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AFRICAN GAME TRAILS 
big. Cautiously we approached them, and when seventy 
yards off I fired at the base of the ear of one of the largest. 
Down went every head, and utter calm succeeded. I 
had marked the spot where the one at which I shot had 
disappeared, and thither we rowed. When we reached the 
place, I told one of the rowers to thrust a pole down and see 
if he could touch the dead body. He thrust according, and 
at once shouted that he had found the hippo; in another 
moment his face altered, and he shouted much more loudly 
that the hippo was alive. Sure enough, bump went the 
hippo against the bottom of the boat, the jar causing us 
all to sit suddenly down—for we were standing. Another 
bump showed that we had again been struck; and the 
shallow, muddy water boiled, as the huge beasts, above 
and below the surface, scattered every which way. Their 
eyes starting, the two rowers began to back water out of 
the dangerous neighborhood, while I shot at an animal whose 
head appeared to my left, as it made off with frantic haste; 
for I took it for granted that the hippo at which I had 
first fired (and which was really dead) had escaped. This 
one disappeared as usual, and I had not the slightest idea 
whether or not I had killed it. I had small opportunity to 
ponder the subject, for twenty feet away the water bubbled 
and a huge head shot out facing me, the jaws wide open. 
There was no time to guess at its intentions, and I fired on 
the instant. Down went the head, and I felt the boat quiver 
as the hippo passed underneath. Just here the lily pads 
were thick; so I marked its course, fired as it rose, and 
down it went. But on the other quarter of the boat a beast, 
evidently of great size—it proved to be a big bull—now ap¬ 
peared, well above water; and I put a bullet into its brain. 
