a raft to us, for
they don't appear to be looking at us."

Owing to the oxen and horses having just landed, what had occurred had
not been perceived from the shore. Crawford, who had gone across on the
last raft, was the first to discover that there were only two horses.
He then saw the heads of Percy and Lionel close together.

Shouting out to Hendricks, who was at some distance, attending to the
waggon, he leaped on to one of the rafts, making signs to the nearest
Kaffir, to whom he could not otherwise communicate his wishes, to come
off with him.

Fortunately Hendricks heard his voice, and rushing down, sprang on to
the raft. In the meantime Percy had a hard matter to keep up. The
stream was carrying him and Lionel farther and farther down; and as they
got away from the noise made by the cattle, he well knew that the risk
of being seized by another crocodile was greatly increased.

Still, though he might easily have gained the shore by himself, nothing
would induce him to quit his young charge.

"Hold up, Lionel," he cried. "Kick about with your feet, and shout as
loud as you can. Those brutes of crocodiles won't hurt us while they've
got the horse to eat. Hurrah! we are seen from the shore; your father
and Crawford are on it. They are stopping to pick up Denis, they'll be
up to us soon. Now stop and tread water, it will give me a rest. It
won't matter if we are floated a little lower down. Shout and shriek as
loud as you like."

All this Percy said at the top of his voice, for he did not feel quite
as confident as he tried to make Lionel suppose, that another crocodile
would not make its appearance. Still his hopes of escape rose as he saw
the raft urged on by poles and paddles approaching. He kept looking
round him, however, to watch whether one of the dreaded monsters was
rising to the surface, not that, should it approach, he would be able to
do much to make his escape. Lionel all the time showed not the
slightest fear. He did exactly as he was told. Had his