n must by that time have been dead. He did not therefore
hesitate. Slipping into the water, he struck out across the stream. He
had got nearly half-way over, when he became aware that the shouts he
heard were directed at him. Not daring to look back, he swam on with
all his strength, hoping that no one would venture to follow him.

On and on he went. Thoughts of crocodiles and hippopotami would
intrude, but he trusted that the noise made by the blacks would drive
them away. No shots were fired at him. Why this was he could not
tell--perhaps he was no longer seen. Then the idea occurred that some
one might be pursuing him: still, undaunted, he continued his course.
Reeds flanked the opposite bank of the stream; should he be able to
force his way through them? If he could, they would afford him
concealment. He could distinguish them rising up like a wall before
him; he at last reached them, and began to struggle through the barrier.
It was hard work, for the water was still too deep to allow him to
wade, and the reeds bent down as he clutched them; still, as those he
first grasped yielded, he seized others, and hauled himself along. At
length his feet touched the bottom, and he was able to make somewhat
better progress. He had not time to consider what he should do when he
had gained the firm ground. There might be other lions in the way, but
he resolved not to be deterred by the fear of encountering them; he
dreaded far more falling into the hands of the Arabs. He expected every
moment to reach the shore, when one of his feet stuck fast in the mud.
He endeavoured to obtain a firmer foothold by pressing down the reeds so
that he might stand upon them, but this caused considerable delay, and
in his efforts he was nearly falling on his face into the water. At
length he succeeded in drawing out his foot, and once more he struggled
on. The noise made by the bending reeds had prevented him from hearing
a loud rustling at no great distance which now struck his ear. It might
be caused by one of the huge inhabitants of the river. Should an
hippopotamus have discovered him, he must seek for safety by climbing
the nearest tree he could reach. The idea incited him to fresh
exertions. He sprang forward, his hand touched the firm ground. He
drew himself up the bank, but was so exhausted by his efforts that he
had scarcely strength sufficient to run for a tree. As he stood for a
few moments endeavouring to recover