The yells and Ken’s rude exertions aroused the boys. And they were frightened. Ken got an arm around Hal and the other around George and held on for dear life. He was more frightened than they. Pepe leaped up, jabbering, and, tripping, he fell all in a heap. “Oh! my leg!” howled Ken. “It’s being pulled off. Say, I can’t be dreaming!” Most assuredly Ken was wide awake. The moonlight showed his bare leg sticking out and round his ankle a heavy trot-line. It was stretched tight. It ran down over the bank. And out there in the river a tremendous fish or a crocodile was surging about, making the water roar. Pepe was trying to loosen the line or break it. George, who was always stupid when first aroused, probably imagined he was being mauled by a jaguar, for he loudly bellowed. Ken had a strangle-hold on Hal. “Oh! _Oh_! _Oh-h-h_!” bawled Ken. Not only was he scared out of a year’s growth; he was in terrible pain. Then his cries grew unintelligible. He was being dragged out of the tent. Still he clung desperately to the howling George and the fighting Hal. All at once something snapped. The tension relaxed. Ken fell back upon Hal. “Git off me, will you?” shouted Hal. “Are you c-c-cr-azy?” But Hal’s voice had not the usual note when he was angry or impatient. He was laughing so he could not speak naturally. “Uh-huh!” said Ken, and sat up. “I guess here was where I got it. Is my leg broken? What came off?” Pepe was staggering about on the bank, going through strange motions. He had the line in his hands, and at the other end was a monster of some land threshing about in the water. It was moonlight and Ken could see plainly. Around the ankle that felt broken was a twisted loop of trot-line. Hal had baited a hook and slipped the end of the trot-line over Ken’s foot. During the night the crocodile or an enormous fish had taken the bait. Then Ken had nearly been hauled off the island. Pepe was doing battle with the hooked thing, whatever it was, and Ken was about to go to his assistance when again the line broke. “Great! Hal, you have a nice disposition,” exclaimed Ken. “You have a wonderful affection for your brother. You care a lot about his legs or his life. Idiot! Can’t you play a safe trick? If I hadn’t grabbed you and George, I’d been pulled into the river. Eaten up, maybe! And my ankle is sprained. It won’t be any good for a week. You are a bright boy!” And in spite of his laughter Hal began to look ashamed. *XIX* *ADVENTURES WITH CROCODILES* The rest of that night Ken had more dreams; and they were not pleasant. He awoke from one in a cold fright.