With a mighty heave Reeves jerked the terrified lad into the boat—not a moment too soon, for, in addition to the reptile that had capsized the intruder upon its peace and quietness, at least a dozen of the brutes came floundering through the shallows from all directions.
"Stand by with the muskets!" cried Reeves.
But the caution was unnecessary. The crocodiles contented themselves with snapping their huge jaws and bringing their heavy tails down upon the surface of the water with a tremendous crash, and did not make any direct attack upon the occupants of the boat.
Although Reeves slept like a top, the lads kept awake the greater part of the night, expecting momentarily to see the snout of a crocodile appear above the gunwale, and wondering vaguely what would happen if, with their craft stuck indefinitely upon the sandbank, they attempted to wade over the wide shallows betwixt them and the distant shore.
CHAPTER XX
Running the Last Gauntlet
AT daybreak Hugh sat up. Gerald had fallen into a broken slumber, while the correspondent was still sleeping soundly. The lad was puzzled. When the boat stuck, her bows were pointing towards the setting sun; now they.-were inclined towards the east. He made his way for'ard. The craft rocked easily under his weight. A glance at the cable revealed the fact that the boat had floated, and was riding to the full scope of the anchor rope.
"We're afloat!" he shouted. Reeves was instantly awake, but Gerald muttered something about crocodiles.
"They have cleared off," exclaimed Hugh joyfully, "and we can clear off as soon as we like."
"How about breakfast?" asked Gerald drowsily.