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 Avas 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 Avhen 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 office 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 
