Weekly expositor. (Brockway Centre, Mich.) 1882-1894, 1889-11-28
HUNTING AFRICA.
Hlppopotaml In Their Native Wa
tors.

in the London Herald. Peering through
the rushes, side by side with Makata,
l could see the huge head of a hippo
potamus as it swan near us. Only the
eyes, ears, and nose could be seen.
These parts were of a bright scarlet
quite unlike the dull. leaden hue
which these parts assume in capacity.
AS we neared the swimming animal,
MalSata rose on one knee. When he
gripped his harpoon he trembied with
excitement. had been told TO remain
perfectly still, and to do only what my
native companion told me to do.
When at last the brute was so near
that could almost have touched him
Makata, with one movement. rose to
his full height and hurled the harpoon.
With dull thud the heavy spear sank
into the neck of the brute and quivered
with the force that had driven him
home.
Stung by the strange and unexpect-
ed pain the animal gave IL convulsive
spring, shook from the rude socket
the head of the harpoon, which still re-
manned attached TO the shaft by its
many stranded rope, and dashed down
stream at full speed. Seguini paid
out the line rapidly, while Makata
and ] sprang into the canoe and con-
tinued to pay it out as he followed US.
! But as he took his seat he held the line
taut, and the hippopotamus drew the
canoe from off the raft of rushes
and towed it along us il it were q
cork.
1T was like whaling on small scale.
A noise upstream attracted our at
tention, aud we saw another hippopo.
tamus with canoe towing behind it.
Take cage!" shouted our steersman,
''you will run foul of us. Steady,
Seguini, steady! wait till l give the
word-now, then-cut!"
AS he spoke the Infatuated brute
made straight at Us, open-mouthed.
Seguini severed the rope attlched TO
our animal at one cut, and, with a
def turn Of his paddle, Makata shot
the light canoe sixty feet from the
threatening beast.
Clumsy as the hippopotami appear,
they swim with astOni shing rapidity,
and it was only after long chase that
our light boat caught up with it. At
Makata's direction, | passed the har-
poon to Seguini, who stood up in the
bow with one foot slightly raised, and
the spear poised above his head.
"Sling your rifle on your back, boss, "
said he; Ibis strength is failing and
when he feels the iron he may dash at
the canoe"
AS | secured my rifle we ran along
side the hippopOtamus, and Seguini
deity placed the harpoon almost side
by side with the other one. The brute
turned round and came at the boat.
Makata seized spear and thrust it
deep into his throat. Then in flash
the boat was overturned and we were
houndering in the water.
olive, bos1, divem said voice, and
l obeyed as tell IS / was able.
When l cE 40 up found Makata by
my side, read TO / clip me il necessary.
Seguini was near the shore, carrying
the ropes end in his teeth, and the
hippopotanAs ives engaged in rending
the frail caxoc. Had l not dived,
the beast might have wreaked his
vengeance on me instead OF Oh the
boat. But he does not follow his
enemies beneath the surface, and the
natives, in case OF an upset, dive and
|
themselves under until he begins to
break up the boat.
1t was not easy to swim with the
heavy rifle on my back. felt it
gradually drag me down, and in my
struggle to get it clear | unfortunately
attracted the brute's attention.
"Swim, boss" shouted Makata, and
he also called to his brother 10 make
haste TO get on shore.
There was no chance 20 escape by
speed, but | swan steadily along anC
had not gone score of yards before
Makata slipped back behind me, and.
taking the spear from his mouth, pre-
pared to meet the enraged giant in hi:
native element.
! must own that l had been badly
scared since the upset, but as soon as
saw the plucky black drop behind Il
cover my retreat | lost my nervous
ness, and. turning round, began Il
tread water and to watch the strdng,
fight
The beast swan rapidly on with his
head level with the water until he wa
within ten feet OF the black. Then h
opened his terrible mouth and mad,
straight for him. Carefully timing hi
movements Makata suddenly sank be-
7 low the surface, and in another second
terrific plunge and an angry snor
from the hippopotamus showed tina
the blacks spear had been driver
, home. AS soon as Makarats head re
appeared the brute made for him again
and, to my horror, saw that tn
blacks spear was broken off at tn
head.
, My feet touched something in tn,
water, and the next moment | wa
standing on the submerged trunk of {
tree that was slowly drifting down Will
the current.
l saw Makata as he dived to and fro
pursued by the frantic animal, but tn
brave blacks strength was giving out
Seguini had gained the shore, passe
the rope round tree, and was hauling
In the slack for dear life, but it wa
| evident that he would not get pui
chase in time to be of much use.
1t was then, as IL by flash of mem
ory, that felt the rifle in my hands.
y lrnew nv waternrOOf CARTRIDGES WOull