I could not get a shot at the head from his peculiar position, but I put a ball through his shoulders, and immediately shoved the canoe astern.

Had I not done this, we should most likely have been upset, as the wounded brute began to lash out with his tail in all directions, till he at length retired to the bottom among the rushes.
Here I could easily track him, as he slowly moved along, by the movement of the reeds.

Giving the native the paddle, I now by threats induced him to keep the canoe over the very spot where the rushes were moving, and we slowly followed on the track, while I kept watch in the bow of the canoe with a rifle.
Suddenly the movement in the rushes ceased, and the canoe stopped accordingly.

I leaned slightly over the side to look into the water, when up came a large air-bubble, and directly afterwards an apparition in the shape of some fifteen pounds of putrid flesh.

The stench was frightful, but I knew my friend must be very bad down below to disgorge so sweet a morsel.