us to hide ourselves, we retired behind some bushes.
In a short time the rope was violently tugged, and Igubo, throwing off
his scanty garments, drew his sharp knife from its sheath, and sprang
into the water. I could not refrain from crying out, and entreating him
to come back; but he paid no heed to me, and swam on. Presently he
disappeared, and I felt horror-struck at the thought that a crocodile
had seized him; but directly afterwards the snout of the huge monster
appeared above the water, Igubo rising at the same time directly behind
it. The creature, instead of attempting to turn, made towards the bank,
at a short distance off. Igubo followed; and I saw his hand raised, and
his dagger descended into the side of the creature. Still the crocodile
did not attempt to turn, but directly afterwards reaching the bank,
climbed up it. Igubo followed, and again plunged his knife into the
monster's side. Every instant I expected to see him seized by its
terrific jaws; but the creature seemed terror-stricken, and made no
attempt at defence. Again and again the black plunged in his knife,
while the crocodile vainly endeavoured to escape. The next instant
Igubo was on its back, and the creature lay without moving. A few
minutes only had passed. It opened its vast jaws, each time more
languidly than before, till at length it sank down, and, after a few
struggles, was evidently dead. Igubo, springing up, flourished his
knife over his head in triumph. Jack, running to the canoe, began to
launch it. We all jumped in, and paddled off to the bank, Timbo
bringing the rope with him. We fastened it round the crocodile's neck,
and towed the body in triumph to the shore, up which we hauled it.

"Igubo say we find eggs not far off," said Timbo.

Mango and his brother, at a sign from their father, began at once
hunting about, and in a short time called us to them. There was a large
hole in the bank concealed by overhanging bushes. It was full of eggs,
about the size of those of a goose. On counting them we found no less
than sixty. The shell was white and partially elastic, both ends being
exactly the same size. The nest was about four yards from the water. A
pathway led up to it; and Igubo told Timbo, that after the crocodile has
deposited her eggs, she covers them up with about four feet of earth,
and returns afterwards to clear it away, and to assist the young out of
the shells. After this, she leads them to the wat