cr own readers

30 A HIPPOPOTA~ ru S H U ~T,
3. " POOl' Jali! he is gone," said the sheik, anxiously
peering in all directions over the blood-stained water.
" Well, let us go after the wounded animal." Leading
th e way , he ran quickly down th e bank of the
river to where the hippopotamu had struck the
shall ows and was ploughing his way to land , sending
up showers of spmy into th e air a his ungainly form
gall oped through th e shallow stream.
4. uddeuly he seemed to catch sight of th e float
bobbing behind him, and he immediately turned to
attack it. Th en two men, carrying a long rope,
plunged out into the current and drifted until one
was well past th e animal. As soon as th ey got him
midway betw een them, the two men made th eir way
ash ore, sweeping th e rope along until th ey caught the
float in its loop. Th en all th e Arabs seized the rope,
an d slowly dre w the animal to shore.
5. As long as he was in the water, the hippopotamu
s seemed not to notice th e crowd pulling at him,
and ploughed along in a vain effort to reach th e float,
whi ch was dancing in front. But as soon as he reached
t he land, a change came over him. For a moment
he stood at bay; then, regardl ess of his wound , he
charged stl'l1ight at us, his irresistible rush carrying
to th e ground nearly everyone who was hauling at
th e rope. Woe betide the man who was not swift
in regaining his feet : But th e natives are as act ive
as cats. Th ey scattered in all directions, not running
away, but pas ing behind or to one side of th e an imal,
diverting his attention lind breaking his charge; while
those near 'It th e ends of the rope got a fresh purchase
by passing it round a rock and bringing the an imal
up with a round turn.