When the men returned, Challis set them to lash the saplings together with the creepers to form a raft. In half an hour it was completed. At his order they carried it to the verge of the yielding ground. The crowd, having an inkling of his purpose, shouted with delight. The white man, they thought, was going to bring back the Tubus to be slaughtered. It was difficult to launch the raft from the soft boggy ground. The men shrank from entering the water. John explained that crocodiles had been known to snap up a man from the midst of a large party. To reassure them, Challis ordered some of the spearmen to stand by, and watch for the beasts while their comrades hauled the raft into the water. When it was at last afloat, he wanted four men to paddle it. But when John selected four strong fellows and told them what they were to do, they yelled with fright, and fled back among the crowd. "Well, we must do it ourselves," said Challis. "All same, sah," said John. But Challis noticed that he looked very uneasy. Only the desire to "show off" before the people prevailed over his fear. The two got upon the raft, and standing well in the centre, poled out with saplings across the thick weedy water. Challis felt somewhat anxious himself when he realised how frail and crazy was this rapidly made raft. And they had only gone about fifty yards from the shore when he got some notion of the nature of the adventure on which he had embarked. Almost without a ripple on the surface a snout emerged from the water a few yards ahead of them. In another moment a second and yet a third appeared. Then more came on each side and behind. The swamp seemed to be swarming with the reptiles. Challis tried another shot. The snouts instantly disappeared, emerging again, however, after a few seconds, at a little greater distance. Whether Challis had killed one he did not know. He was taking aim for a third shot when the raft, neglected by John, intent on watching his master, lurched against a half submerged bank of weed. Challis staggered, and in catching at John to steady himself, dropped his rifle, which struck the side of the raft and fell into the water with a big splash. "Never mind," said Challis, trying cheerfully to hide his annoyance. "They can't get to us on the raft." Coming into deeper water, they used the saplings as paddles. The crocodiles kept at a greater distance, but they followed the raft, swimming slowly and quite noiselessly after it as it crept towards the tree. Challis felt the presence of this escort not a little disconcerting. He was not scared, but uncomfortable. He thought of driving off the reptiles by shouting; it was quite an effort to find his voice. When he shouted and splashed with his paddle there was a momentary scattering and disappearance of the snouts; but as soon as he left off, they came up behind and around the raft again. He was heartily glad when at last they reached the tree.