nearly to the mouth of the stream, where there was some open
ground, the trees not growing so closely down to the edge of the water
as in other places. Tim and Sambo were together. I had gone a little
way on, when Marian saw some of the grass of which she was in search.
The Indians, who had just shot a toucan, were a little way behind me,
waiting for the bird to drop. The waters having by this time
considerably subsided, the stream was running much more rapidly than at
first. I stopped to watch a log which was floating down, and I thought
how convenient it would be to get hold of it and tow it on shore, as it
would save us several hours' labour should it be fit for our
shipbuilding purposes. Just then I caught sight of Uncle Paul and
Arthur on the raft, they having come to the mouth of the stream; but of
course they could not ascend it. I shouted to them, and pointed out the
log.

At that moment I heard a piercing cry, and to my dismay I saw that
Marian had fallen into the stream from a projecting point on which she
had been standing, and that she was being rapidly hurried down by the
current. What also was my unspeakable horror, when, almost at the same
moment I caught sight of a huge alligator, which, with open jaws, rose
to the surface, and was making directly for her! I shrieked out to
Kallolo, who had at the same instant caught sight of the creature.
Quick as lightning he fixed an arrow to his bow, which he sent with
unerring aim into the monster's eye. It had the effect he hoped for,--
it made the alligator turn aside; and apparently blinded, and unable to
see where it was going, it darted up close to the bank. Tim and Sambo,
seeing it coming, had sprung on to a tree which overhung the stream.
Then Tim, instigated by an impulse for which he himself probably could
not have accounted, leaped directly down on the creature's back, and
digging the fingers of his left hand into its remaining eye, began so
furiously to belabour it with a thick club he held in his right hand,
that the astonished saurian dashed off through the water, madly lashing
it into masses of foam with its huge tail. Under other circumstances I
should have trembled for the gallant Tim's safety, but for the moment I
could think of nothing but the fearful danger to which my dear young
sister was exposed. I am very sure that it was the idea that he might
help to save Marian which prompted him to the performance of the
unexampled act of hero