tree. For the first mile he saw nothing larger than parrots, but
turning into a stony part where the sand and pebbles reflected the sun
with a glowing heat, something suddenly darted up from before him and
ran rapidly in amongst a rugged pile of scattered stones.

"Here! a young crocodile," he cried.

"Nonsense, boy. There are no crocodiles here," cried the doctor. "One
of the great mountain lizards."

"Too big! Six feet long," said Carey, excitedly.

"Well, they grow seven or eight. Go on."

Carey went on, but so as to follow the glistening creature he had seen
disappear, cocking his gun for a shot if he had a chance.

The chance came the next minute, but he was not able to take advantage
of it, for on turning one of the black masses of slag which looked as if
it had lately come from a furnace, the great lizard was started again,
and what followed was over in a few seconds, for the lithe, active
creature turned threateningly upon its pursuer with jaws thrown open,
and it looked startling enough in its grey, glistening armour as it
menaced the lad, who stood aghast--but only to be brought to a knowledge
of his position by the attack which followed.

It was no snapping or seizing, but there was a sharp whistling sound
and, quick as lightning, the long, tapering thin tail crooked twice
round Carey's legs, making him utter a cry of pain, for it was as if he
had been flogged sharply with a whip of wire.

The next minute the great lizard had disappeared.

"Why didn't you shoot?" said the doctor.

"Hadn't time. Oh, how it did hurt! Why, it was like steel."

"Never mind; you must be quicker next time, but I daresay there will be
marks left."

"And Bob's laughing at it," said the boy, in an ill-used tone. "Here,
you had better lead."

"Never mind, lead on," said the doctor; "the smarting will soon pass
off. It is not like a poisonous bite."

All the same the whip-like strokes stung and smarted terribly, as the
boy went on again, vowing vengeance mentally against the very next
lizard he saw.

But he did not take his revenge, though he started two more at different
times from among the sun-baked stones, and Bostock bantered him about
it.

"Why don't you shoot, sir?" he said, in a low voice so that the doctor,
who was a little behind, examining plants, did not hear.

"Who's to shoot at a thin whip-lash of a tail?" said Carey, angrily.
"They're here one moment and gone the next. They dart out of sigh