Page 38 - Adventures in Africa

AD VEN T& m S /A AFRICA.

harness with the ropes and straps used for securing

their cargoes. The ox showed perfect indifference to
the dead hippopotamus* but the horses were very un­
willing to be harnessed. They submitted, however,

to act as leaders, while the ox had the creature's head,
round which a rope was passed, closej to its heels.

Even then the animals found it no easy task to drag
the huge body along over the rough ground.
^ W e shall not be long gone, Fred,” said my uncle,

placing a rifle and a brace of pistols close to me* “ I
hope that no other hippopotamus or lion or leopard

will pay you a visit while we are away. If they do,
you must use these, and I trust that you'll be able to
drive off the creatures, whatever they m ay be/'

1 felt rather uncomfortable at being left alone in
the camp, but it could not be helped; and I could

only pray that another hippopotamus might not make
its appearance. This one, in all probability, came up
the stream far from its usual haunts.

I kept my rifle and pistols ready for instant use.
The time seemed very long. A s I listened to the noises

in the forest, I fancied that I could hear the roaring
and mutterings of lions, and the cries of hyaonas.
Several times I took my rifle in my hand, expecting

to see a lion stealing up to the camp, I caught sight
in the distance of the tall necks of a troop of giraffes

stalking across the country, followed soon afterwards
by a herd of bounding besboks, but no creatures
came near me. A t last m y uncle and Jan returned

with our four-footed attendants.
“ W e have carried the monster’s carcase far enough

off to prevent it from poisoning us by its horrible