Once more handfuls of sand were pelted upon his face, and, again repulsed by this blinding attack, he was forced to retire to his deep hole and wash it from his eyes.
Six times during the fight the valiant bull hippo quitted his watery fortress and charged resolutely at his pursuers.

He had broken several of their lances in his jaws, other lances had been hurled, and, falling upon the rocks, they were blunted and would not penetrate.

The fight had continued for three hours, and the sun was about to set; accordingly the hunters begged me to give him the COUP DE GRACE, as they had hauled him close to the shore, and they feared he would sever the rope with his teeth.

I waited for a good opportunity, when he boldly raised his head from water about three yards from the rifle, and a bullet from the little Fletcher between the eyes closed the last act.

This spot was not far from the pyramidical hill beneath which I had fixed our camp, to which I returned after an amusing day's sport.
The next morning I started to the mountains to explore the limit that I had proposed for my expedition on the Settite.