d as they ran forward uttered loud shouts to distract the attention of
the crocodile. Still, so determined was the monster to seize poor
Billy, that it did not seem to heed them.

"Jump on one side, sir, jump on one side!" cried Casey to Billy, who
followed the advice, and the seaman, levelling his rifle, poured the
contents down the crocodile's throat. It immediately rolled over, and
after a few struggles lay dead.

Tom and Desmond considered it advisable on their return to move further
away from the river. Fortunately they did so, for while they were
sitting round the fire cooking their game, a dozen crocodiles crept out
of the water and came towards them. The whole party, starting to their
feet, shouted and shrieked, but not until Tom and Desmond had fired down
the throats of a couple of the saurians did the rest turn tail, when,
plunging into the water, they disappeared beneath the surface.

"If we don't keep a bright look-out during the night one or other of us
will be carried off, depend upon that," observed Tom.

His warning had a good effect, and it was agreed that two of the party
should keep watch together, as they had to risk an attack from
crocodiles on one side and tigers on the other, not to speak of big
serpents and other creatures. The most dangerous of these were
scorpions, several of which were seen five and six inches long, with
stings which the natives asserted would deprive a person of life in the
course of an hour or less.

"Oh dear, oh dear!" sighed Billy. "I knew the journey would be
fatiguing enough, but I little thought the trouble all these horrid
beasts would cause us."

For several days they travelled on along the course of the river, but
taking care not to camp near enough to the bank to be surprised by a
hungry crocodile. On several occasions they caught sight of tigers, and
three were shot which came nearer to them than was pleasant. Among the
vast numbers of the feathered tribe which perched in the trees, or
flitted amid the boughs, or soared high into the air, were the beautiful
birds of paradise, of brilliant colours and graceful forms, which Tom
and Desmond agreed it was a shame to kill when they could obtain as much
game of a different species as they required. Monkeys of various sizes
were seen, some not larger than cats and others half as big as a man.
The travellers were moving on, Nick and Pipes scouting in front, the
three midshipmen following, Casey and the black