Letting go the wheel, he caught his assailant by the waistband, and with a heave flung him overboard.
Then with a quick right and left he sent two of the others reeling.
"Now," he roared at the skipper, "back her, or by the Lord I'll fling you in as well." "Fetch the rifles," said Compton to Venning.
A moment later the two boys stood at the ready with their rifles, and amid a babel of cries the skipper signaled "Stop her." The steamer slowed up, swung gently round, and shaped back to where three dark spots showed.
"There are four," cried Venning, at his first swift glance; "and one is a crocodile.

It is making for the jackal." "Take the wheel, Compton," said Mr.Hume, quite calm again.

"Give me your gun, Venning." The hunter, with the gun, went to the side and looked over.

Nearest him was the man he had thrown overboard; beyond was the jackal, making a great splashing; and further on was the face of Muata, who was crying out encouragement to his faithful companion as he swam swiftly towards it; and to the left, moving rapidly towards the jackal, was the crocodile, swimming in a great swirl, with only his eyes showing, and the end of his snout.

The hunter steadied himself with a shoulder against a stanchion, and then, without hurry or excitement, and after a look round the deck at the people, to see if there was any further mischief brewing, took deliberate aim and fired.
A shout went up, and the very people who had a minute before been so hostile, now were abject in their praise of Mr.Hume, for the crocodile span round and round in answer to the shot.
"Stand by with a rope, Mr.Compton," cried the hunter, taking command as if by right; and Compton obeyed promptly, but without excitement.
The first man caught the line and swarmed up wet, but subdued in spirit, casting an appealing glance at his late assailant.