We paddled in such a manner as to keep in the rear of the crocodile, for I wanted to shoot him behind one of his forelegs. The beast was apparently asleep. The men used their paddles so carefully that we could hardly hear them going through the water. Coming into position, I aimed behind the right shoulder and fired. Dear “Bulldog” did his work well. The monster advanced about a yard towards the water, slamming his tail to help him, but he died before he could reach it.
“Let us try to get at the crocodile,” I said to Oshoria, to which he replied: “We will try, but it will be difficult, for the mud is very soft and dangerous.”
“It is sure death,” they all shouted.
“Then,” I answered, “we will not try to get the crocodile into our canoe. Let us go back and get that old abandoned canoe we saw near the shore on our way here, break it up into three boards, bring them with us, lay them on the mud and walk upon them to where the beast lies; then with the help of a rope we will haul him off.” The suggestion was received with shouts of approval and we went for the old canoe to carry out my suggestion.
On our return we succeeded in putting the crocodile upon one of the boards and then after a great deal of work we dragged the board with the crocodile upon it into the water and towed our prize towards our camp.
Near the landing I spied a very large crocodile on the shore. When we came near enough, we all took aim and fired at the same time, and killed the beast instantly. He hardly moved. It was an enormous one, over twenty feet long. What powerful jaws, what tremendous, long round teeth! We ate crocodile for supper. Before going to sleep, the men rubbed their bodies with oil, for their skin was blistered by the sun, and they seemed very comfortable afterwards.
CHAPTER XXIV
DIFFICULTY OF MAKING OUR WAY—FALLEN TREES AND DENSE THICKETS—OUR MEAT GIVES OUT—LOOKING FOR KOOLA TREES—A MEAL OF THEIR NUTRITIOUS NUTS—THEIR IMPORTANCE TO THE TRAVELLER IN THE FOREST.
Next morning we determined to leave Crocodile Lake and go at once to the elephant country.
We breakfasted on crocodile, to save our provisions. We hauled up our canoes and hid them in the forest. Then we started. Once more we were in the great forest; the foliage was so thick that no one could see the sun or the sky.