HUNTING IN SOUTH AFRICA, 



369 



\\ 



I 



THE HIPPOPOTAMUS. 



failed, though I managed to keep close to him in the chase, 

 and eventually knocked him up along with my horse. 



I again sallied forth with the Bushman and fresh steeds, 

 and, directing the wagons to take the straight course, I fol- 

 lowed the windings of the river. Presently, looking over the 

 bank, I beheld three enormous crocodiles basking on the sand 

 on the opposite side. I was astonished at their awful size 

 and appearance, one of them appearing to be sixteen or 

 eighteen feet in length, with a body as thick as that of an 

 ox. On observing us they plunged into the dead water by 

 the side of the stream. The next minute, one of them popping 

 up his terrible head in the middle of the stream, I made a 

 beautiful shot, and sent a ball through the middle of his 

 brains. The convulsions of death which followed were truly 

 awful. At first he sank for an instant to the shot, but in- 

 stantly striking the bottom with his tail he shot up above the 

 water, when he struggled violently, sometimes on his back 

 and then again on his belly, with at one time his head and 



