ttack commenced, and the
others agreed to wait until the signal was given by the Major's firing.
As soon as they heard the report of the Major's rifle, Swinton and
Alexander, with their party, advanced to the banks of the river. They
plunged in, and were soon up to the horses' girths, with the reeds far
above their heads. They could hear the animals forcing their way through
the reeds, but could not see them; and after some severe labor, Swinton
said--"Alexander, it will be prudent for us to go back; we can do
nothing here, and we shall stand a chance of being shot by our own
people, who can not see us. We must leave the dogs to drive them out, or
the Hottentots and Bushmen; but we must regain the banks."

Just as Swinton said this, a loud rushing was heard through the reeds.
"Look out!" cried he; but he could say no more before the reeds opened
and a large hippopotamus rushed upon them, throwing over Alexander's
horse on his side, and treading Alexander and his horse both deep under
the water as he passed over them and disappeared. Although the water was
not more than four feet in depth, it was with difficulty that the horse
and rider could extricate themselves from the reeds, among which they
had been jammed and entangled; and Alexander's breath was quite gone
when he at last emerged. Bremen and Swinton hastened to give what
assistance they could, and the horse was once more on his legs. "My
rifle," cried Alexander; "it is in the water." "We will find it," said
Swinton: "haste up to the banks as fast as you can, for you are
defenseless."

Alexander thought it advisable to follow Swinton's advice, and with some
difficulty regained the bank, where he was soon afterward followed by
Swinton and Bremen, who had secured his rifle. Alexander called Omrah,
and sent him to the caravan for another rifle, and then for the first
time he exclaimed, "Oh, what a brute! It was lucky the water was deep,
or he would have jammed me on the head, so that I never should have
risen up again."

"You have indeed had a providential escape, Alexander," replied Swinton;
"is your horse hurt!"

"He must be, I should think," said Alexander, "for the animal trod upon
him; but he does not appear to show it at present."

In the mean time several shots were fired from the opposite side of the
river by the Major and his party, and occasionally the head or horns of
the buffalo were seen above the reeds by the Hottentots, who remained
with Swinton a