160 AFRICAN ADVENTURE STORIES 



that were wanted for specimens, however, so 

 they were not molested. 



At "Rhino Camp" we heard them snorting 

 and bellowing at all times of the day and night, 

 but mostly after dark. The bellowing sounded 

 first like the noise produced by the exhaust of a 

 huge ocean liner and then ended with a cow- 

 like "moo." 



In a little estuary of the Nile that was bor- 

 dered on the far side by a wide, dense growth 

 of papyrus, not seventy-five yards from camp, 

 there lived an old cow hippo. Nearly every 

 afternoon about five o'clock, she left the cover 

 and swam about in the open water, within easy 

 sight and hearing of the group of men and por- 

 ters who were watching. One evening the colonel 

 saw a young one standing on her back, just as 

 they were depicted in our old school-books. 



One night I was awakened by two hippos 

 that were fighting just across the bay. I arose 

 and, walking to the tent opening, stood and 

 listened. The two monsters were bellowing 

 fiercely and floundering about in the thick weeds 

 and shallow water. Every few seconds I heard 

 a great splash as though they had reared up 

 and fallen back into the water. The conflict 



