count
of the feathered tribes we encountered in our trip to an end. Stanley's
gun soon created dismay and astonishment among them, and often the air,
as he fired, seemed literally filled with birds. The zebras and quaggas
started off and took shelter in the woods; but the buffaloes more firmly
stood their ground, eyeing us with astonishment, and evidently not
understanding the effect which a bullet would produce should it hit one
of them. Suddenly too, from out of the water rose several huge heads of
hippopotami, which made Bella cry out with dismay, for though we were by
this time well accustomed to them, she had never got over her alarm at
seeing the monsters.

"Oh, let us paddle away from those dreadful creatures!" she exclaimed.
"I am sure they are going to swim after us. See, see! Oh, how horrible
if they should seize Stanley's boat! They are between him and us. He
will never be able to come back."

"Do not be afraid, Miss Bella," said Jack. "The captain will give a
good account of them. A bullet would soon send any one of them to the
bottom."

Jack, however, shouted out to Stanley, and pointed to the hippopotami.
He had by this time got his canoe so full of birds that he could
scarcely carry more, and he now came paddling after us, utterly
regardless of the monsters. As he passed by, though they gazed at him
with their savage eyes, and mouths half open, they did not attempt to
approach; and the blacks continued to shout and shriek to keep them at a
respectful distance. Stanley, having put specimens of the birds he had
shot into our canoe till we could scarcely receive more, went back to
knock over, as he said, a further supply, while we paddled homewards.
David had now plenty of occupation in examining our prizes, while the
boys paddled slowly onwards, assisted by Jack, who not only paddled, but
steered also. We found Timbo waiting for us at the landing-place with
the litter to carry me. He had a gun over his shoulder, and appeared to
be keeping a bright look-out on every side, shouting every now and then
at the top of his voice.

"What is it, Timbo?" asked David.

"Me see big lion!" he answered. "He mean mischief. Just now roar and
roar again. He would like carry off Massa Andrew, but we no let him."

"Oh, never fear," cried Jack. "We will keep the biggest lion at bay if
he should come near us, and will give him a shot which will make him
wish he had kept away."

"The lion is not likely