xii A NIGHT AFTER HIPPO 



J 35 



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 clanger, 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 



