Evening star., 1930-11-30

arrived on the scene with our revolvers. With
comparative ease, we placed well aimed shots
and finished them.
"Not until the crocodiles were dead did some
OF the boys, who had been swinging aloft ON
the end of their poles, twisting them deeper into
the Squirming reptiles, let go and drop to the
ground. They had got all three and were de~
servedly proud of themselves. It is jolly cer~
tain that, if they had not been nearby and
gone to the attack so fearlessly, at least two
of the women would have been dragged back
to the river and into its muddy bottom to await
the ripening Mr.. Crocodile loves his victims to
attain before he uses them for a meal"
Dwent drew long breath of relief. 'That
was a good yarn" he commented. "And one I
kinda believes because saw something like that
once down in Tanganyika."
You jolly well ought to believe it," exclaimed
Bowker, "for it's the truth. By jove, it beats
ALL" he continued, that whenever yarnteller.
sticks to facts, he loses his reputation for YER.
acity. But feed folks the impossible and they'll
hang medals on you"
Thoughtfuly Dwent puffed at his pipe.
ST don't doubt you're right" he admitted.
"But, as I was saying, I had an experiences
down in Tanganyika. The rivers there are not
so large, but it's sure-enough tropical country.
When you're floating sluggishly down toward
the sea and the dense mangrove swampS and
the dark. oily water are all you can see person
gets to appreciate any sign Of life. There have
been times down on those rivers, after I've tied
up by the bank, at Sundown, that I've actually
night broken by the noise of the crocodileS
noundering into the water. But one time saw
the same sort of thing happen as Bowker de-
Scribed"
We waited eagerly for him to go on.
'It was my own boy" he explained, "and it
happened in the early morning. Breakfast was
cooking and the boy had just plunged over the
side for quick wash while the bacon was fry
ing. was looking lazily over at him, when, all
of a sudden, I noticed log floating twice an
fast as the current and headed right for him,
1t took a second for the idea to percolate. Then,
great guns I knew it for what it was-a
crocodile!
st shouted to the boy. but he had already
seen it coming. Not having time to Chamber
into the launch he swan, with mighty strokes,
for the bank. This made the crocodile turn
and consequently, lose time. Grabbing my
gun sent shot into its head, but the bullet
ricocheted off and hardly made a pause in the
beasts vilainous pursuit. Then let another
fly with better luck. Right through the eye. 7
found afterward. But even that didn't stop
it. When the boy landed the crocodile pushed
out Of the water also and raised up on its legs.
lifting its head and grunting like an enraged
lion. It spread its paws and started for the
boy. The shot in its head soon told, however.
for after it had gone about 40 feet, it slumped
down dead"
Quiet reigned for a moment and then Dwent
continued:
H A LII the same,>whatever any one says about
nun, the crocodne is an interesting
animal to watch You may be going up and
down the rivers frequently and, from the safety
of your canoe, see them, sometimes half dozen
at time sleeping on the sandy strips OF
beach; or often big fellow, IS or 80 feet
long, will slide out of the water and poke into
the densepess of the jungle
"They lie so still that to the casual observer
their rounded, huge blackish-gray backs look
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