The Ohio Democrat. (Logan, O. [Ohio]) 1886-1906, 1894-07-21
HiPPOPOTAMUS HUNTING.
An African Explorer Sees tho Clever Cal
turc of n Huge Specimen.


An African Explorer Sees tho Clever Cap
turc of Huge Specimen.
An African explorer went out one
morning on a hippopotamus hunt, ac-
companied by some of his followers,
one of them being an Arab patriarch
of thrccscore years and ten. The old
man, who had divcsted himself of al
most all of the little apparel that was
customary among his people. stepped
as lightly as goat from rock to rock
along the rough margin of the river.
When they had walked about two miles
they discovered a herd of fhippopotamus
in pool below arapid.
Our old Neptune did not condescend
to bestow the slightest attention when
pointed out these animals, says the
explorer. They were too wide awake.
But he Immediately quilted the rivers
/ ID, and we followed him quietly be-
hind the fringe of bushes upon the
border. from which we carefully eX-
amincd the water.
About half mile below this spot. as
we clambered over the intervening
rocks through a gorge which formed
powerful rapid, l observed, in small
pool just below the rapid, the immense
head OF a hippopotamus close To per-
pendicular rock that formed a wall to
the river, about six feet above the SUR
| face. pointed out the hippopotamus
to old Abou Do, who did not see it.
| AT once the gravity of the old Arab
disappeared, and the energy of the
hunter was exhibited as he motioned
1, 1,n-
hind the thick screen of bushes for
about Il hundred and fifty yards below
the spot where the hippopotamus was
unconsciously baslSing, with his ugly
head above the surface.
Plunging into the rapid torrent, the
veteran hunter was carried some dis
tance down the stream. and landed up
on the rocks on the opposite side.
Then. retiring to some distance from
the river he quickly advanced toward
the spot beneath which the hippopota-
mus was lying. ] had a fine view of
the scene, as 1 lay concealed exactly
opposite the creature, who had disap-
pearcd beneath the water.
Abou Do stealthily approached the
ledge of rock beneath which he had eX-
His long, sinewy arm was raised. with
the spear ready to strike. as he care
fully advanced. At length he reached
the edge of the perpendicular rock;
the hippopotamus had vanished, but
far from exhibiting surprise. the old
Arab remained standing on the sharp
ledge. unchanged in attitude.
No figure of bronze could have been
more rigid than that of the old river
king, as he stood erect upon the rock
with the left foot advanced and the
spear poised in his right hand above
his head, while in the left he held the
loose coils of rope attached to the am
batch buoy.
For about three minutes he stood like
IL statue, gazing into the clear deep
water. Its surface was still smooth
; When suddenly the right arm of the
statue descended like lightning, and
! the spear shot perpendicularly into the
pool with the speed of an arrow.
What river-fiend answered to the
summons? In an instant an enormous
pair of open jaws appeared. followed
by the l,ngainly head and form of the
furious hippopotamus, who, spring
ing half out of the water, dashed
it into foam. and charged straight uE
the violent rapids.
never could have imagined that sc
9 unwieldIy an animal could show sucf
2 speed. 1t was fortunate for our ole
e Neptune that he was secure upon the
e high ledge of rock. for if he had beer
S in the path of the infuriatcd beast
: there would have been an end of Abol
t DO.
e The old man plunged into the dee
t pool just quilted by the hippopotamus
and landed upon our side, while in th
, enthusiasm of the moment waved IN,
cap above my head, and gave him
British cheer as he reached the shore
Youths Companion.