Getting the Hippo Ashore. 75 



of the three men to keep on splashing hard, while the 

 third was busy tying on the bark rope to one of the 

 hippo's legs. 



At first they were doubtful as to whether the hippo was 

 dead, but I assured them it was, and said I would stand 

 by with my rifle, which I did because I was not so sure 

 about the crocodiles. 



It took some time to make the rope fast, and as long to 

 manoeuvre the dead hippo to my side, as the papyrus grass 

 kept catching the rope, and it broke several times. The 

 bank was rather steep where I wished to get the hippo 

 ashore, and, although over fifty men got hold, they could 

 not get it up a muddy ledge, so I cut slits in the hide and 

 passed a long pole through the gaps under the skin. This 

 gave the men a good grip, and they then dragged the 

 animal to where I wanted it. 



As it was now 4 p.m., I knew, if I once began cutting 

 it up, that natives would come in the dark and help them- 

 selves ; so I told them they w r ould have to wait until next 

 morning, when I would reward all who had helped with 

 plenty of meat. 



Then I got some men and started off for a walk in the 

 surrounding bush. Game was evidently plentiful, but 

 I found it very wary, as several white men had been 

 shooting there, and the natives are constantly ranging 

 the country with their dogs in search of pig and small 

 buck. 



I saw a waterbuck, which I tried to stalk, but he went off, 

 and so did a herd of hartebeest and a few reedbuck that I 

 saw later. It was noticeable that the game had been much 

 scared lately. 



The sky was black, and the air had that sultry and 

 oppressive feeling that portends an approaching storm, so 

 when I got back to the path I made a. run for the village 

 and got there just as the storm broke. 



It rained hard for over two hours, and the earth could 

 not take in the great quantity of water, so it soon looked 

 like a lake, and all hollows became rushing torrents. 



