XII 
THE HIPPOPOTAMUS 
13 
the plank, and a wedge was driven to tighten the 
pressure of the batten; this secured the plank 
across the leaks. 
A hippopotamus can move at a considerable 
pace along a river’s bed. We had proof of 
this while running down the Bahr Giraffe with 
the steamer, the speed with the stream being 
about 10 knots an hour. The river was narrow, 
and in places rather shallow. We observed the 
head of a very large hippopotamus, which rose 
and snorted upon the surface about 100 yards 
ahead of the vessel. When the animal dis¬ 
appeared, we could plainly see the wave that 
denoted the course of the hippo which had this 
long start in an exciting race. There was very 
little space upon either side in the narrow 
channel, and we felt sure that if the hippo 
continued a straight course, we should either 
run over it, or be struck should it turn to 
charge. 
It was some time before we actually gained 
upon it, but when the engineer put on full steam, 
there could be no doubt of our superiority in 
speed. The wave in the river was close under 
our bows, and in another moment the steamer 
of 108 tons gave a leap, as we rose over the 
body of the hippopotamus, in water that was 
too shallow to permit it to pass beneath our keel. 
We had no means of ascertaining the fate of this 
animal. 
The most ferocious attack that I have ever 
