"The cow is fat," laughed the old man. "The hunter would shoot the fat cow first, and so the bull makes her take the risk. He is wise."
"He is shameless!" screamed the women.
"See them?" said Compton, offering his glasses to Venning and pointing up-stream.
Far up Venning saw three dark objects on the shining glance of the vast river. One, the canoe fringed with branches, slowly drifting upon the other two, raised but a few feet above the water on a gleaming yellow sand island. One hippo, with its huge head swinging, was standing up, looking not unlike an overfed prize pig. Then the other rose, and the two walked towards the water.
"Wow! the old bull keeps on the safe side. I said it; he is wise."
"Shameless!" cried the women.
"Wherefore does the crocodile-slayer delay? Surely he knows the body will sink in the river if it reach the water."
"The smoke! He fires!"
"The cow is down! To the boats children—to the boats!"
Men and boys made a rush, and, out of a tremendous uproar of splashing and shouting, half a dozen canoes were flying at full speed for the cow's meat, altogether indifferent to the future proceedings.