Part 7 (1/2)
”I vote we cross on horseback,” said Denis ”It will be half an hour ordesperately hungry We can get over just as easily as those Kaffir fellows We can either sit on the horses' backs, or hold on to their tails, while they tow us over See, that's how the Kaffirs are crossing”
”I'm ready, at all events,” said Lionel ”I think I'll ride ive him his head, and don't on any account pull at the halter,” said Denis ”What way are you going to cross, Percy?”
Percy did not quite like the undertaking, not being accusto But he was asha an excellent swimmer, he was not afraid of the water, but ht after the noise had ceasedup to the spot At last, however, after seeing Denis and Lionelto the heads of their horses, he ied into the river together, the horses noith riders on their backs, taking to the water willingly enough Denis led the way, keeping on the left or up stream Percy followed closely a little farther down Lionel was on his right For some distance the river was sufficiently shallow for the horses to wade, with the water only half-way up their backs Presently Denis's horse began to swim
”I'll try the Kaffir fashi+on, and I'd advise you to do the same,” cried Denis ”Lionelthis he slipped off, and grasping hold of his horse's tail, was towed across, while he laughed and shouted to Percy to i to ain; ”you'll find that your animal swims twice as fast He can't kick, if he were to try”
They had already got e, Percy slipped off, and had just got hold of his horse's tail when Lionel, as, 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 ht instantly occurred to his, and that the boy, who had acknowledged a short time before that he was not much of a swimmer, would either be seized by thein his e and resolution than he are of
Another crocodilebehind 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, swa 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 tiain the bank”
Lionel, who kept his presence of aining his horse's tail, but the aniot 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 hier of his two coo and swiht was that his poere insufficient for the task
As he looked round he saw the 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 ood swiood 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 froone 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
Shouting out to Hendricks, as at soon, he leaped on to one of the rafts, ns to the nearest Kaffir, to whom he could not otherwise communicate his wishes, to come off with him
Fortunately Hendricks heard his voice, and rushi+ng down, sprang on to the raft In the meanti hiot away from the noiseseized by another crocodile was greatly increased
Still, though hewould induce hie
”Hold up, Lionel,” he cried ”Kick about with your feet, and shout as loud as you can Those brutes of crocodiles won't hurt us while they've got the horse to eat Hurrah! we are seen from the shore; your father and Crawford are on it They are stopping to pick up Denis, they'll be up to us soon Now stop and tread water, it will give me a rest It won't matter if we are floated a little lower down Shout and shriek as loud as you like”
All this Percy said at the top of his voice, for he did not feel quite as confident as he tried to make Lionel suppose, that another crocodile would not make its appearance Still his hopes of escape rose as he saw the raft urged on by poles and paddles approaching He kept looking round him, however, to watch whether one of the dreadedto the surface, not that, should it approach, he would be able to do much to htest fear He did exactly as he was told Had his skill as a swimmer equalled that of Percy, he would rather have trusted to his oers, than have hindered his co the shore The raft was still souish the features of their friends When, as they were treading water, holding each other's hands, Lionel, casting a glance down the strea this way?” Percy looked in the sae crocodile, with its snout directed towards theobbled up, at all events,” cried Percy ”Put your hand as before on my back, and we'll swiet on to it before the creature reaches us”