ut of the
men's hands, but they held on, threw themselves back, and once more the
dull steady strain was there, the reptile lying like a log at the
bottom.

"Look at that now!" cried Tim. "I belave he's tired, and gone to
slape."

"He's a coward, and won't fight," cried Frank. "Let's have him out at
once," he shouted in Malay to the men, but their leader gave a decided
negative.

"Says he'll begin to fight directly," continued Frank; and hardly were
the words out of his mouth when there was another fierce shaking of the
rope, a furious plunge, and the brute began to make the line rush
through the water here and there. The lotus-leaves were cut and torn
off and floated down the river, till, where the beautiful bed of flowers
lay, all was muddy water churned up by the savage efforts of the beast,
which tugged and dragged and sometimes drew the Malays a little nearer
the brim; but just as Ned was wondering whether they had not better let
go, the men recovered their lost ground again, and the water eddied and
bubbled as the mud rose to the surface.

"He's trying to burrow down," said Frank; "wait a bit, and he'll show
himself. It's precious deep just there."

The fight went on, and Ned was beginning to think that their captive
ought now to grow tired, when the strain suddenly ceased, and the whole
party went down backward with their heels in the air.

"The hook's broken out. Oh!" cried Ned, struggling to his knees, his
voice showing his disappointment. "Ah!" he yelled, "mind! run!" for he
suddenly caught sight of a fearful pair of open jaws thrust out of the
water not half a dozen yards away, the monster making a savage charge
right up to the bank, before its head sank down.

"Look at that now!" shouted Tim.

"Gone!" cried Ned; "and a good job too."

"Not he," said Frank, laughing. "Look!"

For the rope was running out again, showing that the hook was fast; and,
as the boys seized the line once more, the men let it go a little, and
then gradually tightened it, with the result that the crocodile turned
itself over and over, thrusting its loathsome head out, curving over and
diving down again, its tail appearing above the surface, waving, and
giving the water a tremendous slap, which sent the spray flying right
out over the bank.

It charged again right to the bank, but did not attempt to throw itself
out; always turning and plunging down again into deep water, the violent
efforts testing the strength of