Tine--tine--tine' cry. But it is not his cry which makes the raven fly
off. He has got a sharp spur on his shoulder, just like that on the
heel of a cock, and he could dig it into the raven, and soon draw its
life-blood."

On went the plover to a bank a little way ahead, where it pitched on
what we thought at that distance was a log of wood. As we paddled up
the seeming log turned into a huge crocodile basking in the sun.

"Stop paddling," I cried to the boys. "Let us see what the plover is
about."

It ran along the back of the reptile, but stopped on the top of its
snout, and then with perfect fearlessness actually flew down into its
gaping mouth. I then recollected an account I had read of a bird on the
Nile of that description, which is known by the name of siksak--the
trochilus. It is stated by two or three credible witnesses that it
performs the part of tooth-picker to the monster. Whether it was so
occupied or not we could not tell, but presently the crocodile appeared
to rouse itself up and to crawl towards the water, into which he
plunged, diving down out of sight.

"There goes Master Tine--tine--tine flying away. I suppose he will go
and warn his other friends," said Jack. "That is his business, so Timbo
says; and when these birds are about you can never get a shot at a
crocodile."

As we continued paddling on we were convinced that they had been warned
of our approach, for they all betook themselves to the water long before
we got near them. Proceeding we reached a part of the river where the
banks were steep and composed of sand. Presently we saw a creature
crawling out of the water, and making its way up the bank.

"What creature can that be?" asked Natty.

"A water-turtle!" I exclaimed; for I recognised it from the
descriptions I had seen of it.

Presently it came to a steep part of the bank, and as it was climbing up
it fell, and lay helpless on its back.

"We will make prize of him," cried Jack. "Paddle away, boys."

We were soon up to the bank, when Jack sprang out of the canoe, and
before the turtle could recover itself he had seized it in his arms and
placed it in the bottom of the canoe. There the creature lay utterly
helpless. While the canoe's bows were on the shore, Chico, who had got
tired of sitting so long in one position, made a spring on to the land
to pick some fruit which grew on a low bush at no great distance. The
boys were so interested in watching the turtle t