Mack?" repeated Ned. "Who would ever forget him? Why, that
red-headed Irishman is not a person to be forgotten, if once known. Why
do you think he is with the party we are following, Jimmie?"

"Because Captain Godwin said one of the young men with the Lieutenant
has hair so red that he didn't need a light to go to bed by. That's Pat
Mack! And if he is with that bunch there'll be something doing before
long. That boy will fight a rattlesnake an' give him the first bite."

"He is all to the good as a pugilist," Ned said. "That was the trouble
with him in New York. He was always in some kind of a mess because of
his quick temper and his ready fists. I hope it is Pat who is leaving
these signs."

"You bet it is," Jimmie insisted. "Say, look here! Who's rockin' this
boat?"

The boys were all sitting quietly in their seats, but the _Manhattan_
was rocking in a manner not accounted for by the storm. Motioning the
others to remain where they were, Ned arose and passed out of the cabin.

The boat was still swaying violently, and Ned could at first see no good
reason for it, but presently a commotion in the water, a commotion not
caused by the wind and rain, caught his eyes and he advanced to the
stern. After looking into the water for a moment he went to the cabin
and beckoned to the boys.

"If you don't mind getting soaking wet," he said, "come out here."

"What is it?" asked Frank, lazily.

"Is it anything good to eat?" asked Jimmie.

Jack made no response but bounded forward and looked over the edge of
the boat into the bay. What he saw was a great head with protruding jaws
and a long, dark back covered with enormous half defined scales, like
armor plate.

"What is it?" he asked, drawing a revolver from his pocket.

Ned pushed his hand back and the weapon was returned to a pocket.

"Don't shoot," he said. "We are not yet ready to announce our presence
here."

"But what is that thing?" demanded Jack. "Is he trying to eat up the
boat?"

"That is a crocodile," Ned replied. "Corker, eh?"

"Will he bite?" asked Jack, reaching for a boathook.

"Jump in and see," laughed Ned. "They live on fish, but eat dogs and men
when they feel just right. The rivers and lakes of the Philippines swarm
with them."

Jimmie and Frank now came out of the cabin and looked down at the
crocodile.

"He's scratching his old nose on the boat!" Jimmie said. "That's what
makes it rock so!"

"He thinks it's a sandwich, with meat insid