“Yes, I’ve known that to occur before with shallow ponds,” said Raymond.  “I’ve heard the passage of the Red Sea by the Israelites and the drowning of Pharaoh’s Army explained in the same way.  It’s said that the crossing really took place at one extremity of the Bitter Lake through which the Suez Canal passes.”

Major Norton was staring at the far end of the tank now left bare.

“There may be some interesting insects stranded on the bottom uncovered by the receding water,” he said, abstractedly, and was moving away to search for them when Wargrave said disgustedly: 

“Don’t you think, sir, that, as Mrs. Norton has had such a shock, the sooner we get off the better?”

“Yes, yes.  Very true.  But you can order the camels to be saddled while I’m having a look,” replied the enthusiastic collector.  “I really must go and see.  There may be some very interesting specimens there.”

And he hurried away.  His wife smiled rather bitterly as he went.  Then she turned to the two subalterns.

“But tell me what happened?  How did the mugger come here?  How was I saved?”

Raymond rapidly narrated what had taken place.  Violet looked at Wargrave with glistening eyes and held out her hands to him.

“So you saved my life.  How can I thank you?” she said gratefully.  Her lips trembled a little.

Frank took her hands in his but answered lightly: 

“Oh, it was nothing.  Anyone else would have done the same.  I happened to be the only one with a rifle.”

Raymond turned away quickly and walked over to the crocodile.  Neither of them took any notice of him.  Violet gazed fondly at Wargrave.

“I owe you so much, Frank, so very much,” she murmured in a low voice.  “You’ve made my life worth living; and now you make me live.”

He was embarrassed but he pressed the hands he held in his.  Then he released them and tried to speak lightly.

“Shall I have the mugger skinned and get a dressing-bag made out of his hide for you?” he said, smiling.  “That’d be a nice souvenir of the brute.”

She shuddered.

“I don’t want to remember him,” she cried, turning to glance at the crocodile.  “Horrid beast!  I can’t bear the sight of him.”

The mugger certainly looked a most repulsive brute as it lay stretched on the ground, its jaws occasionally opening and shutting spasmodically, the blood from its wounded throat spreading in a pool on the sun-baked earth.  It was evidently an old beast; and skull and back were covered with thick horny plates and bosses through which no bullet could penetrate.  The big teeth studded irregularly in the cruel jaws were yellow and worn, as were the thick nails tipping the claws at the ends of the powerful limbs.

“The devil’s not dead yet.  Shall I put another bullet into him?” said Wargrave.

“It’s only wasting a cartridge,” replied his friend.  “He can’t do any more harm.  When the men come we’ll have him cut open and see what he’s got inside him.”