Part 21 (1/2)

”Listen to her loud 'Wa--wa--wa.' She is trying to drown the voices of your favourites, Bella.”

Though we pa.s.sed close by, the ibis seemed in no way disposed to move, but continued shouting ”Wa--wa--wa.” However, she was not allowed to cry alone, for near her sat three fish-hawks piping away in the same fas.h.i.+on. Leo was about to stop and take a shot at one of them, but Kate intreated him to let the bird alone, and we rowed on, leaving him and his companions piping away to their hearts' content. Presently we saw a moderately-sized bird, like a plover, darting here and there, and uttering a peculiar sound. ”Tine--tine--tine,” cried Leo; ”what is that you say?” Presently a white-necked raven, which was sitting on a stump some way down, flew off, shrieking with fear, as the plover pursued it.

”Well, that is a coward,” said Leo. ”He is running away from a bird half his size.”

”Very wise,” observed Jack. ”Timbo, when he was out with me the other day, told me they call him the 'hammering iron,' on account of his 'Tine--tine--tine' cry. But it is not his cry which makes the raven fly off. He has got a sharp spur on his shoulder, just like that on the heel of a c.o.c.k, and he could dig it into the raven, and soon draw its life-blood.”

On went the plover to a bank a little way ahead, where it pitched on what we thought at that distance was a log of wood. As we paddled up the seeming log turned into a huge crocodile basking in the sun.

”Stop paddling,” I cried to the boys. ”Let us see what the plover is about.”

It ran along the back of the reptile, but stopped on the top of its snout, and then with perfect fearlessness actually flew down into its gaping mouth. I then recollected an account I had read of a bird on the Nile of that description, which is known by the name of siksak--the trochilus. It is stated by two or three credible witnesses that it performs the part of tooth-picker to the monster. Whether it was so occupied or not we could not tell, but presently the crocodile appeared to rouse itself up and to crawl towards the water, into which he plunged, diving down out of sight.

”There goes Master Tine--tine--tine flying away. I suppose he will go and warn his other friends,” said Jack. ”That is his business, so Timbo says; and when these birds are about you can never get a shot at a crocodile.”

As we continued paddling on we were convinced that they had been warned of our approach, for they all betook themselves to the water long before we got near them. Proceeding we reached a part of the river where the banks were steep and composed of sand. Presently we saw a creature crawling out of the water, and making its way up the bank.

”What creature can that be?” asked Natty.

”A water-turtle!” I exclaimed; for I recognised it from the descriptions I had seen of it.

Presently it came to a steep part of the bank, and as it was climbing up it fell, and lay helpless on its back.

”We will make prize of him,” cried Jack. ”Paddle away, boys.”

We were soon up to the bank, when Jack sprang out of the canoe, and before the turtle could recover itself he had seized it in his arms and placed it in the bottom of the canoe. There the creature lay utterly helpless. While the canoe's bows were on the sh.o.r.e, Chico, who had got tired of sitting so long in one position, made a spring on to the land to pick some fruit which grew on a low bush at no great distance. The boys were so interested in watching the turtle that, without seeing that Chico was absent, they shoved off, and had already got to some little distance when they discovered that we had left one of our company behind. Chico, having filled his paws with fruit, ran down the bank.

”Hillo, old fellow!” exclaimed Jack, ”we will come in for you.”

The current, however, just then took the canoe's head, and we drifted some way down before we could turn back. At that instant we saw a ripple in the water, and presently the huge head of a crocodile was projected above it. The monster darted forward; and poor Chico, before he was aware of his danger, was seized by its huge jaws. In vain we cried out and shrieked at the top of our voices. The crocodile had got hold of its prey. Chico struggled, but he was as helpless as a mouse in the fangs of a cat. ”Oh, save him, save him!” shrieked out Bella; but it was too late. Though the boys paddled with might and main, before they reached the sh.o.r.e the crocodile sank beneath the surface, dragging the poor ape with him. A little circle alone marked the spot where it had gone down.

”There is one who will pay you off for that,” cried Jack, looking into the water as if in search of the crocodile. ”When Igubo hears of it he will be after you, depend on it.”

We all felt sad at the loss of our pet, and much as we had enjoyed the early part of the trip, it certainly spoiled the pleasure of the remainder.

”Poor Chico!” exclaimed Natty every now and then. ”I little thought you would come to so untimely an end.”

Bella cried outright, and Kate could scarcely restrain her feelings. We now proceeded back to the landing-place, and Jack and the boys having drawn up the canoe to the spot where she usually lay concealed, we commenced our return home. My young cousins and Natty a.s.sisted me up the hill. We had got to about half the distance, when a loud roar came from the thicket I have before mentioned. ”Roar away!” cried Jack, ”you will not frighten us.” Bella, and even Kate, could not, however, help trembling at the sound; indeed, there is something peculiarly terrific in the cry of the lion in his native wilds. I trusted that he would confine himself to roaring, and not attempt to approach nearer. The boys and Jack looked to their guns.

”We will be ready for him if he dares to show his face,” cried Jack.

”Now, you young gentlemen fire first, if he looks as if he was going to attack us. I will keep my fire in case you miss.”

The lion, however, allowed us to gain our home, where we found David and Timbo looking out for us, and ready to fire at the beast should he approach.

”But where Chico?” cried Timbo when he saw us. Jack told him what had happened. ”When I tell Igubo, he soon punish crocodile,” he said.

”Igubo great crocodile hunter.”

”But what have you there, Jack?” asked David, as he saw the turtle which Jack had brought up on his back. ”Well, you have indeed a prize, for the turtle will be a pleasant addition to our bill of fare.”

When the girls went to their hut, we examined the water-turtle, which Timbo and Jack at once prepared for cooking. Opening it, we found that it had upwards of thirty eggs in its body. The sh.e.l.ls were flexible, and the same size at both ends, like those of the crocodile.

”Dis make one bery fine dish,” said Timbo, ”and de liber is first-rate.

We hab it ready for when de captain come back.”