Page 78 - Adventures in Africa

made them perfectly impenetrable* While we stood

on the shore of the island the sound of human voices
reached our ears, and we saw in the distance several
canoes descending the stream. Each carried three

men, two paddling and one standing up with a large
harpoon attached to a rope in his hand. They were
in pursuit of some large dark creatures whose heads,

just rising above the water, looked like those of
enormous cart-horses.
“ They* are hippopotami!” exclaimed my uncle,

"and we shall see some sport presently*”
Suddenly, down came the harpoon, and was fixed
in the back of one of the monsters, which almost

sprang out of the water as it felt the pain of the
wound; then oif it went, towing the canoe at a
tremendous rate after it, the end of the rope being

secured to the bows, while the barb to which the rope
was attached being shaken out of its socket remained
firmly fixed in the animal's body.

W e ran along the island to watch the canoe as long
as it remained in sight, but it was towed so rapidly
that it soon disappeared. Presently, however, we

saw another coming down the stream fast to a second
hippopotamus, not only the head but a considerable
portion of the body of which was floating above the

water. The men in the canoe were hauling them­
selves up closer to their prey, preparatory to plunging
their lances or harpoons into its body. I fancied that

1 could almost distinguish the savage glance of the
brute's eyes. Suddenly it stopped; then, turning
round, gave a rush at the canoe.

In vain the blacks slackened the rope, and seizing-