Page 80 - Adventures in Africa

their paddles, endeavoured to escape from it. With
open mouth the hippopotamus rushed on the boat,
and, seizing- it in its enormous jaws, crushed it up as

if it had been made of paper.
One poor fellow was caught; a fearful shriek was
heard; and, directly afterwards, we saw his body, cut

in two, floating down the stream, The other two men
had disappeared, and we fancied must also have been

killed. Again and again the animal darted at the
canoe, expending his rage upon it.
While he was thus employed the two men rose to

the surface and instantly made for the shore, dragging
the end of the rope by a path we had not before
observed, between the reeds. With wonderful activity

they made it fast to the trunk of a tree. Directly
afterwards three other canoes arrived, and the men,
armed with harpoons and heavy spears, jumping on

shore, joined their companions in hauling in on the
rope attached to the hippopotamus. In vain the
monster struggled, endeavouring to tear itself away

from the rope. The blacks with wonderful boldness
rushed into the water, darting their spears at it. It
had seized the shaft of the harpoon, which had broken

in two, and was endeavouring to bite through the
rope.
Two other canoes now came up and their" crews

attacked the hippopotamus in the rear. So engaged
were the hunters that they did not observe us. As
we watched their proceedings it appeared very prob­

able that in spite of its wounds the hippopotamus
would break away. Seeing this, my uncle unslung
his rifle and advanced towards the monster, which