“Just try it,” cried Denis again; “you’ll find that your animal swims twice as fast. He can’t kick, if he were to try.”
They had already got more than half-way over, when, gaining courage, Percy slipped off, and had just got hold of his horse’s tail when Lionel, who was, as has been said, a short distance off, uttered a cry of alarm. What was Percy’s horror to see his horse frantically beating the water with his fore-legs and making no progress! The dreadful thought instantly occurred to him, that a crocodile had caught hold of the animal’s legs, and that the boy, who had acknowledged a short time before that he was not much of a swimmer, would either be seized by the monster, or be drowned. Percy, though quiet and unassuming in his manners, possessed more courage and resolution than he was aware of. Another crocodile might seize him even while swimming behind his horse, but he did not think of that risk. He could not bear to see his young companion perish without an effort to save him.
“Throw yourself off, and swim towards me,” he shouted.
Lionel did as he was advised, narrowly escaping being struck by the horse’s hoofs. On this, Percy, letting go his horse’s tail, and exerting all his strength, swam to meet Lionel, who, although supporting himself in the water, was evidently unable to reach the bank towards which they had been directing their course.
“Keep up, keep up until I come to you,” cried Percy, and in a few seconds he was up to Lionel. “Now place your hand on my back, and strike out with the other and your feet at the same time. Don’t attempt to clutch me, and we will, please heaven, gain the bank.”
Lionel, who kept his presence of mind, did as he was bid. At first Percy was in hopes of regaining his horse’s tail, but the animal had got too far ahead, and was now abreast of Denis’s horse. Denis himself was too much ahead to see what had happened, and not until Percy’s horse had got up to him was he aware of the danger of his two companions. His first impulse was to let go and swim to their assistance, but his next thought was that his powers were insufficient for the task.
As he looked round he saw them both swimming on steadily, while Lionel’s unfortunate horse was gradually sinking beneath the surface, although its fore-feet were still striking out in the vain attempt to escape from the jaws of its captor.
“Shall I come and help you?” he shouted out. “I’ll try to do so if you want me.”
“No, no,” answered Percy. “If you are not a good swimmer, you’ll do no good. Get to shore as fast as you can, and send off a raft to us, for they don’t appear to be looking at us.”
Owing to the oxen and horses having just landed, what had occurred had not been perceived from the shore. Crawford, who had gone across on the last raft, was the first to discover that there were only two horses. He then saw the heads of Percy and Lionel close together.