emy's line."

"That is true, Amuba, and you have certainly hit upon the weak point
in the use of such a weapon; but for single combat, or the fighting of
broken ranks, they would be grand. When we get back to Thebes if I can
find any peasant who can instruct me in the use of these neboots I
will certainly learn it."

"You ought to make a fine player," one of the fishermen said, looking
at Jethro's powerful figure. "I should not like a crack on the head
from a neboot in your hands. But the sun is getting low, and we had
best be moving to the point where you are to disembark."

"We have had another capital day, Rabah," Chebron said when they
reached their new encampment. "I hope that the rest will turn out as
successful."

"I think that I can promise you that they will, my lord. I have been
making inquiries among the villagers, and find that the swamp in the
river bed abounds with hippopotami."

"How do you hunt them--on foot?"

"No, my lord. There is enough water in the river bed for the flat
boats made of bundles of rushes to pass up, while in many places are
deep pools in which the animals lie during the heat of the day."

"Are they ferocious animals?" Amuba asked. "I have never yet seen one;
for though they say that they are common in the Upper Nile, as well as
found in swamps like this at its mouth, there are none anywhere in the
neighborhood of Thebes. I suppose that there is too much traffic for
them, and that they are afraid of showing themselves in such water."

"There would be no food for them," Rabah said. "They are found only in
swamps like this, or in places on the Upper Nile where the river is
shallow and bordered with aquatic plants, on whose roots they
principally live. They are timid creatures and are found only in
little-frequented places. When struck they generally try to make their
escape; for although occasionally they will rush with their enormous
mouth open at a boat, tear it in pieces, and kill the hunter, this
very seldom happens. As a rule they try only to fly."

"They must be cowardly beasts!" Jethro said scornfully. "I would
rather hunt an animal, be it ever so small, that will make a fight for
its life. However, we shall see."

Upon the following morning they started for the scene of action. An
exclamation of surprise broke from them simultaneously when, on
ascending a sandhill, they saw before them a plain a mile wide
extending at their feet. It was covered with rushes and other a