Accordingly the cable was made fast to the foremost thwart and led ashore over the gunwale at a distance of about three feet from the stem. The boat was pushed off into the stream, and the three members of her crew, standing on the bank, held the rope. Caught by the current, the craft began to drift downstream till the cable became taut. There she lay, held as steady as a rock, with the water hissing past her like a mill race. Slowly the crew began to walk downstream, the boat preceding them and maintaining a uniform distance from the shore. "Take it easily and keep your strength," cautioned Reeves; "she's not got to the worst part yet." When the boat entered the cataract it took all their united efforts to hold her. Frequently they were dragged several yards, their heels cutting long furrows in the sand and clay; but by doggedly sticking to their task they succeeded in steering their craft almost through the foaming torrent. But without warning the rope parted, and the three men found themselves sprawling on their backs, while the boat glided aimlessly and rapidly downstream. Springing to his feet, Reeves coiled up the severed portion of the cable and ran as hard as he could, his comrades following and wondering what would happen next. Should the boat strike a rock and fill, they would be hopelessly stranded, since their arms, ammunition, and provisions were on board. But a special providence seemed to guide the derelict, and, untouched by any of the formidable rocks, it gained the deeper yet still swift-flowing part of the stream. Without hesitation the correspondent took a magnificent "header" and swam for the truant; but ere he had covered half the distance a huge, slimy black mass rose to the surface. It was a hippopotamus! The lads shouted, but Reeves had already perceived the danger. It was touch and go which of the two would reach the boat first. The swimmer did so by a short head, and as he clambered over the side the animal's teeth closed upon the gunwale. There was a scrunch as the powerful jaws wrenched the woodwork asunder, leaving a jagged gap two feet across. The hippopotamus returned to the attack; but this time Reeves was ready for her. Seizing a gun, he held the muzzle almost against the animal's eye and pressed the trigger. With a hideous cry the brute dived, leaving a long crimson trail in the water. Grasping one of the long oars, the correspondent laboriously urged the boat towards the bank, and ten minutes later the lads were safely on board. As they pushed off, Gerald pointed to an object floating downstream. It was the body of the hippopotamus. "Not a bad shot for the flintlock," remarked Reeves. "The beggar deserved it. Luckily the danger to the boat is confined to the gunwale, but we must be careful if we encounter any more broken water."