Your
skin is pretty tough. But I understand there are
deep pools of water in the land where we are
going, and in them lives a fish that has a hide
like an alligator and a jaw like a shark. If you
fall in it's all up with you."
"Dat true, Master Tom?" and Koku's voice
trembled.
"Well, I've never seen such a fish, I'm sure,
but the natives tell about it."
Koku seemed to be considering the matter.
Strange as it may seem, the giant, though afraid
of nothing human and brave when it came to a
hand-to-claw argument with a wild animal, had
a very great fear of the water and the unseen
life within it. Even a little fresh-water crab in
a brook was enough to send him shrieking to
shore. So when Tom told of this curious fish,
which many natives of Central America firmly
believe in, the giant took thought with himself.
Finally, he gave a sigh and said:
"Me stay home and keep bad mans out of
master's shop."
"Yes, I guess that's the best thing for you,"
assented Tom with an air of relief. He and Ned
had talked the matter over, and they had agreed
that the presence of such a big man as Koku, in
an expedition going on a more or less secret mission,
would attract too much attention.
"Well, I guess that clears matters up," said
Tom, as he looked over a collection of rifles and
small arms, to decide which to take. "We won't
have them to worry about."
"No, only Professor Beecher," remarked Ned,
with a sharp look at his chum.
"Oh, we'll dispose of him all right!" asserted
Tom boldly.
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