Page 36 - Adventures in Africa

excessive, and it was fortunate that we were near
water, or I believe I should otherwise have died,

Ihe hut was soon finished, and some leaves and
grass placed in it for me to lie upon. The soup did
me some good, but I suffered so much pain that I

could scarcely sleep all the night, and in the morning
was in so fevered a condition, that I was utterly unfit
to travel. I was very sorry to delay my uncle, but
it could not be helped, and he bore the detention with

his usual good temper. Nothing could exceed his
kindness. He sat by my side for hours together; he
dressed my wounds whenever he thought it necessary,

and indeed tended me with the greatest care.
Day after day, however, went by, and I still re­
mained in the same helpless state. He would not
have left me for a moment, I believe, but it was neces­

sary to go out and procure more game.
Jan had undertaken to scrape and prepare the lion’s
skin. lie was thus employed near the stream at a

little distance from the camp when I was startled by
hearing a loud snort; and, looking up, what was my
horror to see him rushing along, with a huge hippo­
potamus following him I In another minute I ex­

pected to see him seized by its formidable jaws and
trampled to death, and then I thought that the savage
brute would make at me. In vain I attempted to rise
and get my gun, but my uncle, when he went out,

had forgotten to place it near me. I tried to cry out
and frighten the brute, but I could not raise my voice
sufficiently high. Poor Jan shrieked loud enough,
but liis cries had no effect on the monster. He was

making for a tree, up which he might possibly have