156 AFRICAN ADVENTURE STORIES 



inhabited by hippos suffer greatly from the 

 depredations of these animals, chiefly at night 

 when they break through the brush fences and 

 feed on corn, sugar-cane, and garden-truck. It 

 is then that the hippo is dangerous and is most 

 likely to resent being disturbed. 



While rowing silently along one of these small 

 East African rivers a hunter will be startled by 

 a sudden rushing sound on the bank only a few 

 yards away, or possibly directly opposite him, 

 and the next instant a hippo pitches down a 

 steep, well-worn trail and plunges into the river, 

 sending the waves splashing against the side of 

 the craft and perhaps nearly capsizing it. 



Again, if you keep a sharp lookout as you 

 round a bend you may catch a glimpse of a 

 hippo's head disappearing, and as you pass the 

 spot you will see the rank grass moving and 

 hear the rustle of the weeds as the animal seeks 

 shelter. 



Lake Naivasha was the second place where 

 we encountered these great animals. After two 

 days' march from the N'Guasso Nyero River 

 we went into camp close to the lake. While 

 the porters were putting up the tents, I walked 

 down to the shore. Peeping through an open- 



