ing
toes, and to walk at a quick pace even through mud or in very deep
water. The skin is from one to two inches thick, and completely
bullet-proof, except behind the ear and near the eye, where it is
thinner; and it has a few hairs only on the muzzle, the edge of the
ears, and tail. When out of the water it is of a purple-brown hue. In
the young animal it is somewhat of a clay yellow, and under the belly of
almost a roseate hue; but seen in a clear pool it is a sort of dark
blue, or light Indian-ink hue. As we looked at its head we agreed that
few animals have more hideous or terrific countenances.

"Why, he would swallow Natty and me up at a mouthful," said Leo, as he
tried to lift up the jaws of one of the huge animals.

"Take care! he will bite!" cried out Natty; and Leo, letting his stick
drop, sprang back with an expression of horror in his countenance which
made us all laugh.

We left the blacks cutting up their prizes, for which, through
Chickango, they expressed themselves duly grateful to Stanley.

We found that the young ladies, aided by Timbo, had prepared a sumptuous
repast of wild-fowl and venison, to which we now added some hippopotamus
steaks. The meat was somewhat coarse-grained, but tasted not unlike
beef. Our black friends consumed it eagerly. During supper we
discussed our plans for the future. Chickango assured Senhor Silva that
he hoped to obtain a messenger to proceed to the south, although he
himself would not venture to go alone. He took his meals with us;
indeed he was, in many respects, a civilised black. He knew perfectly
well how to behave at table; and used his knife and one of the wooden
forks Jack and Timbo had manufactured with perfect ease.

At length our black friends, loaded with as much hippopotamus-meat as
they could carry, in addition to the various articles they had received
as payment, took their departure. We should have been better pleased
had they continued with us, as we might then have proceeded further
south without the assistance of strangers.

I have hitherto said very little about Natty Page. He had greatly
recovered his spirits after the loss of his father, and now showed that
there was a great deal in him. He and Leo and little Bella were the
life of our party. They, happily, were not troubled with thoughts of
the difficulties and dangers before us, and enjoyed the present to the
utmost.

"Do you not think, Andrew," said Natty to me, "that if we w