Jack made no response but bounded forward and looked over the edge of the boat into the bay. What he saw was a great head with protruding jaws and a long, dark back covered with enormous half defined scales, like armor plate.
"What is it?" he asked, drawing a revolver from his pocket.
Ned pushed his hand back and the weapon was returned to a pocket.
"Don't shoot," he said. "We are not yet ready to announce our presence here."
"But what is that thing?" demanded Jack. "Is he trying to eat up the boat?"
"That is a crocodile," Ned replied. "Corker, eh?"
"Will he bite?" asked Jack, reaching for a boathook.
"Jump in and see," laughed Ned. "They live on fish, but eat dogs and men when they feel just right. The rivers and lakes of the Philippines swarm with them."
Jimmie and Frank now came out of the cabin and looked down at the crocodile.
"He's scratching his old nose on the boat!" Jimmie said. "That's what makes it rock so!"