pleasantly near. I glanced at Umslopogaas and even then
was amused to see that probably for the first time in his life that
redoubtable warrior was in a genuine fright.

"This is madness, Macumazahn," he shouted above the din. "Are we to stop
here and be stamped flat by a horde of water-pigs?"

"It seems so," I answered, "unless you prefer to be stamped flat
outside--or eaten," I added, pointing to a great crocodile that had also
emerged from the channel and was coming along towards us with open jaws.

"By the Axe!" shouted Umslopogaas again, "I--a warrior--will not die
thus, trodden on like a slug by an ox."

Now I have mentioned a tree which I climbed. In his extremity
Umslopogaas rushed for that tree and went up it like a lamplighter, just
as the crocodile wriggled past its trunk, snapping at his retreating
legs.

After this I took no more note of him, partly because of the advancing
sea-cows, and more for the reason that one of the village natives posted
above me, firing wildly, put a large round bullet through the sleeve
of my coat. Indeed, had it not been for the wall which I built that
protected us, I am certain that both my bearer and I would have been
killed, for afterwards I found it splashed over with lead from bullets
which had struck the stones.

Well, thanks to the strength of my rock and to the wall, or as Hans said
afterwards, to Zikali's Great Medicine, we escaped unhurt. The rush went
by me; indeed, I killed one sea-cow so close that the powder from the
rifle actually burned its hide. But it did go by, leaving us untouched.
All, however, were not so fortunate, since of the village natives two
were trampled to death, while a third had his leg broken.

Also, and this was really amusing--a bewildered bull charging at full
speed, crashed into the trunk of Umslopogaas' tree, and as it was not
very thick, snapped it in two. Down came the top in which the dignified
chief was ensconced like a bird in a nest, though at that moment there
was precious little dignity about him. However, except for scratches he
was not hurt, as the hippopotamus had other business in urgent need of
attention and did not stop to settle with him.

"Such are the things which happen to a man who mixes himself up with
matters of which he knows nothing," said Umslopogaas sententiously to
me afterwards. But all the same he could never bear any allusion to this
tree-climbing episode in his martial career, which, as it happened, had