thinking a long time, the crocodile determined on boring a hole through the root of the tree; and for a whole week he kept on boring.  Presently, a dog came to drink; afterwards a goose; also a man; but, the crocodile keeping at his work, the serpent exulted in having intimidated his adversary, and said, ’There’s nothing so strong, then, as I am.”  The crocodile heard him, and labored with all his might to finish boring at the root, one branch of which remained to cut.  The crocodile then watched at the water-side a good while, when down came the dog to drink:  the crocodile pursued him; the serpent, as before, came to oppose him, calling out, “Let that dog alone there, lest you get the worst of it.”—­“You,” said the crocodile, “do not fear God.  Yonder dogs deceive us, and that’s the reason I pursue them:  as to people, I never touch them, unless they are guilty of witchcraft.  I only eat the small things,—­so just let me alone.”  When the serpent heard that, he replied, “There is no God; for if there were, I should have had both hands and feet:  there is no God at all.  But I will have your carcass to-day.”  Then the dog and the serpent together made an attack on the crocodile; the crocodile got weaker, and dived in the water; when all the little fish came again, and expressed their astonishment, as before, that he should be conquered by that little serpent, “Wait a little,” said the crocodile, “and you will see I am not conquered by him.”  The serpent got up the tree as usual; the crocodile watched,—­bored the hole completely,—­then looked up, and saw the serpent sound asleep on a branch overhanging the water; then, cutting what remained of the root, the tree broke and fell into the water, the serpent falling with it.  Then all the fishes acknowledged that the crocodile was superior, for he had got the serpent into the water, and made him dive in it, and kept him under water half-an-hour.  The serpent, however, survived it, and repented of what he had done.  “Oh! that I had never opposed you; only let me go, and I will never attack you again.”—­“Ah!” said the crocodile; “but as often as I pursued the dog, I was pursued by you; so you must suffer in your turn.”  Thus the crocodile made him heartily repent before he let him go.  “Then,” said the serpent, “if ever I touch you again, may I be conquered.”  After that, the crocodile let him go.  He was glad to get off; but he had been beaten, and took an oath not to renew the attack when the crocodile went to look out for prey.  The crocodile, however, owed the dog a grudge, because he had attacked him, and so laid all his family under a curse to devour the dog whenever opportunity offered.  “Unless you do that,” said he, “may you die without posterity; for yonder dog took part with the serpent against me.”

MR. STANLEY.  “Well, George, are you like the serpent?  Have you had enough of the water?”

GEORGE.  “Oh! no!  I shall be very sorry when the voyages are over.”