Page 81 - Adventures in Africa

had already severed several strands of the rope. As

it opened its vast mouth, he fired down its throat, and
it almost instantly, giving another convulsive struggle*

rolled over.
His success was greeted with triumphant shouts by
the hunters who had only just before discovered us.
Having drawn the body of the hippopotamus up to

the dry land, the blacks crowded round us, and by
signs and exclamations expressed their admiration

of the way in which my uncle had killed the creature.
W e tried to explain that we were very happy to
have been of service to them, and that we should feel

obliged, if, in return, they would ferry us across the
river, and guide us to the waggons of the white men

who had encamped not far off.
Leaving the hunters to cut up the hippopotamus,
and stow its flesh on board their canoes, we returned

to where we had left Jan and the ox. A s it was
getting late, we agreed to remain where we were until
the following day,— in the meantime to try to shoot

an antelope or deer of some sort which would enable
us to provide a feast for the natives by whom we
might be visited.

I was fortunate enough, while lying down among
some rocks near our camp, to kill a springbok, one of

the most light and elegant of the gazelle tribe; but
its companions, of which it had several* bounded off
at so rapid a rate that I had no chance of killing

another. I* therefore, lifting my prize on my shoulder
returned to camp, where my uncle soon after arrived,

laden with the flesh of a quagga* which, although be­
longing to the family of asses* is good food.