“Don’t shoot,” said Briscoe. “It is only waste of powder and bullet.”
“I could hit the brute without any trouble,” said Brace.
“I don’t doubt that,” said the American; “but the bullet will most likely glance off, while if it gets home the reptile will only sink.”
“So I suppose; but it will be one fewer of the savage beasts.”
“One out of millions,” said Briscoe. “Besides, you’ll scare away that water-elephant, and we may as well watch it for a bit.”
“Gone—both of them,” said Brace, laughing, as he lowered the hammer of his piece, for the sea-cow suddenly gave a wallow and went down with a loud splash as if it had been alarmed by the sight of something approaching, while its disturbance of the water acted upon the great alligator, which sank at once, startling another, of whose presence the watchers were not aware till they caught a glimpse of the reptile’s tail as it disappeared.