w. What is that?" he exclaimed suddenly as a loud scream was heard
at a short distance away. "It is a woman's voice."

Chebron darted off in full speed in the direction of the sound,
closely followed by Amuba and Jethro. They ran about a hundred yards
along the bank, when they saw the cause of the outcry. An immense
crocodile was making his way toward the river, dragging along with it
the figure of a woman.

In spite of his reverence for the crocodile Chebron did not hesitate a
moment, but rushing forward smote the crocodile on the nose with all
his strength with the shaft of his spear. The crocodile dropped its
victim and turned upon its assailant, but Jethro and Amuba were close
behind, and these also attacked him. The crocodile seeing this
accession of enemies now set out for the river, snapping its jaws
together.

"Mind its tail!" one of the hunters exclaimed, running up.

But the warning was too late, for the next moment Amuba received a
tremendous blow which sent him to the ground. The hunter at the same
moment plunged his spear into the animal through the soft skin at the
back of its leg. Jethro followed his example on the other side. The
animal checked its flight, and turning round and round lashed with its
tail in all directions.

"Keep clear of it!" the hunter shouted. "It is mortally wounded and
will need no more blows."

In fact, the crocodile had received its death-wound. Its movements
became more languid, it ceased to lash its tail, though it still
snapped at those nearest to it, but gradually this action also ceased,
its head sank, and it was dead. Jethro as soon as he had delivered his
blow ran to Amuba.

"Are you hurt?" he asked anxiously.

"No, I don't think so," Amuba gasped. "The brute has knocked all the
breath out of my body; but that's better than if he had hit me in the
leg, for I think he would have broken it had he done so. How is the
woman--is she dead?"

"I have not had time to see," Jethro replied. "Let me help you to your
feet, and let us see if any of your ribs are broken. I will see about
her afterward."

Amuba on getting up declared that he did not think he was seriously
hurt, although unable for the time to stand upright.

"I expect I am only bruised, Jethro. It was certainly a tremendous
whack he gave me, and I expect I shall not be able to take part in any
sporting for the next few days. The crocodile was worth a dozen
hippopotami. There was some courage about him."