"I'm going to thank Sree," said the merchant. "There, let the monster float down to the sea. Don't go away yet; Doctor Cameron and I want to talk to you."
"Yes, and Harry and I want to go up the river to the wild jungle," said Phra eagerly. "We have not had a hunt for a week."
"Come along, then," said Mr. Kenyon, laying his hand on the Prince's shoulder. "We'll talk it over, and perhaps we can join forces. What's that, Sree?"
"The crocodiles from below are coming up, Sahib; they have smelt the blood."
"Yes, look at that," said the doctor, as there was a wallow and a splash not ten yards from the monster's head.
"Take care!" said Mr. Kenyon excitedly. "Don't try to untie those ropes, Sree, or you may have your hand seized; cut them, and let the reptile go."
Sree obeyed, dividing the strong cords with a couple of cuts. Then taking an oar from one of the boatmen he forced the boat along past the crocodile, giving the latter a thrust, when the current bore it outward, and directly after another of its tribe, of about half the size, raised its head out of the water, and drew itself partly on the bulky body, which rolled over toward it, and then sank back out of sight.
But it was not gone, and the agitation of the surface about the floating body showed that others were there, tearing at it as it floated away.
"I should hardly have thought that we had so many of these brutes about here," said the doctor.
"They come and go, Sahib; and they hide so. There are plenty more, and that dead one will never reach the sea."