BATHING WITH A HIPPOPOTAMUS.

Lake Wakatip Mail, Issue 2687, 24 November 1908, Page 7

BATHING WITH A HIPPOPOTAMUS.

One hot summer's night the hippo-potamus-keeper at the London Zoo, after his work was done, went out about nine o'clock to call on a neighbour. Before going, he looked up the "hippo" in his house. In about an hour's time the watchman came to him and said, "Oh, sir, the old hippopotamus is bellowing and making a n awful row !" So the keeper replied, "Well, it's a hot night, and he is locked in. Co and open his door, and let him have a chance of taking his bath." It will be remembered that a large tank' forms part of the accommodation at the Zoo for the hippopotami. The watchman went and did as he was bid, and in a second or two he heard the beast plunge into the water and give a pleasant blow of retlief. In due course, however, the keeper returned.

"It's mighty close to-night. I'll take a bath, I think." Accordingly he stripped, but no one beard his plunge, and no one heard his cry of pleasure at feeling the cold water, for he came plump on the horny hippo. Then followed an exciting scene, which took place mostly under water. First the keeper was on the top of the hippopotamus, then the hippopotamus was on top of the keeper. One dived, the other dived*; one led, the other followed ; both were horribly frightened, when just as the man felt the cold snout of the great pachyderm at his toes he made land and scrambled out more dead than alive.