It was at this point in the proceedings that I congratulated myself earnestly upon the solid character of the water-worn rock which I had selected as a shelter.
Behind this rock together with my gun-bearer and Umslopogaas, who, as he did not shoot, had elected to be my companion, I crouched and banged away at the unwieldy creatures as they advanced.

But fire fast as I might with two rifles, I could not stop the half of them--they were drawing unpleasantly near.

I glanced at Umslopogaas and even then was amused to see that probably for the first time in his life that redoubtable warrior was in a genuine fright.
"This is madness, Macumazahn," he shouted above the din.

"Are we to stop here and be stamped flat by a horde of water-pigs ?" "It seems so," I answered, "unless you prefer to be stamped flat outside--or eaten," I added, pointing to a great crocodile that had also emerged from the channel and was coming along towards us with open jaws.
"By the Axe!" shouted Umslopogaas again, "I--a warrior--will not die thus, trodden on like a slug by an ox." Now I have mentioned a tree which I climbed.

In his extremity Umslopogaas rushed for that tree and went up it like a lamplighter, just as the crocodile wriggled past its trunk, snapping at his retreating legs.
After this I took no more note of him, partly because of the advancing sea-cows, and more for the reason that one of the village natives posted above me, firing wildly, put a large round bullet through the sleeve of my coat.