reeds.
"Look-out!" cried he; but he could say no more before the reeds opened
and a large hippopotamus rushed upon them, throwing over Alexander's
horse on his side, and treading Alexander and his horse both deep under
the water as he passed over them and disappeared. Although the water
was not more than four feet in depth, it was with difficulty that the
horse and rider could extricate themselves from the reeds, among which
they had been jammed and entangled; and Alexander's breath was quite
gone when he at last emerged. Bremen and Swinton hastened to give what
assistance they could, and the horse was once more on his legs. "My
rifle," cried Alexander, "it is in the water."

"We will find it," said Swinton: "haste up to the banks as fast as you
can, for you are defenceless."

Alexander thought it advisable to follow Swinton's advice, and with some
difficulty regained the bank, where he was soon afterwards followed by
Swinton and Bremen, who had secured his rifle. Alexander called Omrah,
and sent him to the caravan for another rifle, and then, for the first
time, he exclaimed, "Oh, what a brute! It was lucky the water was deep,
or he would have jammed me on the head, so that I never should have
risen up again."

"You have indeed had a providential escape, Alexander," replied Swinton;
"is your horse hurt?"

"He must be, I should think," said Alexander, "for the animal trod upon
him; but he does not appear to show it at present."

In the mean time several shots were fired from the opposite side of the
river by the Major and his and occasionally the head or horns of a
buffalo were seen above the reeds by the Hottentots, who remained with
Swinton and Alexander; but the animals still adhered to their cover.
Omrah having brought another rifle, Bremen then proposed that the
Hottentots, Bushmen, and dogs should force their way through the reeds
and attempt to drive the animals out; in which there would be no danger,
as the animals could not charge with any effect in the deep water and
thick rushes.

"Provided they don't meet with a hippopotamus," said Alexander,
laughing.

"Won't say a word about him, sir," replied Bremen, who then went and
gave the directions.

The Hottentots and Bushmen, accompanied by the dogs, then went into the
reeds, and their shouting and barking soon drove out some of the
buffaloes on the opposite side, and the reports of the guns were heard.

At last one came out on that side of the r