e rushes, the shaft of
the spear falling out of its socket as it did so, and the strong cord
ran out rapidly from the reel held by the hunter. Presently the strain
ceased. "He has laid down again in shelter," the hunter said; "we will
now follow him and give him a second spear."

Pushing the rushes aside the boat was forced along until they again
caught sight of the hippopotamus, that was standing up to its belly in
water.

"Is he going to charge?" Chebron asked, grasping a spear.

"No, there is little chance of that. Should he do so and upset the
boat, throw yourself among the rushes and lie there with only your
face above water. I will divert his attention and come back and get
you into the boat when he has made off."

Another spear was thrown with good effect. There was a roar and a
great splash. Chebron thought that the animal was upon them; but he
turned off and dashed back to the pool where he had been first lying.

"I thought that was what he would do," the hunter said. "They always
seek shelter in the bottom of the deep pools; and here, you see, the
water is not deep enough to cover him."

The boat again followed the hippopotamus. Amuba was still on his raft
on the pool.

"What has become of him?" Chebron asked as they passed beyond the
rushes.

"He has sunk to the bottom of the pool," Amuba replied. "He gave me a
start, I can tell you. We heard him bursting through the rushes, and
then he rushed out with his mouth open--a mouth like a cavern; and
then, just as I thought he was going to charge us, he turned off and
sank to the bottom of the pool."

"How long will he lie there?" Chebron asked the hunter.

"A long time if he is left to himself, but we are going to stir him
up."

So saying he directed the boat toward the rushes nearest to the bank
and pushed the boat through them.

"Oh, here you are, Jethro!" Chebron said, seeing the Rebu and the men
he had accompanied standing on the bank.

"What has happened, Chebron--have you killed one of them? We heard a
sort of roar and a great splashing."

"We have not killed him, but there are two spear-heads sticking into
him."

The hunter handed the cords to the men and told them to pull steadily,
but not hard enough to break the cords. Then he took from them the end
of the rope they carried and poled back into the pool.

"Those cords are not strong enough to pull the great beast to the
shore, are they?" Chebron asked.

"Oh, no, they would not move