s example I, too, stepped from tuft
to tuft, listening to the beating noise and to the other sounds that
arose.

First there was the loud rustle of wings as some water birds flew up,
long-legged creatures with far-stretching necks. Then on my left there
was an ominous noise, as of something crawling amongst the reeds, and I
shuddered as I saw that Jack Penny was holding his gun ready, and that
Gyp's hair was bristling all about his neck, while his teeth were bared.

The doctor was some distance before us now, and I could see him peering
between some bushes and waving his hand to me to come forward; so,
forgetting the danger, if danger there was, I went cautiously to my
companion's side, to gaze with astonishment at the scene before me.

There was no bunyip or native Australian demon there, but a great
shallow, muddy pond or lake, which seemed as if it must be swarming with
fish and crocodiles, for every here and there, as the great rugged backs
of the horrible lizards were seen pushing towards the shore, shoals of
silvery fish leaped out, flashing in the sunshine before they splashed
back into the water.

Here, then, was the secret of the mysterious noise which was being
produced before my eyes. For the crocodiles were driving the shoals of
fish into the little bays and creeks, and then stunning them by beating
the water heavily with their tails, the result being that the paralysed
fish were easily devoured.

I felt as if I could never tire of gazing at the monsters so busy before
us. There must have been at least five-and-twenty, and all of large
size; and it was not a pleasant thought to consider what would have been
the consequences if we had attempted to wade across the lagoon.

Before leaving, however, the doctor took out his glass and swept the
shore of the great pond, to nod with satisfaction.

"This is only a sort of bay belonging to the river we are seeking, Joe,"
he said. "Look there to the left, and you can see the entrance choked
up with reeds."

We crept back cautiously, to find Jimmy awaiting our return; and then
making a detour towards the lake, we soon reached the river, along whose
bank was a well-trodden path, in whose softer parts, besides those of
deer, it was plain to see the ugly toes of crocodiles, and the long
trail they made as they dragged themselves along.

We did not halt until we had left the crocodile pond a long way behind;
but a fine dry, open spot, close to the flashing wat