A DTNKA HIPPO HUNT 167 of these are seen on the way up the river. Natives hurriedly scurry across on their ambatch as they see the steamer approaching, half immersed in the water, and daring the hippos and crocodiles.

Not far in the distance excitement was shown by a party of Dinkas on shore, who watched a canoe whose movements were erratic and jerky, apparently governed by some outside influence. Approach rendered visible three cylinders of wood at considerable intervals, but possessed of common inspiration in movement. At one moment they dashed like surface torpedoes for a quarter of a mile up the river, with the native canoe hard after them.

Changing their course, they rushed down and across, and then up again, churning the waters. Many a time the paddlers darted their frail structure aside, till at last the black head of a hippo appeared, gradually exhausting his gi-eat life away.

The hunters did not welcome the idea of a white man accompanying them in their boat on this exciting quest ; every thought was required to dodge the infuriated beast, who, attached by harpoon to the rope, was dragging the dead bulk of the long line of floats with such wonderful power and speed under water. But they welcomed the bundukiya, or rifle, which would transform the work of another twenty-four hours into a matter of minutes, and great were the shouts of approval.

The courage these men show is extreme. Far away down the stream at the tail of a mid-river inlet, where the water is slack and the depth is but