The Arkansaw traveler., 1889-08-10


 throat; then in flash the boat was overturned and we were houndering in the water.
 "Dive, bass, divep said a voice, and obeyed as we'll as l was able
 When l came up, I found Makata by my side ready to help me if necessary. Seguin was near the shore carrying the rope's end in his teeth and the hipopotamus was engaged in rending the frail canoe. Had l not dived the beast might have wrecked his vengeance on me instead of on the boat. But he does not follow his enemies beneath the surface, and the natives, in case of an upset dive and hang on to roots and grass to keep them selves under, until he begins to break up the boat.
 It was not easy to swim with the heavy rife on my back. felt it gradually drag me down, and, in my struggle to get 1t clear, I unfortunately attracted the brute's attention. "Swim, bassl" shouted MakAta, and he also called to his brother to make haste to get on shore
 There was no chance to escape by speed, but I swam steadily along, and had not gone a score of yards before Makata slipped back behind me and, taking the spear from his mouth, prepared to meet the enraged giant in his native element. must own that had been badly scared since the upset, but as soon as l saw the plucky black drop behind to cover my retreat, lost my nerv- ousness, and turning round, began to tread water and to watch the strange fight.
 The great beast swam rapidly on with his head level with the water until he was within ten feet of the black. Then he opened his terrible mouth and made straight for him. Carefully timing his movements, Makata suddenly sank below the surface, and in another second terrific plunge and an angry roar from the hippopotamns showed that the blacks spear had been driven home. As soon as MakAta's head reappeared, the brute made for him again, and to my horror I saw that the blacks spear was broken of at the head. My feet touched something in the water and the next moment was standing ot the submerged trunk of a tree that was slowly drifting down with the current. Twice I slipped from it's simy surface, and twice l regained my footing. Then 4AAAw Nol aA. E~ IL gave me a footing
 l saw Makata, as he dived to and fro, pursued by l the now frantic animal, but the brave blacks | strength was giving out. Seguini had gained the shore, passed the rope round tree and was haul ing in the slack for dear life but 1t was evident he would not get purchase in time to be Of much | lse
 It was then, if by flash of memory, that | felt the rifle in my hand. l knew my waterproof | cartridges would explode and l held the rifle up | by the muzzle to let the water run out. Then as the hippopotamus turned his head toward me, I | fired.
 He was two hundred feet way the bullet struck at the base of the brute's skull and diverted it's attention trom Makata who feebly swam to my side and took & stand on the tree. 1 The hippopotamus, apparently confused swam round and round, snorting with fury, and l knew my bullet must have injured the spinal cord. I would have given him another shot, but the car fridge had fallen out of the chamber, and my belt was either on the raft had dropped in the water.
 Seguini had by this time got purchase the | rope.
 | "Come to shore Come to shore before he feels l the rope!" he shouted
 | MakAta was now somewhat recovered and we swam to the shore and began to haul in the rope.
 As soon as the animal felt the strain of the rope | he rushed for the shoals. The two blacks, armed with the spears Seguini had saved attacked him on both sides at once, while drew the rope tighter and tighter It was curious sight to see the two hunters manGuvre in the endeavor to strike the spear into the animals eye, which is the only part vulnerable to the light spears. As the hippopota- mus rushed to one side and the other to meet its assaiants hauled in the slack until at last In one of his rushes he fell forward dead, in the shallow | water.