is that log a crocodile?" I asked.

"No doubt about it," was the answer. "The creature expects to make its
dinner off the mias; but from what I have heard, the mias will be too
clever to be caught by it. But we will see."

After a time, the mias, having eaten as much food as he required,
descended the tree towards the edge of the water, holding on to a branch
with one of his powerful hands, while he stooped down to spoon out the
water with the other. By an almost imperceptible motion the crocodile
approached; but the mias, although he appeared to be only intent on
quenching his thirst, had evidently a corner of his eye resting on the
seemingly harmless log. The crocodile thought it was sure of its prey,
and opening its huge jaws, attempted to seize the mias. The latter,
however, swung himself quickly up the tree with his arms, and remained
looking down on the crocodile within a few feet of its jaws. Then
quietly stooping down, he held out a hand within as many inches of his
enemy's nose. This, evidently, excited the crocodile's desire to get
hold of him, and the amphibious monster began to climb up the bank of
the river. The mias waited quietly till it was within two feet of him,
and then swung himself along a short distance above it from bough to
bough, stopping again when the crocodile had got securely up the bank.
As the crocodile got near him, he proceeded on a little further; and
thus he went on till he had allured the monster to a considerable
distance from the stream. What he was going to do we could not
conjecture; indeed, so daring had the mias become, that it seemed very
likely, after all, he would fall into the crocodile's jaws. Suddenly,
however, we saw him climb up a tree to some distance, and run along a
branch which hung directly over where the crocodile was crawling. Then
suddenly he flung himself off the branch right on the animal's back, and
with his powerful fists began belabouring away at its head and eyes. It
seemed, from the movements of the crocodile, that it was already
blinded. In vain it snapped its enormous jaws--the loud sound, as its
huge teeth met each other, reverberating through the woods. The mias
had not the slightest difficulty in keeping his position on the scaly
monster's back, as its movements were far too slow to throw him off. He
continued belabouring it with his fists till it ceased to move. Then,
as the upper jaw was lifted up, he seized it in his powerful gras