was a ford, and they might have crossed at once, but
neither they nor their horses were inclined to do so without drinking.
Their steeds rushing in, soon had their noses in the refreshing liquid.
They all three dismounted, although they had to step into the water; but
as the bottom was hard, no mud was raised, and they lapped up the liquid
in their palms. They were soon joined by Gozo, who had thrown the
second waterbok killed by Lionel across his horse. As he had no shoes,
and his legs were bare, he walked farther across the ford, and he and
his horse followed their example. Presently he shouted out in Kaffir,
and Lionel exclaimed--

"He says that he sees a crocodile, and there may be more near. We had
better get out of the water as fast as we can, or one of us or a horse
may be caught hold of."

Percy, who, although as brave as any fellow, had a great horror of the
voracious creatures, quickly led his horse out of the water.

"Come away, come away!" he shouted. "I see one of the brutes on the
opposite side eyeing us, and he'll be making a dash in this direction
presently, if we don't get on shore."

Lionel and Denis laughed, and deliberately led their unwilling steeds to
the shore.

"Tell Gozo to make haste. The crocodile is moving--it is coming towards
him. I'm sure it is!" cried Percy.

Gozo, looking round, seemed to think the same, for throwing himself on
horseback, he urged on his animal to the bank. He was only just in
time, for the crocodile came on rapidly.

"Shout, shout!" cried Denis, and they all shouted together.

He took also still more effectual means of stopping the animal by firing
at its head; with what effect he could not tell, except that the
creature swerved from its course, and away it went swimming down the
stream, probably frightened as much by the shouts as by the tap of the
bullet on its skull.

"Now I vote we have some dinner," cried Denis. "We have plenty of food,
that's a good thing to be thankful for; but we will be prudent, and not
pitch our camp close to the stream, or one of those gentlemen may take a
fancy to interrupt us while we enjoy our meal, and make a meal of us."

Matches having been introduced in those days, and there being an
abundance of dry wood about, a fire was quickly lighted, a couple of
hundred yards or so from the bank, on a stony spot where there was no
risk of igniting the herbage. The horses were knee-haltered and turned
loose, and the young hu