“Perhaps they do,” replied Dick, “but our one hadn’t time to grow so long, and—hallo!”
“Hallo!” said Jack.
“Hallo!” said Dick again.
“Father must have had it dragged back into the stream, so let’s go back. Pah! how busy the vultures have been.”
They had evidently been gorging themselves upon the crocodile’s vitals since daybreak, and a perfect flock of them flew sluggishly away as the boys made sure that the reptile was not where it had been left, and then went back to ask their father about the monster.
“No,” he said, “I have not had the creature touched. I’ll go with you. Here, General.”
The Zulu strode up, and Chicory followed; and thus strengthened they went back to the place where the crocodile had been left, and the General pointed out the exact spot where it had lain. Then bending down, he pointed with his finger to certain marks leading to the edge of the little cliff, and then showed that it was evident that the crocodile had struggled to the edge, and fallen over some six feet on to the sand and stones below.
“But he couldn’t have gone down there,” cried Dick. “Father shot him dead, and then I did.”
“Was that you speaking, my boy, or Dinny?” said Mr Rogers, smiling.
“Ah, but you know what I mean, father,” cried the boy; and then they all looked down on to the strand, but not without keeping a watchful eye upon the water.