Hippo was just coming up after a good, long dive, when he noticed on the river a number of boats filled with men.  Now, he did not mind men or boats, if they only went on their way and let him alone.  The river was often dotted with boats filled with Kaffirs and white men, but, as a rule, they were sensible enough to keep a good distance from the herd of hippopotami.  So, when Hippo became conscious that the boats were coming towards him, he was not only surprised but annoyed.  He was in the middle of his aquatic performances for one thing, and he did not like to have boats and men so close to him for another.  However, although he was irritated, he was not going to bother himself about either the boats or the men as long as they let him alone.

But this was just the very thing the men in the boats had no intention of doing, for they carried harpoons, and had come out for the express purpose of killing as many hippopotami as they possibly could.  So, as Hippo rose to the surface, and before he had time to get over either his surprise or annoyance, one of the men in the nearest boat suddenly stood up, and, throwing a harpoon with terrific force, sent it right into Hippo’s shoulder.

For a moment Hippo was too astounded to do anything; then, as he realized what had happened, he moved swiftly towards the boat.  But another harpoon was thrown from a second boat, and Hippo’s attention was taken off the first one only just in time.  His thick skin broke out into tiny red spots, called the “blood sweat,” for he was now pretty well excited.  He had not thought much about his wife and little one before, but now he knew they were in danger, and must be protected.  With one muscular movement of his big body—­wonderfully agile for so clumsy a creature—­he swam towards the boat, and, before the occupants realized what was going to happen, Hippo had seized the boat in his great mouth and crushed one end of it into splinters.  Two of the men were killed instantly, and the others soon after, for Hippo used his terrible mouth and teeth with appalling effect.

In a very few minutes all that remained of the boats and men—­with the exception of the first boat, which had promptly made off when Hippo turned—­was floating down the river, and all the evidences of the fearful occurrence were the excited hippopotamus and the crimson stain in the water caused by the blood of the unfortunate hunters.

Hippo was still in a fearful rage, however, and could not forget the attack on him.  The wounds in his back and shoulder helped to remind him of it, for each harpoon had a barb at the end, and, no matter how Hippo rubbed and strained, he was unable to get them out, and only made the wounds throb and burn more than ever.  He snorted and raged, and in his anger blew such a blast of air from his nostrils that it swept his little son off his mother’s back and into the water.[Footnote:  When in a violent rage, the hippopotamus will sometimes blow the air from his nostrils with force enough to knock over a strong man.  We are told by some authorities, that one has been known to upset a boat in this way when not quite near enough to crush it with its teeth.—­Author.]