the great fellow on the mud point had looked on,
giving a fierce grunt now and then, and at times prolonging this grunt
into a deafening bellow. He evidently mightily disapproved of what was
being done to his fellow; but it did not seem to enter into his brain
how he was to help him.

The idea seemed to come at last; for, turning his head towards the
king's canoe, he opened his mouth to its fullest extent displaying the
great worn-down tusks, and uttered a tremendous roar, that can only be
rendered on paper by a repetition of the words, "Hawgnph! hawgnph!" sent
through a huge waterpipe, by the blast of a steam-engine of mighty
power.

This done he closed his mouth with a tremendous chop, and rushed into
the water and disappeared.

"What a brute!" cried Dick.

"He's coming right for us, I know," cried his brother. "You see if he
don't come up close here."

The king seemed to expect it too, and he gave orders to his men; but
before the large canoe could be got under weigh the monster rose quite
close to them, opened its huge jaws, its little pig-like eyes glowing
with fury, and took a piece out of the canoe.

Half the paddlers leaped overboard in their dread, as the monster opened
its huge jaws for a second bite, this time close to where the two boys
and the king were seated, the latter seeming paralysed at the imminence
of the danger.

No word was spoken, one will seeming to guide both Dick and Jack, who,
without raising their rifles to their shoulders, rested them
pistol-fashion upon the side of the canoe, and fired straight into the
monster's mouth.

There was a tremendous clap-to of his jaws, but not upon the side of the
canoe; and then the huge head slowly sank down out of sight, as a couple
of fresh cartridges were thrust into the rifles.

But now there was a fresh danger, water was coming in over the side
where the piece was taken out; and it took a great deal of shouting, and
no little help with the spare paddles, given by his majesty and his two
visitors, to get the canoe run aground before she could sink.

Wet legs were the worst misfortune, and as they leaped ashore the men
set to, hauled up the canoe, and emptied out the water, and in an hour
they had sewn on a thick skin so as to temporarily keep out the water at
the side, thin canes answering for needle and thread, after which they
embarked.

It was none too soon; for as the last man got on board and the canoe was
pushed off, there was a lo