“Why, we must go after it with the boat; but I expect that something or another would take it down before we could get to it. This river swarms, sir, with big fish and ’gators.”
“Why not go a few hundred yards into the forest? We might put up a deer.”
“Dessay you would, sir, if you could get in. Why, you couldn’t get in a dozen yards without men to hack a way for you; and if you went in alone, even so far, it’s a chance if you could find your way out again. You’ll have to be careful about that.”
“Why?” said Rob, eagerly. “The wild beasts?”
“They’re the least trouble, sir,” replied Shaddy. “It’s the getting lost. A man who is lost in these forests may almost as well lie down and die at once out of his misery, for there’s no chance of his getting back again.”
“I’m afraid you try to make the worst of things, Naylor,” said Brazier, smiling. “Well, I’ll take my position at the corner yonder while you lads fish.”
Rob felt as if he would far rather try his luck with a gun, for he wanted to practise shooting; and Shaddy read the disappointment in his face.
“It’ll be all right, my lad,” he said, as Brazier went to the boat to get some different cartridges; “you’ll have plenty of chances of shooting for the pot by-and-by. Why, you haven’t done so very bad to-day—bagging a whole tiger. Here, I’ll help you rig up a line.”
“And suppose I hook one of those alligators?”
“Hardly likely, my lad; but if you do it will be bad for the ’gator or bad for your line. One’ll have to come, or the other’ll have to go.”