“That’s where the crocodile bit me,” he answered.
His mother showed him a place where he could lie down and put his nose in some soft mud. Then she brought him some sweet lily-plant roots to eat, and made a little cushion of soft grass for his sore nose to rest on that night.
Chunky did not sleep very well. His nose pained him too much, but he did not cry. Wild animals do not know anything about crying, no matter how much pain they may feel. In the morning the sore nose was a little better, but Chunky could not go to play with his brother and sister and the other young hippos. He had to stay on the river bank.
Still he was quite happy, for all the other animals were kind to him, and brought him nice things to eat. Mumpy and Bumpy came to see him, and told him what fun they were having playing water-tag and other games in the river.
“I wish I could play!” said Chunky.
“Oh, but you can’t go into deep water until your nose gets better!” said his mother. “You must stay on shore. Perhaps you might go in wading, but even then you must keep your head out of water. In a few days you will be better, and then you can have fun.”
“Did you see any crocodiles?” asked Chunky of Bumpy.
“No. But if I do I’ll step on ’em and make ’em go away!” he answered boastfully.
“Better not try that!” said Mr. Hippo. “You are not yet big enough to fight the crocodiles. Leave that to me!”
For three days Chunky had to keep out of the deep part of the river. He could only wade about and splash near shore, not diving or swimming. And as he had been used to going far out in the water ever since he was a tiny baby, he missed this very much indeed.