So instead of permitting himself to shoot up to the surface, he remained under and struck out toward the shore.
For more than a minute he shot ahead at a rapid pace. And only when it seemed as though his lungs would burst did he at last rise to the surface.
He shook the water from his eyes and looked behind him. He could see at least half a dozen caymen tearing at the body of the tapir and others swimming about greedy for their share.
His only hope lay in the possibility that the brutes would be so busy fighting each other for a portion of the spoils that they would not notice him at the distance that he had already attained.
But his chase for the tapir had carried him far out into the stream and the shore seemed still a terrible distance away.
He summoned up all his resolution and struck out for land, keeping himself as low in the water as possible and moving with scarcely a ripple.
For a time it looked as though his hope might be realized. Twice he looked behind him, and each time the brutes still seemed to be fighting about the body of the tapir.
But the third time he looked back he saw something that filled him with consternation.
A huge alligator had detached itself from the group and was making toward him at full speed. He could see the long, scaly body, the fiery, red eyes and the hideous jaws with their rows of glistening teeth.
Bomba turned and swam for his life.