“Well, we will do that,” said the black hunter. “But how can you carry this hippo alive to a far country?”
“I’ll show you,” answered the white hunter. “Leave him to me. Here are lots of beads and copper rings and looking glasses that flash in the sun like silver. I will give you these for the hippo.”
The black hunters liked very much the pretty things the white man had, so they took them and let him take Chunky, though of course the white man, as yet, did not know the hippo’s name.
“Make me a strong cage of jungle vines and poles of wood,” said the white hunter to his black helpers. “In the cage we will carry the hippo through the jungle until we come to the ‘great water,’ as you call the ocean. There, in a ship, I can take him to America, where I live. Make me a strong cage for the hippo.”
So they made a strong cage for Chunky, and when he was put in it and the ropes slipped off him, he could stand up, and move about, though he could not get out. And oh! how hot and tired and cramped and thirsty he was! How he would have liked to take a swim in his river, dive down out of sight and chew some of the sweet grass roots! But this was not to be.
Chunky was caught, and was in a cage, and, pretty soon, many of the black men with the white hunter, taking hold of poles thrust through the cage, began carrying Chunky through the jungle.
[The little hippo boy was being taken away.] He was beginning a very long trip, and on it he was to have many adventures.
“Oh, dear!” thought Chunky, as he felt himself being lifted up and carried along. “I guess that bird didn’t find Tum Tum and tell him to come and help me! I wonder what is going to happen to me?”
And well might Chunky, the happy hippo, wonder. He did not feel very happy now, but better times were coming, though he did not know it.