THE HIPPOPOTAMUS 



introduction " Obaysch " was quietly eating his breakfast of 

 fresh grass when the sliding door of the female's den was 

 quietly raised, and the mother and young one peered out 

 with a most comical expression. On seeing the female 

 the old male left off eating, and loudly trumpeted. Guy 

 Fawkes cautiously went up to her father, and their noses 

 all but touched, when the mother, fearing danger to the 

 younger one, immediately rushed forward and challenged 

 her husband. " Obaysch " retreated a little distance, while 

 she pretended to be feeding, at the same time keeping her 

 eyes steadfastly fixed on him. 



When these animals had become excited the strange 

 phenomenon of the "blood-sweat" appeared on their 

 skins. The pale chocolate colour of the skin of both 

 became densely covered with globular red spots, which 

 looked like dew on the leaves of the trees, only in colour 

 red, and which would leave a stain upon a handkerchief. 



At last the female (" Dil," which is her name) made a 

 rush at " Obaysch." They raised themselves on their hinder 

 legs and, clashing their teeth together, bit and struck at 

 each other in a most sa^Tige manner, Guy Fawkes keeping 

 at a most respectful distance behind or at the side of her 

 mother. When " Obaysch " and his wife got on to their fore- 

 feet again the female, by a dexterous lunge with her head, 

 pushed " Obaysch " into the pond, and after driving him up 

 into a comer kept guard over him and held him a safe 

 prisoner. While this state of things continued Guy Fawkes 

 was safely perched on her mother's back looking impu- 

 dently at her disgraced father. 



Several other engagements occurred, but in the end 

 their animosity towards each other gradually cooled down, 

 and in a short time their differences were settled, after 

 which they became a very happy family. 



85 



