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+The Project Gutenberg EBook of The Rogue Elephant, by Elliott Whitney
+
+This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with
+almost no restrictions whatsoever.  You may copy it, give it away or
+re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included
+with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org
+
+
+Title: The Rogue Elephant
+       The Boys' Big Game Series
+
+Author: Elliott Whitney
+
+Illustrator: Fred J. Arting
+
+Release Date: May 12, 2008 [EBook #25450]
+
+Language: English
+
+Character set encoding: ASCII
+
+*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE ROGUE ELEPHANT ***
+
+
+
+
+Produced by Suzanne Shell, Emmy and the Online Distributed
+Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+The Boys' Big Game Series
+
+THE ROGUE ELEPHANT
+
+
+
+
+        The
+        Boys'
+        Big
+        Game
+        Series
+
+[Illustration]
+
+        =THE GIANT MOOSE.= The monarch of the big
+        Northwest; a story told over camp fires in the
+        reek of cedar smoke and the silence of the
+        barrens.
+
+        =THE WHITE TIGER OF NEPAL.= The weird story of
+        the man-killer of the foothills. Tinged with
+        the mysticism of India, dramatic and stirring.
+
+        =THE BLIND LION OF THE CONGO.= A story of the
+        least known part of the earth and its most
+        feared beast. A gripping tale of the land of
+        the white pigmies.
+
+        =THE KING BEAR OF KADIAK ISLAND.= A tale of the
+        bully of the Frozen North and his mysterious
+        guardian. A game-and-man-story that makes a
+        good boy-story.
+
+        =THE ROGUE ELEPHANT.= A big game hunt that
+        leads into strange lands and stranger
+        adventures in a real big game country.
+
+        _Remarkable covers and four-color jackets.
+        Illustrations and cover designs by Dan Sayre
+        Groesbeck_
+
+Price 60 cents each
+
+        Publishers    The Reilly & Britton Co.      Chicago
+
+
+[Illustration: It seemed that the great beast was towering over him,
+reaching for him with that terrible trunk. Then he drew a careful bead
+on the left fore-shoulder.]
+
+
+
+
+THE ROGUE ELEPHANT
+
+BY
+
+ELLIOTT WHITNEY
+
+Illustrated by Fred J. Arting
+
+        The Reilly & Britton Co.
+        Chicago
+
+
+
+
+        COPYRIGHT, 1913
+        by
+        THE REILLY & BRITTON CO.
+
+
+        THE ROGUE ELEPHANT
+
+
+
+
+CONTENTS
+
+
+CHAPTER                           PAGE
+
+    I A CHANCE "OUT"                 9
+
+   II OFF FOR THE FRONT             21
+
+  III QUILQUA THE MYSTERIOUS        33
+
+   IV MAKING READY                  46
+
+    V THE FIRST HUNT                59
+
+   VI MOUNT KENIA                   71
+
+  VII ELEPHANT                      83
+
+ VIII A RECONNAISSANCE              95
+
+   IX INTO THE UNKNOWN             108
+
+    X MOWBRAY'S END                120
+
+   XI THE DESERT TREK              133
+
+  XII A DESERTED LAND              145
+
+ XIII A DESPERATE BATTLE           158
+
+  XIV THE LAKE OF MYSTERY          170
+
+   XV "UNDER THE LEFT GATE-POST"   182
+
+  XVI SELIM SHOWS HIS TEETH        194
+
+ XVII FRESH SPOOR                  206
+
+XVIII LOST!                        218
+
+  XIX THE ROGUE ELEPHANT           230
+
+  XX THE BACK TRAIL                242
+
+
+
+
+LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS
+
+  It seemed that the great beast was towering
+    over him, reaching for him with that terrible
+    trunk. Then he drew a careful bead on the
+    left fore-shoulder.              _Frontispiece_
+
+  Everything else was forgotten in the novel
+    method of riding.                  _Page 54_
+
+  For the man, just as he relapsed into unconsciousness,
+    murmured four words:
+    "Help--me debbil man!"            _Page 118_
+
+  One slash of the knife, and out trickled a
+    little stream of yellow grains into the brown
+    fist of the explorer.                  _Page 192_
+
+
+
+
+The Rogue Elephant
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER I
+
+A CHANCE "OUT"
+
+
+"You are so crazy as a loon! Boys? Boys to such a drip dake? Nein!"
+
+Von Hofe excitedly pounded the table until the attendants at the
+Explorers' Club stared. Then he leaned back determinedly and lighted his
+meerschaum. The lean, bronzed man who sat opposite pushed away his maps
+with a smile.
