Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-07-22
SUNDAY MAGAZINE FOR JULY 22. 1905

ily brought my rifle around to my shoulder, and
then aiming at point between the eyes OF the one
directly in front of me, fired quickly. All d1sap-
peared, without haste, the one at which had hred
showing no signs of ruf1ed temper. This
seemed strange since at the distance, which was not
more than forty feet, it highly improbable that
had missed. Keeping my station on the rock, L
waited for another chance, and in little while
again saw the hippo that had been the target. An
abrasion his head indicated that the heavy bullet
had struck the skull squarely, but had glanced OFT
The bulky creature, observing me, began to move
rapidly and was about thirty yards away when
took careful aim at spot just behind his ear. As
the report echoed among the hills he went over
backward came up quickly, threw out stream of
blood, and disappeared again.
Now the Kafrs, with yells of joy, came running
out of the bush, and crowded on the bank, gazing
at me with admiration, and jabbering among them
selves. They say" Fifteen informed me, you
kill hippo. In afternoon, he float" This meant
a wait of about five hours. Fifteen and went back
to camp and despatched frugal luncheon, while
the Kars about in silence, absorbed in my every
movement. When we went down to the water again
Fifteen pointed out numerous small dark spots
the surface He said that each of these was the
of a crocodile, and when looked closely saw that
he right The reptiles were n1otionless, waiting
with ominous patience for their prey.
Finally something rose heavily in the water. 1t
was the great belly of the dead hippopotamus.
Instantly the dark spots began to move, and saw
long repulsve bodies glide up to the carcass. They
began to tug at it. but could make no Roadway,
because, powerful were the great jaws they could
not bite through tear the remarkably tough hide
A Skilled Bridge Builder
once more the Kafirs assembled the bank
~ They seemed to be getting ready to do some
thing; but what could not imagine since it seemed
impossible to get the body away from the menacing
creatures that surrounding it. After con-
siderable palaver, about hundred of the black men
back toward the bush, and began to cut down
saplings, with crude hatchets made of iron, which
abounds in that region. The trees were dragged
by boys to the waters edge they were cut and
here Kafir, who older than most of the Others
but who appeared to be particularly 1.-the and active
seized them, at time, and laid them on the
water with their trunks resting the low bank and
their branches extending outward In this way he
made several layers, and, walking out on them
placed others still farther out.
The crocodiles will grab him sure" exclaimed
to Fifteen.
Not if he not slip" replied the boy. Crocodile
not like trees; keep away from them
| made mental note of this new lesson in jungle
lore but did take my eyes off the perilous work
of building this strange brush bridge out among
the crocodiles. More and more sapngs were
brought down and showed out to the daring Kafir
He would push their slim trunks down until they
entangled in the branches upon which he stood