He noticed a big log of wood, like a tree trunk, floating motionless in the water. Baird suddenly swung the boat’s nose away from it, and slightly increased his speed.
‘Don’t wake that guy up,’ he said. ‘That’s an al igator.’
Rico felt suddenly sick. He gripped the sides of the boat as he stared at the black object that was now in their rear.
‘An al igator?’ he repeated hoarsely. ‘You sure?’
‘Yeah. This river’s lousy with them,’ Baird said indifferently. ‘They’l leave you alone if you leave them alone. It’s crocodiles you have to watch. They’ll charge you on sight.’
Rico gulped.
‘Any around here?’
‘Not likely,’ Baird said. ‘Farther south you might find some, but not here, I guess.’
A big bird rose out of the saw-grass with a tremendous flapping of wings, and climbed above Rico’s head, making him start violently. The boat rocked, and Baird cursed him.
‘Sit still, can’t you?’ he snarled. ‘Do you want to have us over?’