the rope and the hold of the hook, but
nothing gave way, for the strands were nearly new, and the toughest of
the tough.

And so the fight went on, minute after minute, the men perspiring and
the boys' hands beginning to grow sore. How long the violent plunging
and churning up of the water lasted they never attempted to guess, for
the interest in the fight was too engrossing as the monster now made a
rush to escape down the river, now up again, and at last made so
desperate a rush straight out as if to go across, that the party were
taken unawares, and were jerked right forward, losing their footing and
falling. Ned and Frank had to let go, to save themselves from being
dragged into the river, and as they lay close to the edge, the rope
passed over them, and Ned shouted, "Gone!" while Tim threw himself down
in despair.

And so it seemed, for half the men had also let go, and the others had
so bad a hold that they followed their companions' example, so that all
the labour seemed to have been thrown away.

It was all the work of a few moments, and the reptile was now well out,
and apparently escaping, when there was again a tightening, and the
young cocoa-nut palm shivered and bent as the knots were tested where
the end was secured.

The next moment, with a low cry of excitement, the men had seized the
line again, and eased the strain on the young tree; then steadily
dragging the reptile's head round, and drawing it back toward the bank
till half the rope was recovered.

The struggle recommenced, for the monster seemed to be as strong as
ever, but it was now allowed to have no rest, and at last it was drawn
to within some twenty feet of the bank, and four of the men let go and
went back.

"Here, hi! don't run away!" cried Tim.

"What are they going to do?" said Ned, panting with his efforts.

"Gone to get their spears. We're going to have him out now."

"And we're nearest!" cried Ned.

"Yes. Afraid? Shall we go back?"

"Do you want to?"

"No."

"More don't I," said Ned, desperately.

"It's all right," said Frank. "We can run out of his way if he makes a
jump at us. You'll easily know if he's going to. You'll see him hump
up his back if he's going to rush at us. But what you've got to mind is
his tail. He'll try, as I told you, to flip you into the water. He may
break your legs. Now then, be ready for a good haul. Here they are
with their spears."

The four men came back, two going on eac