by the river-side.

"You lead now, my lad," whispered Pete. "Get as nigh as you can to
where you think the creek is on the other side."

"It is so dark," whispered Nic; "but I think we are right."

He went to the front, assailed by a horrible doubt now that he had taken
the wrong way, and was some distance farther up the river; but, as he
bent down to part the low growth, to peer through over the dark water,
there was a scuffle and a splash, telling of some reptile taking flight,
and he shrank back.

But he hardly heeded it, for he had dimly made out a solitary tree
across the river, some eighty or a hundred yards away, which he had
marked down for bearings.

"This is the place, Pete," he whispered. "If you stand here and look
across, the creek is a little way up to the right."

"That is good, my lad; I was beginning to be feared that we should have
to wait for daylight, and be missed. Now then, take my gun and the
tackle, and while I'm gone you load both on 'em."

"While you are gone?" whispered Nic excitedly. "You are not going; I
know the way, and I'll fetch the boat."

"That you don't, Master Nic," said the man sturdily. "That there
water's full o' them great brutes, and one of 'em might pull you down."

"I know it is; and one of them might pull you down."

"He'd be zorry for it if he did, for I'd zoon zend my knife through his
carcass. It's my job, zir, and I'm going."

"I tell you I know just where it is, and I'm going to fetch it."

"That you aren't, zir. I won't have you risk it."

"Then we'll swim the river together, Pete."

"And what about the guns?"

"Leave them on the bank, and come back and fetch them."

"Never find 'em again in the darkness and hurry, my lad. Now, do be
zensible."

"I'm master, and I order you to stay."

"Which you aren't master, zir, for we're both zlaves, and if you talk so
loud you'll be bringing down the dogs and I'm off."

Almost before Nic could realise it, Pete had slipped across the narrow
space, lowered himself into the water, and swum away, leaving his
companion horrified at the sounds he heard. For directly after the man
had struck out there was a tremendous wallowing splash, which Nic felt
certain had been caused by some monstrous reptile; and he crouched there
grasping the guns, with a chilly perspiration breaking out over his
brow.

It was some minutes before he thought of the loading, and when he did he
could not follow out his instructions