I don’t think we, either of us, stopped to consider whether it was prudent to run the risk before us, with a very problematic chance of success; but hurrying back regardless of the sun, we soon stood once more by the fallen tree, and began to follow the beaten track left by the contending enemies till we reached the great brake by the river-side, when for the first time we turned and looked at each other.
“Oh! it’s all right, Mas’r Harry,” said Tom; “and if he’s in here we’ll soon rouse him out.” For it was evident that he had interpreted the doubt that had found a home in my mind.
“You think it will be here still?” I said.
“Sartain, Mas’r Harry; and—hist! don’t speak above a whisper. He’s in there, sure enough; for look yonder at those monkeys, they ain’t chattering and swinging about there for nothing.”
In effect a family of monkeys were aloft howling and making a deafening din, and I could not help thinking with Tom that it meant the presence of enemies.
“Look out!” I shouted the next minute to Tom; for a huge crocodile that we had passed unseen, sleeping amongst the dank herbage, had apparently awakened to the belief that we were trying to cut off its retreat and charging down straight at Tom in order to reach the river, it was only by a grand display of activity that might have been learned of the monkeys above us that he avoided the onslaught, and the next minute the hideous reptile had disappeared from sight; but we could hear its rustling onward progress, followed by a heavy splash, one or two ominous growls, and the increased activity of the monkeys, showing that our ideas with respect to these latter were not without basis.
“I tell you what, Mas’r Harry,” said Tom, as he stood mopping the perspiration from his face, “them ugly beasts have got a spite against me, I know they have; and if I’m lost, mind this, I’m swallowed down by one of them crocks, I know I am, so mind that; and if you do go home without me tell Sally Smith that I was swallowed by a crockeydile, and all for love of she. Now, Mas’r Harry, I’m ready if you are? Let’s both keep together, tread softly, and take good steady aim before we fire; for this ain’t like putting a handful of oats in the snow in our yard and then shooting at cock-sparrers. If we hit what we’ve come after, mind ’twill be something to put in the bag!”
I was now as excited as Tom, and together we stepped slowly on through the dense brake, parting the heavy growth with the barrels of our guns as we trod lightly over the swampy ground, which sent up a hot, stifling, steamy exhalation.
Yard after yard we pressed on, watchful ever; but though the track was plain enough, the elastic water grasses had sprung back so as to thoroughly impede our view, and we knew that at any moment we might be ready to plant our feet upon the wounded monster that we sought.
Twice over little alligators went scuttling from beneath our feet, at the last time drawing forth an ejaculation from Tom, and then we stopped short with our guns at our shoulders; for Tom’s utterance was followed by a warning shriek from the monkeys, and then, as that ceased, came a low, fierce, snarling growl from apparently just in front.