forward, boat-hook
in hand, looking as smart as the rest of the crew, that is to say, just
as if they had stepped off a man-of-war's deck, and then every one
well-armed, ready for the attack upon any wild creatures they
encountered, or for the defence of their lives against an enemy, waited
for the skipper to give the signal to start, which he did at last by
raising his hand.

Then, as the boat was pushed off into the now rising tide, a mingled
French and English cheer arose, full of good wishes, while of the
Spaniard's crew not a man was visible save the two in the captain's
boat, who had just reached the three-master's stern and had begun to
make fast.

The cheer was repeated as the Devon boat, in obedience to the dipping of
the oars, glided farther out into mid-stream, while directly after there
was a heavy swirl just beneath her bows, followed by the sudden
protrusion of the huge grinning head of a fierce crocodile, the monster
bent on mischief, and receiving a most unexpected salute, for Joe Cross
was standing balancing his boat-hook in his hands, ready to lay it down
along the thwart, but, quick almost as lightning, he gave it a twirl as
he rested one foot upon the gunwale and drove it, harpoon fashion, crash
into the reptile's head.

"He's got it!" cried the man, as he started back; but he did not escape
the shower of water that was sent flying over the boat, the crocodile
vigorously lashing the surface with its serrated tail as it floated
astern.

"Yes," said the Spanish captain quietly, "but you had better shoot them,
_senores_, and keep a little back from the side. There's plenty of them
up the river, and one of you might get swept out of the boat."

CHAPTER FORTY TWO.

NIGHT IN THE JUNGLE.

In spite of the risks run from the ravenous reptiles, whose daring
proved that they had a hard struggle for existence, familiarity soon
bred contempt, and the sailors laughed, as they proceeded up the
beautiful river, at perils which not many days before would have made
them turn pale.

For they were enjoying an excursion that seemed to present fresh
beauties at every yard. As a rule the forest came down to the flowing
water on both sides in waves of verdure, with grand trees which every
now and then presented the aspect of some gorgeous flower garden, here
red, there blue, at other times in lovely wreaths of white, while it
seemed, Joe Cross said to the lads, as if one of the blossoming trees
took fligh