“Can they!” exclaimed the explorer. “Like a fish. That’s why they’re called water haas--it’s Dutch for water horse. They’re as amphibious as seals almost.”
“Say, let’s take a swim!” suggested Tom. “I’m hot and the water looks fine.”
“Don’t you try it!” cried the explorer. “The place is full of perai and you’d surely be eaten alive.”
“Why, what do you mean?” demanded Tom, puzzled. “I thought perai was magic or witchcraft. How can that eat us?”
Mr. Thorne burst out laughing and Colcord, who stood near, shook with merriment.
“Peai is witchcraft,” explained the explorer. “Perai is a kind of fish--‘cannibal fish,’ they’re called sometimes. They’re the most deadly and savage creatures in the bush. They’ll tear anything that’s flesh to bits, in a moment. It’s lucky I stopped you in time.”
“Is that really true?” asked Mr. Pauling. “I’ve read travelers’ tales of them, but I always supposed they were real ‘fish stories.’”
“Not at all,” Mr. Thorne assured him. “Let me demonstrate it.”
Picking up a bit of meat, the explorer stepped close to the water and tossed it into the river. Instantly there was a splash, a flash of silver, and the meat was dragged under. The next moment the water fairly boiled with leaping, darting fish, and the onlookers gazed with amazement as the voracious, savage creatures tore and snapped and bit.
“Gee, I’m glad I’m not in there!” exclaimed Frank. “They’re like hungry wolves.”