222 AFRICAN GAME TRAILS 



big. Cautiously we approached them, and when seventy 

 yards off I fired at the base of the ear of one of the largest. 

 Down went every head, and utter calm succeeded. I 

 had marked the spot where the one at which I shot had 

 disappeared, and thither we rowed. When we reached the 

 place, I told one of the rowers to thrust a pole down and see 

 if he could touch the dead body. He thrust according, and 

 at once shouted that he had found the hippo; in another 

 moment his face altered, and he shouted much more loudly 

 that the hippo was alive. Sure enough, bump went the 

 hippo against the bottom of the boat, the jar causing us 

 all to sit suddenly down for we were standing. Another 

 bump showed that we had again been struck; and the 

 shallow, muddy water boiled, as the huge beasts, above 

 and below the surface, scattered every which way. Their 

 eyes starting, the two rowers began to back water out of 

 the dangerous neighborhood, while I shot at an animal whose 

 head appeared to my left, as it made off with frantic haste; 

 for I took it for granted that the hippo at which I had 

 first fired (and which was really dead) had escaped. This 

 one disappeared as usual, and I had not the slightest idea 

 whether or not I had killed it. I had small opportunity to 

 ponder the subject, for twenty feet away the water bubbled 

 and a huge head shot out facing me, the jaws wide open. 

 There was no time to guess at its intentions, and I fired on 

 the instant. Down went the head, and I felt the boat quiver 

 as the hippo passed underneath. Just here the lily pads 

 were thick; so I marked its course, fired as it rose, and 

 down it went. But on the other quarter of the boat a beast, 

 evidently of great size it proved to be a big bull now ap- 

 peared, well above water; and I put a bullet into its brain. 



