TheMungananoticedhisfearandwhispered:
“Wemustswimthewater。Ifyouhaveagod，whiteman，prayhimtoprotectyoufromBonsa。“
“Leadon，“answeredAlan，“Idonotdreadafoulfetish，onlythelookofit。Butistherenowayround？“
TheMunganashookhisheadandbegantoenterthecanal。Jeekie，whoseteethwerechattering，hungback，butAlanpushedhimfrombehind，sosharplythathestumbledandmadeasplash。ThenAlanfollowed，andasthecold，blackwaterrosetohischest，lookedagainatBigBonsa。
Itseemedtohimthatthethinghadturnedroundandwasstaringatthem。Surelyafewsecondsagoitssnoutpointedtheotherway。No，thatmustbefancy。Hewasswimmingnow，theywereallswimming，AlanandJeekieholdingtheirpistolsandlittlestockofcartridgesabovetheirheadstokeepthemdry。ThegoldheadofBigBonsaappearedtobeliftingitselfupinthewater，asareptilemight，inordertogetabetterviewoftheseproceedings，butdoubtlessitwastheripplesthattheycausedwhichgaveitthisappearance。Onlywhydidtheripplesmakeitcometowardsthem，quitegently，likeaninvestigatingfish？