+
+"You misunderstand, von Hofe. I know both these boys personally and
+vouch for them. You have agreed that this is to be no milk-and-water
+trip, with hundreds of porters bearing bath tubs and toilet water, but
+that we shall live off the land as we go. That right?"
+
+The German nodded amid a cloud of smoke.
+
+"You want me to take you into the elephant country and shoot your
+specimens. I have agreed to do this. I know Africa and I can do it. You
+are paying the expenses of the trip, but that is immaterial. If we
+hitch up, von Hofe, it will be on the understanding that I am in command
+of this expedition; that I choose those I want to go along, and that you
+are with me to prepare your specimens and nothing else. Now you can take
+it or leave it--that's final."
+
+The elderly German paused before replying, the two men searching each
+other's faces quietly. As most people have it, the famous Dr. Gross von
+Hofe was a "taxidermist." The average "stuffer," the man who simply
+covers and replaces the bones of the specimen with excelsior or cotton,
+is properly named taxidermist, but von Hofe was an artist, known the
+world over for his wonderful work. In various museums of the world you
+may see his models, signed like the masterpieces of other artists, of
+rare and disappearing animals from the distant quarters of the earth,
+frozen in action, with the setting of the trees, grass, sand or water of
+their native haunts.
+
+The other, somewhat younger than the famous artist in skin and bone, was
+an American of German descent--Louis Schoverling. He was one of that
+little class of world-wanderers, who have barely enough money to carry
+them about the earth's strange places, hunting and exploring, gradually
+pushing the frontier of civilization back into the savage quarters of
+the world, and most happy when self-dependent and forced to rely on gun
+or hook for a day's meal.
+
+So when Dr. von Hofe was commissioned by two celebrated museums to visit
+East Africa and secure for each a family group of elephants--tusker
+bull, calf, and cow--it was natural that he should come to the New York
+Explorers' Club for a helper and guide. There he had picked on Louis
+Schoverling--or "the General," as his fellow-explorers had laughingly
+dubbed him after the failure of a certain South American revolution--to
+take him to the tuskers. Dr. von Hofe was not a hunter and he knew it.
+So Schoverling had agreed to go, not for the money in the trip, but for
+the excitement of it.
+
+"I see," returned the big German at last, "why your comrades call you
+'the General.' You are right. You shall take whom you like, und if I say
+you are crazy as a loon, it makes no difference. You are satisfied?"
+
+"Quite," laughed the American. "When do we start?"
+
+"Three weeks from to-day," returned the other, whose English was perfect
+save in moments of excitement. "I have a group to finish for the
+Metropolitan here. Then we go."
+
+"All right. I'll meet you up here three weeks from to-day, with my
+friends, at twelve sharp."
+
+Such was the interesting prelude to the letter which came to Charlie
+Collins at Calgary, Canada, five days later. Charlie was one of the boys
+whom the General had proposed to take with him to Africa. Born in Nova
+Scotia, he had tramped his way across the continent at the age of
+seventeen, when his father died. Catching the Peace River fever he had
+made his way back to Calgary, then up to Peace River Landing, where he
+went to work to make enough money to turn homesteader. At this juncture
+Schoverling had met him while on a hunting trip. The General had become
+keenly interested in the boy, whose ambitions were high. Charlie was
+accustomed to depending on himself, which caught the explorer's fancy.
+He had knocked the homesteading notion out of Charlie's head and got him
+a position at Calgary, where he was now learning the trade of
+electrician.
+
+So when Charlie walked into the office on that Saturday morning and
+found a bulky letter from the Explorers' Club, he tore it open in keen
+anticipation. For five minutes he stood reading in amazement; then he
+uttered a yell that brought the eyes of the office force down on him,
+and rushed to the paymaster's desk.
+
+"Give me my time, Mr. Clarke!" he cried, his gray eyes and pleasant,
+healthy face denoting high excitement. "I've got to quit right off!"
+
+"What's the matter? Fallen heir to a million?" laughed the man behind
+the window, who was used to his men quitting at a moment's notice.
+
+"Better than that! Jumping sandhills! I'm going to Africa!" almost
+shouted the boy, as he grabbed his pay envelope and put for the door.
+
+"Hey! Better take your hat!" shouted some one, and Charlie made a quick
+return for his forgotten headgear, then vanished. When he found himself
+in his boarding-house room with the door locked, he flung off his coat
+and settled down to read over once more the wonderful letter. It was
+written in the customary vein of the explorer--as if he was talking to
+his reader.
