"But suppose they attack us," said Harry.
"They will not unless driven to bay. Steer in closer to the side, Sree," continued Mr. Kenyon, "so as to give them room to retreat down the river."
The order was obeyed, the boat being kept to the left, so close in that the oars touched the tips of the hanging boughs, with the consequence that every now and then there was a loud splashing and wallowing in the water close beneath the bank, the part hidden by the pendent boughs.
"Why, they swarm under there," said the doctor.
"Yes," said Mr. Kenyon, "and this shows how little the shooting of one or two has to do with thinning them down. By the way, boys, where was it that you had your adventure with the big crocodile and the monkey?"
Phra rose and pointed forward.
"A little farther there, on the right," he said, "where those bigger trees are hanging over the water."
The whole scene came vividly back to the pair as the boat glided on, and after a glance upward at the trees, Harry's eyes fell to scanning the water, half expecting to see the ugly muzzle of one of the great crocodiles shoot out.
This he did not see, but first one and then another made a tremendous eddy in the stream, their lurking-places being churned up by the men's oars.
"The brutes are extremely thick up here," said the doctor: "a pretty good warning that we must not attempt any bathing."