“Yes, I daresay there are several about.”
“Oh,” said Wriggs, softly, “I didn’t think of that,” and he stood scratching his head, and wrinkled up his face, as he looked at the prostrate reptile.
“Didn’t yer know as they was amphibilious animals, Bill,” said Smith, in a low voice.
“What’s amphibilious animals?” growled Wriggs.
“Things as gets their living in the waters, and sleeps outside.”
“Oh, that’s it, is it?” said the sailor, thoughtfully. “And what would one o’ they chaps do, if he was to meet my legs? He couldn’t hit out with his tail in the water.”
“No lad, he’d hoperate with his head.”
“Then I don’t think, Tommy, as we’ll come here when we wants a swim, eh?”
“No lad. Strikes me that—I say; look ye there!”
The appeal was needless, for every one was looking toward where the light breeze and the spreading rings caused by the lashing of the crocodile’s tail had carried the dead crane, which Oliver was longing to get as a specimen of bird life unknown, he believed, to science, for all at once, there was a faint, rippling movement visible close to it, then a violent agitation. A long, lithe creature suddenly made a dart partly out of the water, and quick as lightning, they saw its yellowish folds wrapped round the bird, which was directly after borne down out of sight.