+
+"_My dear Charlie_:--
+
+"_Draw your time and beat it for New York. Meet me at the Explorers'
+Club at noon of the 22nd. Bring Jack Sawtooth ditto. You don't know him
+but you will soon. We're going to Africa--sail the night of the 22nd, so
+hump yourself, old man!_
+
+"_First for the expedition. Remember asking me once why all explorers
+couldn't live off the land, as we did up the Mackenzie that winter? I
+said then that it could be done, and you're going to help prove me right
+in Africa. We're going to hunt elephant--not where you get them driven
+up while you sit in a camp-chair, either. We're going after bulls,
+rogues, the big fellows who live solitary, soured on life in general. We
+have to get two at least, for museums._
+
+"_Never mind an outfit. Don't need your snowshoes, of course. Jack will
+bring some knee-high moosehide moccasins--no machine-made junk, either.
+I'm getting the guns. Bring six of those Canadian lynx or fox steel
+traps. Can't seem to find 'em here, and they'll be useful._
+
+"_Have wired and written Sawtooth. He's a quarter-breed--hold on, old
+scout! Wait till he looks you up; Sunday, I expect. Jack is seventeen,
+looks like a white--and is white clear through. Next to you he's the
+hardiest and gamest ever. Got me skinned a mile on the trail. Educated
+at the Mission School. You'll like him. He's not sensitive on his blood,
+but rather proud of it._"
+
+Charlie paused and grinned to himself. He did not share the prejudice of
+a "tenderfoot" against the half-breeds. He knew well enough that as in
+any race a good, manly Cree or Salteaux was rather above the average
+white man in point of character.
+
+"_Jack has to get down from Mirror Landing, so give him a couple of
+days' leeway. You have plenty of time, I judge. Better fetch H. B. C.
+blankets; nights are cold in Africa, and we might strike into the
+mountains. The trip doesn't promise any more than expenses, but there is
+always a chance that we can trade or clean up on a bit of ivory. Once we
+get together we can go over the route and all that. However, the
+experience is worth while, and it's the best kind of an education. If we
+pull out ahead of the game you may have a stake to start in some kind of
+business for yourself._
+
+"_Check enclosed to cover expenses to New York. Don't buy any gold
+bricks when you strike Broadway! And don't let Jack scalp anyone on
+board the Overland._
+
+                                        "_Yours in haste,_
+                                              "_Louis Schoverling._"
+
+Charlie slowly folded up the letter and stared out of the window for a
+moment.
+
+"Jumping sandhills!" he murmured softly, and turned to where "the
+General" hung framed on his wall. "What a prince of a friend you are to
+a fellow! I guess I'll give you a bit of a surprise myself, just the
+same!"
+
+Eight months before, when Schoverling had gone "out," as the saying is
+up there, he had left Charlie in Calgary. The boy had little knowledge
+of the ways of the city, but after parting with his new-found friend he
+had thrown himself into his new life, grimly determined that he would
+make good. And he had. In the day he had worked at his new trade, in the
+evening he had plugged away at night-school, making up for lost time. He
+had doffed his flannel shirt and timber boots for the garb of the city,
+and as he looked at himself in the glass that morning he grinned again.
+
+The next day Jack Sawtooth showed up, tired out, fresh from the
+wilderness. He had received the General's telegram three days before,
+had not stopped for the letter following, but had said farewell to his
+father and joined a freight sledge down to Athabasca Landing, to seek
+out Charlie at Calgary.
+
+"Glad to meet you," exclaimed Charlie when his visitor was dubiously
+announced by his landlady. The Cree boy was lithe, straight as an arrow,
+open-browed and keen of eye, with none of the somber gravity of his
+Indian blood. "I hardly thought you'd get here so quickly."
+
+"I didn't know what was up," smiled Jack. "Say, this is a neat little
+room! Where did you get the bead-work? Why, you must be an old-timer!
+Mr. Schoverling has not written me very often, and only mentioned you a
+few times."
+
+"I've knocked around quite a bit," admitted Charlie, glancing at the
+Indian bead-work and the pictures of camp and trail that hung on his
+wall. "Don't you know where we're going?"
+
+The other shook his head.
+
+"We're going elephant hunting in Africa," laughed Charlie. Jack stared
+at him.
+
+"Africa? Say, Collins, don't try to give me heart-failure that way! What
+is it now, honest?"
+
+"You wait," chuckled Charlie, bringing out the explorer's letter and
+reading over all that related to the trip. Not until Jack had set eyes
+on it himself would he believe that Charlie was in earnest. Then he sat
+back and stared again.
