THE HIPPOPOTAMUS 



light night, and, knowing the bath was clean and fresh 

 and that he had left Mr. Hippo safe in his house, he 

 entered, by the gate, the outside yard, undressed and, 

 taking a header into the tank, plunged under Mr. Hippo, 

 who in turn plunged under Mr. Hunt. Plunging was the 

 order of the day, or rather night, when one came up the 

 other went down, no doubt both much excited and 

 alarmed ; however, fortunately, neither was hurt. Hunt, 

 being an expert swimmer, managed to scramble out, and 

 picking up his clothes made the best of his way to his 

 bedroom, very unwilling that it should be known that he 

 had had such an exciting adventure. 



Of course it is well known that when a hippopotamus 

 is resting in the water no part of him can be seen. 



One morning in the summer of 1860, as I was passing 

 through the house of the hippopotamus. Hunt , the keeper, 

 called my attention to the restlessness of the male Hippo. 

 The brute appeared determined to remove a block of 

 timber that was fitted against the wall to prevent the 

 sliding of the door. I directed him to see the carpenter, 

 have the fastenings well looked to, and, if it were 

 possible, to add to their security and to have it done 

 immediately. About an hour afterwards I was engaged 

 in my ofHce replying to several letters that had arrived 

 by the morning's post, when the office boy rushed into 

 the office, his face strongly indicating the terror that 

 was upon him ; he almost convulsively shouted, " Master, 

 master, the hippopotamus is out ! " This announcement 

 was quickly verified, for, upon looking out of my office, 

 sure enough there was Mr. Hippo on the path opposite 

 my house, nor did he appear to me to be in a very good 

 temper. He was moving slowly and with cautious steps, 

 his eyes protruding from their sockets, his head raised 

 and his back set up. What is to be done ? thought I. I 



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