“It’s taking a big risk,” said the actor, solemnly. “If he rushes us we won’t have much chance!” “We’ll take it,” decided Joe. “Put us closer.” “Yes, do,” urged Blake, and the comedian, looking to see that his heavy gun was in readiness, bent to the oars. Joe stood ready to turn the camera handle. At that moment the hippopotamus, which had only partly risen from the stream, heaved up, and there confronted the boys an enormous mouth, wide open, showing a big expanse of red, with long and cruel-looking teeth lining it. Then, with another grunt, the hippo moved directly toward the boat, while the camera began clicking. CHAPTER XI “FORWARD!” “Let’s get out of this!” cried Mr. Piper. “He’ll crush this boat with one bite!” “I guess you’re right,” agreed Joe. “Let’s row to shore, Blake. I’ve heard they can’t go very fast on land!” “Maybe we can scare him off!” suggested the other. Blake was not foolhardy, but he really did not understand the danger of the hippo as the actor-hunter did. Besides, he wanted to get some fine films, and this was a rare chance. He had been in many dangerous places before, but never such as this. He totally underestimated the terrible power and the unreasoning anger of the huge beast they had come upon. “There!” cried Blake; “he’s dived! I told you it would be all right! He’s afraid of us!” “Don’t you believe it!” shouted C. C., as he laid aside the gun he had caught up, and began to labor with the oars, forcing the boat toward the papyrus-lined shore of the sluggish stream. “He’s going to come up under the boat if he can, upset us, and take us all in at one bite! I know hippos!” But Joe, imbued with something of the reckless courage displayed by his chum, held his place at the moving picture machine, as did Blake. Together they revolved the handle, making views of the swirling waters where the hippo had disappeared--bubbles, foam and little swirling eddys showing where the big river-horse had sunk. “What do you think, Joe?” asked Blake. “Shall we chance it any longer?” “I think so. He doesn’t seem as bad as C. C. thinks he is. Anyhow, he went down without attacking us, and he may pass us up altogether. If he does, we’ll get him running away, and that will make another good part of the film. Let’s stick!” “That’s what I say. It isn’t every day we get a chance like this. If we had----” Once more Blake was interrupted in what he started to say by the action of the clumsy beast, yet which could move with considerable speed in the water in spite of its vast bulk. There was a sinuous motion to the lily pads, stems and flowers. They parted and something arose amid them. “Here he is again!” cried Blake. “Yes, and he means business, too!” yelled Joe. “C. C., it’s up to you to do something! We haven’t time to row ashore.”