+
+"Me--in Africa! Great Scott, am I dreaming or just crazy? Does he mean
+it?"
+
+Charlie produced the good-sized check in evidence, and Jack's amazement
+soon gave way to calm acceptance of the situation.
+
+"Then we'll go to Africa, unless I wake up and find myself snowed in
+somewhere along the trap line. When do we go?"
+
+"Catch the Overland to-night, if you're ready," returned Charlie
+promptly. Jack gave a single glance at the other's neat clothing and
+shook his head.
+
+"Not much. I got enough attention coming through town," and he pointed
+to the jack he had deposited in the corner. "Look here, Chuck," he fell
+readily into the common abbreviation for Charlie then prevalent, "you
+fit me out with a rig like yours, in the morning. You know the ropes and
+I don't. Then I'll pack up those heavy moccasins I brought along and we
+can take the train to-morrow night. No great rush, is there?"
+
+"Guess not," grinned Charlie, inwardly delighted at the good sense of
+his new comrade. "But we'll probably get an outfit in New York. Look
+here, Jack, I got a new suit of rough tweed last week, and won't need it
+now. If you don't mind, you could have that as well as not. We're built
+about the same. Hang on to the hickory shirt, though. We'll probably use
+'em. In the meantime I've got enough reg'lar shirts to hold us, and we
+can dig out on the train to-night if you say."
+
+"Suits me," answered Jack, beaming. "I'm much obliged, old man, for
+helping me out! Now I'll have to drop dad a note telling him about it,
+and can write him later from the train. Got any paper handy?"
+
+With much interest Charlie watched the other scribble a hasty note in
+weird-looking characters. Jack explained that his father could read the
+Cree writing-language invented by Bishop Grouard, but not English. The
+more Charlie saw of his new friend, the better he liked him, and the two
+boys soon fell into a close friendship that was destined to be tested by
+land and sea, in more ways than either of them imagined.
+
+"Dad will have a fit when he reads that," laughed Jack. "He'd trust me
+anywhere with Mr. Schoverling, though. They used to know each other when
+Schoverling was in the Hudsons Bay Company, years ago. Where'll you cash
+that check?"
+
+"Hotel," returned Charlie. "They know me at the Alberta."
+
+Jack was soon fixed up with "store clothes," the traps and moccasins
+were packed in two grips, Charlie arranged with his landlady to pack up
+his stuff and store it for him, and that night the two went
+"out"--aboard the Limited that would bear them across the continent.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER II
+
+OFF FOR THE FRONT
+
+
+The enthusiastic boys reached New York long before the three weeks were
+up, but the General--as they came to call him, like everyone else--was
+not in evidence. He had left letters for them at the Explorers' Club,
+however, and had arranged for them to get a room there until his
+arrival.
+
+At two minutes to twelve some days later he stepped out of the elevator
+and entered the library, where Charlie and Jack were waiting in no
+little dismay. The meeting was a joyful one all around.
+
+"Me?" laughed the General, in answer to their rapid-fire questions. "Oh,
+I've been in Washington, getting some letters to pave the way for us.
+But where's von Hofe? He was to meet us at noon."
+
+"Well, is he not here?" came a heavy voice from behind, and von Hofe
+entered with a broad smile on his bearded face. "You did not say five
+minutes before the hour, or one minute after the hour, so that I came
+on the hour--ach! Let go mine hant! I am a man, not a wood or stone
+image!"
+
+Neither Charlie nor Jack had known, of course, who was behind the
+expedition, for the General had omitted any mention of von Hofe in his
+haste. But as it chanced, Charlie had been reading an article that
+morning which described the wonderful work done by von Hofe, and his
+contributions to science. So, when Schoverling introduced him, the
+astonished Charlie let out his accustomed expression, as he shook hands.
+
+"Jumping sandhills! Are you the chap I was reading about this
+morning--the man who makes photos and sketches of animals before they're
+shot an' then mounts 'em the same way? Was it you who swiped the skin of
+a sacred white elephant out o' Siam, an'--"
+
+"Ach, what liars these newspapers are!" But the steel-blue eyes twinkled
+forth from beneath the bushy yellow-gray brows, and Charlie's heart
+leaped as he realized that this great man must be going with them.
+
+"You are not such foolish looking boys," decided the German, nodding his
+head. "Herr Schoverling, they haf the look in the eyes, the look of the
+dependable-upon men. I apologize. You are not crazy as a loon. Now we
+haf much to talk over, and we are hungry, I hope?"
