“We may have hunts of every kind, I expect, here,” replied Swinton; “we are now on the very paradise of wild animals, and the further we go the more we shall find.”
“What a difference there is in one day’s journey in this country,” observed Alexander: “yesterday morning there was not a creature to be seen, and all was silent as death. Now listen to the noise of the birds, and as for beasts, I suspect we shall not have far to look for them.”
“No, for there is a hippopotamus just risen; and now he’s down again—there’s food for a fortnight at one glance,” cried the Major.
“How the horses and sheep are enjoying themselves—they are making up for lost time; but here come the waggons.”
“Well, then, I must get up and attend to my department,” said the Major. “I presume that we must expect our friends the lions again now.”
“Where there is food for lions, you must expect lions, Major,” said Swinton.
“Very true, and fuel to keep them off: by the bye, turtle soup for dinner, recollect; tell Mahomed.”
“I’ll see to it,” said Alexander; “but we must have something for breakfast, as soon as I have had a wash at the river’s side. I would have a bath, only I have such a respect for the hippopotami.”
“Yes, you will not forget them in a hurry,” said Swinton, laughing.
“Not as long as I have breath in my body, for they took all the breath out of it. Come, Swinton, will you go with me, and make your toilet at the river’s banks?”