wish they hadn't got such long names," said Jack, who was getting
deeply interested; "it's quite a mouthful."

"Never mind, they've got good broad backs and heads," said Dick. "I
say, Jack, look at that one! What a mouth! It's like a great leather
portmanteau being opened."

"Or a big carpet-bag," replied Jack; "and what teeth!"

They were indeed monstrous, and as the animal raised its ears and eyes
above the water, and just displayed a portion of its prominent nostrils,
it was plain to see why the ancients called them river-horses; for, seen
like this, the head bore a remarkable resemblance to that of some large
horse.

"Now look!" said the king, who then started, for the boys involuntarily
cocked their rifles. For one of the canoes, with the hunter therein,
approached the great beast just named, the hunter standing up to work
his paddle, and holding his assegai poised for throwing, while the huge
brute upon the point of land where he stood out as if displaying his
mighty proportions, kept uttering grunts of dissatisfaction.

Just as the canoe approached the beast in the water, it allowed itself
slowly to subside; but it rose again directly after, a few yards farther
off, when, giving his paddle a sweep, the hunter poised and hurled his
assegai with such force, and so true an aim, that it was seen sticking
in the hippo, just where the neck joins the shoulder.

The moment he had thrown, the hunter stooped and picked up another
spear; but even as he did so the hippopotamus made a dash at his canoe,
bit at the side, shook it, and the man was precipitated into the water.

In another instant the hippopotamus would have had him in his jaws; but
now was the time for the other hunters, whose canoes skimmed over the
surface side by side, and before the animal could reach the man in the
water, first one and then another spear was hurled, taking effect in its
neck.

This took off the monster's attention for a few moments; just sufficient
to enable the owner of the overturned canoe to get ashore, right his
boat, pour out all the water, and once more return to the attack.

Meanwhile, the other three canoes had gone into the _melee_, each man
sending a spear into the neck or shoulder of the huge hippopotamus
whenever he pressed one of the other hunters too hard.

This went on for some time, with the monster growing weaker in his
resistance, the plan adopted being to weary him out by constant assault;
and all this time