THE GIFT OF PATIENCE 



River. I could see numbers of them basking in the 

 sun, and at first I was indined to think that there 

 would be no difficulty in getting animated pictures 

 of them. But I quickly discovered my mistake. Long 

 before I was within range all I could see was a pair of 

 nostrils here and there, and occasionally the flat part 

 of the head an inch or two above the surface. They 

 were all under water, and had no intention of showing 

 themselves again until I had taken my departure. 

 I found a hiding-place behind some bushes and waited 

 patiently for hours. From time to time a crocodile 

 would show his hideous snout, and on one occasion 

 a number of these loathsome creatures slid out of the 

 reeds not far from me and plunged into the stream, 

 doing it too quickly for me to get any pictures, but the 

 hippo gave me no chance. It was not pleasant waiting 

 on the banks. Ants seemed always to be crawHng over 

 my boots and leggings, flies or midges were con- 

 tinually getting into my eyes. Every moment I grew 

 more stiff and thirsty, and disgusted with those 

 wretched, lethargic hippo. At last I gave it up in 

 sheer disgust, and I have little doubt that within 

 five minutes of my departure all those animals were 

 swimming about openly or feeding amongst the reeds. 



My friends say I have the gift of patience. I 

 suppose they are right. At any rate, I do not like to 

 acknowledge defeat, and in this case I really did stick 

 to my task. Day after day I went down to that river 



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