In the Wilds of AfricaKingston, William Henry Giles
General
In the Wilds of Africa
Kingston, William Henry Giles
Africa -- Juvenile fiction
How he was going to manage it, however, he did not inform us.
As may be supposed, Stanley dropped to sleep over his breakfast, and was
glad directly afterwards to go to bed. Igubo and his boys followed his
example; but after a few hours' rest, they again appeared, as fresh as
if they had not been undergoing severe exertion for a couple of days
under an African sun.
"You come and see Igubo kill de crocodile," I heard Timbo say to Leo and
Natty.
Igubo had provided himself with a piece of one of the animals which he
had brought home, and which had become no longer eatable. He had
fastened it to the end of a long rope, and his sons carried it down to
the water. Timbo and Jack, with the two boys, set off after them; and,
taking my rifle, I followed to see what would happen.
On reaching the river, Igubo threw in the meat as far as he could,
fastening the end of the rope to the trunk of a tree. Then, on his
making a sign to us to hide ourselves, we retired behind some bushes.
In a short time the rope was violently tugged, and Igubo, throwing off
his scanty garments, drew his sharp knife from its sheath, and sprang
into the water. I could not refrain from crying out, and entreating him
to come back; but he paid no heed to me, and swam on. Presently he
disappeared, and I felt horror-struck at the thought that a crocodile
had seized him; but directly afterwards the snout of the huge monster
appeared above the water, Igubo rising at the same time directly behind
it. The creature, instead of attempting to turn, made towards the bank,
at a short distance off. Igubo followed; and I saw his hand raised, and
his dagger descended into the side of the creature. Still the crocodile
did not attempt to turn, but directly afterwards reaching the bank,
climbed up it. Igubo followed, and again plunged his knife into the
monster's side. Every instant I expected to see him seized by its
terrific jaws; but the creature seemed terror-stricken, and made no
attempt at defence. Again and again the black plunged in his knife,
while the crocodile vainly endeavoured to escape. The next instant
Igubo was on its back, and the creature lay without moving. A few
minutes only had passed. It opened its vast jaws, each time more
languidly than before, till at length it sank down, and, after a few
struggles, was evidently dead. Igubo, springing up, flourished his
knife over his head in triumph. Jack, running to the canoe, began to
launch it. We all jumped in, and paddled off to the bank, Timbo
bringing the rope with him. We fastened it round the crocodile's neck,
and towed the body in triumph to the shore, up which we hauled it.
"Igubo say we find eggs not far off," said Timbo.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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