xII ma NIGHT AETER HIPPO Re 
ridge of barren, rugged rock, about a hundred feet 
high, which extended for about a mile or so on both 
banks of the river. The sides of this gorge went 
sheer down into the water, and were quite im- 
possible to scale. I therefore determined to make 
a detour round it, but Mahina was confident that he 
could walk along in the river itself. I hinted mildly 
at the possibility of there being crocodiles under the 
rocky ledges. Mahina declared, however, that 
there was no danger, and making a bundle of his 
lower garments, he tied it to his back and stepped 
into the water. For a few minutes all went well. 
Then, in an instant, he was lifted right off his feet 
by the rush of the water and whirled away. The 
river took a sharp bend in this gorge, and he was 
round it and out of our sight in no time, the last 
glimpse we caught of him showing him vainly trying 
to catch hold of an overhanging branch. Although 
we at once made all the haste we could to get round 
the ridge of rocks, it took us nearly half an hour to 
do it. I had almost given up hope of ever seeing 
Mahina again, and was much relieved, therefore, 
when we reached the river-side once more, to find 
him safe and sound, and little the worse for his 
adventure. Luckily he had been dashed up against 
a rushy bank, and had managed to scramble out 
with no more serious damage than a bruised shin. 
Eventually we arrived at the junction of the 
