Evening journal. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1888-1932, 1900-02-12

matchwood. And iDsetting the table
oi a ticket collector. dispensing the
bowls of coins In blinking shower,
the animal entered the yard For a
brief second it seemed that the thick
Tipped brutal head would run itself in
les mad fury against a red brick wall
but the four feet came together like a
pivot. The enormous body swung
round. There followed a moments
lrlghtful expectation when the pig.like
eyes examined the shadow of the
sheds where women we're crouching.
Afterward a dreadful, many-voiced
cry arose from the boats upon the
river, as. with one tremendous curvet
IA veritable caricature Of animal mo-
tion-the hirpopotamus made straight
for the river entering it with ire
mendous splash.
The brute sank deeply under AS
st reappeared with dripping tusks. the
crowd Of pleasure boats began to fee.
some up, some down the river. with
frantic strokes OF their oars.
"S-shushi" Edward Foster Kissed.
holding his position amid the panic
With a superb bravery, and splashing
Wildly with his SOULS in an endeayor
70 drive the beast back to land.
The chase very soon began to tell
upon the crowded, jostling boats. The
Interval between them and the power
lully swimming brute diminished and
diminished. Presently the peril OF
boat, containing women and children.
was becoming fearfully evident Il
vas falling behind the rest. Il was
I awning undecidedly from a straight
curse, giving the pursuing animal
sreater and greater advantage. A
nan was watching the terrible sight
rom where he had halted after the
irst panic. Suddenly he touched
/ ever. There was n whirring. rattling
, splash. And putting on full oil power,
Davis began to steer his tricycle. after
ne hippopotamus. II was an impulse
# gallantry, taking him to do he scar
eely knew what.
The tricycle. gained up to a few
&c rds astern Of the hippopotamus
le'ore the cellar idea came to Mr.
D Wis that he was going to try and
livert the furious animal in pursuit
I oi himself. He began to hish and
ialloa, at first family. but soon with
he growing passion of desperate man
ntering his whole energy and heart
nto a splendid attempt to save life
4 The monstrous, wallowing, barrel
/ Ike bulk was not to be diverted from
/ The boati The curved white tusks
travelled closer and closer to its frail
stern. A catastrophe seemed immi-
ncnt Suddenly Mr.. Davis removed
his hat, casting it cuttingly downward
with his whole force The ragged
eise Of the straw caught the brute's
9ye painfully. The hippopotamus
/ 49, erved and turned. In a second the
] rcycle was following round on q
vide curve, gashing up the surface OF
me river into treble lines Of foam.
Come on, you beastl" the man
j 9uted tauntingly TO the brute
% sion glaring at HIM. Come on"
he challenge seemed understood.
Tire small pointed ears cooked them
selves ounningly. With a surging
leap that exposed its shoulders. the
hippopotamus began TO chase Mr.
) Davis down the river toward the
bridge.
The trlcyclist gaining palpably
upon the savage brute in its wake
approached the town bridge at full
speed. A dense crowd was STANDING
upon the latter their faces peering red
and white through the stone balus
trades. II was no sooner evident that
Mr.. Davis intended TO shoot the cen
tral arch than there was an agitation
amid this mass of people They began
TO shout. The confused bable of shrill
cries appeared to be a warning But
Of what? Mr.. Davis looked alright
cdiy over his shoulder. No. it was
not thatl He was still gaining. I'm
modiately afterward, wi.u a glance up
he swept unenlightened under the uD
roar of the crowd. AS Mr.. Davis
again flashed ont into the sunshine
beyond the arch a sight met his lazC
watch explained
Straining along the foot Of a prone
made was the crowd OF pleasure boats
that had fed down the river from
Bronsor's when the hippopotamus haC
drst appeared. They were some two
hundred and fifty y DIS away II was
necessity, of Mr.. Davis were to save
hem, that he should keep the hippo
Dotamus in play till they could reaci
and land upon a low bank som,
hundreds of yards beyond a lock OF
he right. A few seconds passeg
aniG the agony OF indecisiOn. TheI
Mr.. Dayis's hand went resOlutely [,
he machines brake He began {,
press it harder and harder, iookinl
over his shoulder. Suddenly the aw
July critical moment, that he had an
ticipated. came. The hippopotamu
vas almost upon him when, with
clover touch of TIE steering-rod. MI
Davis DETECTED the machine aside
Z was the commencement of a secon'
iuel between man and brute.
The crowd watched the confiic
gradually withdraw in the wake o
he fleeing boats. A score of times MI
Davis endeavored to escape past tn
hiDpopotamus into the open water III
tie river. A score Of times the cur
ming of the mad Srute foiled him
Presently they We're opposite the sid
lock, and Il seemed that the cyclis
must be driven back and followe
among the boats. The crowds upo
tie bridge ana the promenade grey
breathlessly silent. There was
moment when the tricycle. was sta
tionary. Then the brute made
rush
And women shut their eyes.
But the ringing, vociferating cheer
The cyclist had escaped into tn
open gate OF the lock.
But again the horror of it. Tn
lower gates of the lock were closed