St. Tammany farmer. [volume] (Covington, La.) 1874-current, 1885-01-24
ESCAPING A CROCODILE.
The Exciting Adventure of Two Boys In m
African River.

One of the dangers to guard against
in swimming the South African rivers is
the same as that which infests the Nile
and the large streams of tropical Asia
and America-the presence OF croco-
diles. Parties venturing into such
waters make rs much noise as possible,
to frighten the crocodiles away. Two
English boys, Percy and Lionel Broder-
ick, connected with a wagon train in
charge of a Dutch settler named Hem
dricks, came near losing their lives
while crossing the Tugela River, in the
Zulu country, some time ago. The
wagon had been ''poled" over by an
arrangement which converted it into q
raft, the two boys and several other
members of the company swimming the
stream on horseback, when huge crOc7
odile seized the hind legs of Lionel's
horse.
The little fellow plunged from the
back of the horse into the water, and his
older brother impulsively did the same
thing, in order to go to his rescue and
assist him in swimming out. Before
they had advanced far toward the shore
they were pursued by another of the
river monsters, and only the timely
bullet of friendly gun. and the help of
Hendricks and two men of his party,
Davis and Crawford, saved them. The
exciting chase is thus told by the narra-
tor:
Percy's hopes of escape rose as he saw
the raft approaching, urged on by poles
and paddles. He kept looking round
him. however, to watch whether one OF
the dreaded monsters was rising to the
surface, though he knew toQ well that
if it should approach, he could do little
to save himself and his brother,
Lionel was o brave boy, and showed
little or no fear. He did exactly as he
was told, resting one hand on his older
brothers back as he swan by his side.
Had his skill as a swimmer equalled that
of Percy, he would rather have trusted
to his own powers than hindered his
companion.
The raft was still some way of, al
though they could distinguish the fea-
lures of their friends, when suddenly
Lionel, casting a glance down the
stream, exclaimed:
.sCan that brute be coming this way?"
Percy looked in the same direction,
and there, sure enough, he saw the
head Of huge crocodile with its snout
directed towards them.
I'VE won't wait for him. at all
events" said Percy. keep your hand
firmly on my back. and We'll swim as
fast as we can. We may reach the raft
before he overtakes us.
Though he said this, he felt very faint
hope of success; still, like brave
fellow, he kept up, shouting and splash
ing as much as he could without stop
ing on his way.
Once he glanced over his shoulder.
The dreaded monster came swimming
on. In another minute, before they
could possibly reach the raft, it would
overtake them, though Hendricks and
his companions were exerting their ut
most strength to urge it on.
Just then a man was seen running
along the bank. He stopped and raised
a rifle to his shoulder. Percy fancied
he could hear the bullets whistle
through the air and the '.slap" it made
as it struck the crocodile's head. The
monster sank from sight-not killed, OF
course, but astonished-and this gave
the struggling boys the moment Oh
which their lives depended.
Davis and Crawford raised loud
cheer, and in few seconds they were
hauling Percy and Lionel. both almost
exhausted. out of the water upon the
safe footing of the raft.
The man who fired the fortunate shot
was Ugmolo, the Zulu wagon-master oi
the party.-Youth's Companion.