Chapter Twenty Three.
An Interference with Washing, and the Result.
“Oh,” cried Jack, “we both missed, and he has drawn the poor thing in.”
“I don’t believe I missed,” said Dick. “No: look, Jack!”
For at that moment they saw a movement amongst the undergrowth behind where the antelope had been kneeling; and the poor beast, with bleeding nostrils and starting eyes, staggered down to the water’s edge, drank with avidity, and then bounded back as another or the same crocodile half leaped out of the water to catch it.
But the antelope, weak and exhausted though it was, escaped, and bounded away into the dense reeds, while Jack as he coolly reloaded his rifle-barrel said,—
“Nice place this, Dicky. Let’s take our clothes off and have a bathe.”
“Ugh!” shuddered Dick. “The monsters!”