Surely a few seconds ago its snout pointed the other way.

No, that must be fancy.

He was swimming now, they were all swimming, Alan and Jeekie holding their pistols and little stock of cartridges above their heads to keep them dry.

The gold head of Big Bonsa appeared to be lifting itself up in the water, as a reptile might, in order to get a better view of these proceedings, but doubtless it was the ripples that they caused which gave it this appearance.

Only why did the ripples make it come towards them, quite gently, like an investigating fish?
It was about ten yards off and they were in the middle of the canal.