Once more we saw the head of the crocodile moving and getting nearer and nearer the boars. The boars appeared to feel uneasy. Suddenly the head of the crocodile disappeared entirely under the water. The boars became quieter, and continued to enjoy themselves.
Oshoria said: “The crocodile is swimming under the water. It has done this to fool the boars. Watch, Oguizi. Soon you will see the crocodile again.”
I watched intently and all at once I saw the crocodile’s head reappear on the surface of the water. It was hardly perceptible, and quite near the shore this time. Before I had time to think, I saw a huge crocodile amidst the boars and seizing one of them in its powerful jaws. All the rest gave a squeal of fear and fled.
The teeth of the crocodile were fastened into the boar’s body and as quickly as he had come the monster disappeared in the thick reeds which were close by to devour his prey. The men, laughing, said: “How much better lodged the meat of the boar would have been in our stomachs instead of in that of the crocodile.”
We left this spot and continued to paddle amid muddy black islands covered with crocodiles. I said to my hunters: “We must not camp on the shores of the lake, for we shall surely be attacked by crocodiles.” Pointing to one that seemed to be eighteen or twenty feet long, I said: “Look at his big jaws; he would make short work of one of you if you got between them.”
“He would!” they all shouted with one voice, “but we won’t give him a chance.”
“We will camp on the top of that high hill yonder,” said Oshoria, at the same time pointing out the place to me, “for that is near the path that will lead us to the elephants’ hunting-ground.” He had hardly uttered these last words when we passed near a muddy bank just above the water, upon which I counted nine big crocodiles; not one of them seemed less than fifteen feet in length. They were perfectly motionless and looked exactly as if they were dead.
Oshoria said: “How quiet they are, Oguizi! They seem so harmless and so sleepy, but they look round slyly with their cunning eyes. When hungry they often hide among the reeds. Once I came here to hunt, and three of my dogs were eaten by them. The dogs when thirsty come to the lake to drink, and then are seized by the crocodiles.”
“Oguizi,” said Ogoola, “when a crocodile knows a spot where animals come to drink he remains quiet near by and watches constantly. When he sees the game he dives away to make the beast unsuspicious, as we have seen one do with the boars,—then quick as a bird of prey he pounces upon his victim, seizes it in his powerful jaws and carries it to some retired spot to devour it.”
In the evening we camped on the top of the hill just by the path that led to the elephant country. We lighted big fires, and after supper I said: “To-morrow we will take to the lake and kill some of the big crocodiles.”