the water," he remarked; "and a minute later the creature would have got
hold of them, I fancy. I did not stop to look a second time, however,
for I was afraid that it would have caught me had I delayed."

"I am very glad you have brought the eggs, and still more that you
escaped the monster. It is evident that we must be careful not to stand
carelessly by the side of the bank, or go into the water," I answered.
We were silent for some time.

"I think we should have prayers," I heard Natty observe. "Will you say
them, Andrew?"

"Gladly," I replied; and to the best of my power I offered up a prayer
for protection before we lay down to sleep. I was soon in the land of
dreams, for I was thoroughly tired with the exertion I had gone through
during the previous day. I was awaked by feeling Natty touch my arm.

"Look down there, Andrew," he whispered. "See! it is just as well we
are safe up in the tree!"

As I cast my eyes down on the ground below us, I saw three huge
crocodiles crawling slowly about; and though they generally take their
food in the water, I had no doubt that they would not have objected to
seize us for their suppers had they found us unprepared for resistance.
It was rather difficult to go to sleep again with the knowledge that
such creatures were in our vicinity. However, after watching them for a
time, I felt my eyes closing, and shortly forgot all about them and
everything else present. When I awoke the sun was shining through the
branches of the trees. The crocodiles had disappeared, the wind was
light, the sky blue, and the smooth water shone in the beams of the
rising luminary of day. Voices reached my ears. A faint hope rose in
my heart that they might proceed from Leo and Mango. I quickly
descended the tree, and made my way to the edge of the island on the
side whence they appeared to come. There I saw, at some distance, a
canoe with four blacks in her, engaged in combat with a hippopotamus.
One of them, standing up, was about to plunge his spear into the
animal's neck. Several more animals were standing on the nearest
reed-covered bank, while the heads of others protruded from among the
reeds in the distance. Here was a means of escape, if we could make the
blacks hear, and they were inclined to assist us. I called to Natty,
who, descending the tree, was soon by my side. We shouted with might
and main, but the blacks were so eagerly engaged in attacking the
hippopotamus that th