“What’s happened to the tank?” exclaimed Raymond.  “The water’s almost up to the trees.”

“Good God; My wife!  Look!  Look!” cried the Resident.

They stood appalled.  The wide body of water had swept up to within a few yards of the trees under which Mrs. Norton lay fast asleep.  And stealthily emerging from it a large crocodile was slowly, cautiously, crawling towards the unconscious woman.

CHAPTER IV

A CROCODILE INTERVENES

Major Norton opened his mouth to cry a warning; but Wargrave grasped his arm and said hurriedly: 

“Don’t shout, sir!  Don’t wake her!  She’d be too confused to move.”

Then he thrust his field-glasses into the adjutant’s hand.

“Watch for the strike of my bullet, Ray,” he said.

He threw himself at full length on the ground and pressed a cartridge into the breech of his rifle.  His companions stood over him as he cast a hurried glance forward and adjusted his sight, muttering: 

“Just about four hundred yards.”

The crocodile was nearly broadside on to him; and even at that distance he could see the scaly armour covering head, back and sides, that would defy any bullet.  The unprotected spot behind the shoulder was hidden from him; the only vulnerable part was the neck.  Wargrave laid his cheek to the butt and sighted on this.

The crocodile crept on inch by inch, dragging its limbs forward with the slow, stealthy movement of its kind when stalking their prey on land.  The horrified watchers saw that the terrible snout with its protruding fangs was barely a yard from Mrs. Norton’s feet.  Raymond’s hands holding the glasses to his eyes trembled violently.  The Resident shook as with the palsy; and he stared in horror at the crawling death that threatened the sleeping woman.

Wargrave fired.

As the rifle rang out the creeping movement ceased.

“You’ve hit him, I’ll swear,” cried Raymond.  “I didn’t see the bullet strike the ground.”

Wargrave rapidly worked the bolt of his rifle, jerking out the empty case and pushing a fresh cartridge into the chamber.  He fired again.

“That’s got him!  That must have got him!” exclaimed Raymond.

The crocodile lay still.  Frank leapt to his feet and, rifle in hand, dashed down the incline.  At that moment Mrs. Norton awoke, turned on her side, raised her body a little and suddenly saw the horrible reptile.  She sat up rigid with terror and stared at it.  The brute slowly opened its huge mouth and disclosed the cruel, gapped teeth.  Then the iron jaws clashed together.  With a shriek the woman sprang to her feet, but stood trembling, unable to move away.

“Run!  Run!” shouted Wargrave, springing down the slope towards her.

Behind him raced Raymond, while her husband, who was unable to run fast, followed far behind.