+
+"We certainly are," smiled the General, leading the way toward a private
+dining room which was reserved for them. Jack whispered delightedly in
+his friend's ear as they followed, "You catch-um that beard?"
+
+Charlie grinned at the Chinook expression and nodded.
+
+"He's a peach, Jack! Say, we're goin' to have the time of our lives,
+believe me!"
+
+Luncheon was devoted to story-telling. Schoverling related tales of his
+adventures when he had joined the H. B. C. in Canada as a boy, serving
+his four years; the doctor jovially gave the story of certain adventures
+in South Africa, and Jack chipped in with a relation of Indian legend
+from the far north, relating to the mammoths which were said to be still
+alive somewhere in the frozen regions. This last, which was backed up by
+the explorer, interested von Hofe immensely; but at length the meal was
+done with, the table cleared, and they were alone with their coffee.
+
+Schoverling drew forth a huge map, which he spread out on the table. On
+it was a route heavily marked in red ink, and he pointed to this as he
+spoke.
+
+"I got this map from a friend of mine, in Washington at present, who was
+up there last year stealing ivory. It's not considered at all bad, boys,
+among a certain class of hunters, to make a raid into the protected
+regions and loot all the tusks they can get. Well, this is the latest
+map of British East Africa, divested of all that is thrown in by chaps
+who like to fill up blank spaces with names.
+
+"Down here south and east of Lake Rudolph, you see, is the Northern Game
+Preserve. It is more or less indefinite, extending up to the Abyssinian
+border. This chap I'm speaking of went dead across it, as you can see.
+Incidentally, he landed in Abyssinia, which is another story.
+
+"Now, Dr. von Hofe and I have secured permits to get the beasts we are
+after for scientific purposes. Coming back to the Uganda Railway, here
+is Nairobi, you see. We'll go just where this friend of mine went--on to
+Nakuro, then up to the Leikipia hills and through them into the Game
+Preserve--"
+
+"To Abyssinia?" cried Charlie, leaning forward "Are we going--"
+
+"We are nod," interrupted von Hofe, his deep voice roaring through his
+meerschaum smoke. "You will keep very still, if you please!"
+
+Charlie was undecided whether to resent it or not, until he caught a
+wink from Jack and his quick anger was dissipated instantly.
+
+"No," smiled the General, "we need not fear to return through British
+territory, for our permits are pretty general. Now let's get back to
+this map. Here is Mt. Marsabit, straight north of Kenia. Midway between
+the two we will branch off my friend's route and go over toward the
+Lorian Swamp. That's unknown country, except to the ivory raiders, and
+they keep their mouths shut; but that's where the elephants are.
+
+"Does that suit you, Doctor? We could stick closer to civilization, of
+course, but we wouldn't get the big bulls. Besides, I'd like to do a bit
+of exploring in there. Some mighty queer yarns have come out of that
+country lately."
+
+The big Teuton emitted a dense cloud of smoke before answering.
+
+"You are not to worry about suiting me, my friend. What I want is bulls,
+such bulls as have never come to this country. Perhaps I will change my
+mind and go to the North Pole for those mammoth. Ach, what a thing! To
+bring a mammoth down, skin him, photograph him, mount him for the
+Smithsonian! What more could a man want?"
+
+"Bosh!" exclaimed the General. "That's all been exploded long ago. Now,
+we're going to cut out the usual gang of porters and chiefs. I guess we
+can get along from village to village well enough. Bring those traps and
+moccasins, boys?"
+
+"They're up in our rooms," answered Jack. "How about clothes?"
+
+"All gone on board ship," smiled Schoverling. Charlie had already noted
+his appreciative glance at their first meeting, and Jack was now feeling
+quite at home in his new garments.
+
+They were going from New York straight to Alexandria on a steamer of a
+Greek line, which would give the boys a brief glimpse of Athens en
+route. At Alexandria they would pick up an East Coast steamer to
+Mombasa.
+
+With this the discussion was closed, but Charlie and Jack put forth an
+eager question as to their armament, which they had more than once
+discussed in wild anticipation. The General smiled, comprehending their
+eagerness.
+
+"The doctor has absolutely refused to touch a gun from start to finish,
+boys, so that puts it up to us. I had everything we would need. There is
+a double-barrelled 500-405 Holland for each of us--which of course we
+won't use on anything but elephants. Two of them are mine, and one was
+loaned me for the trip. For ordinary use we will carry our 30-30s, and a
+number twelve shotgun. Those, with a suit case each, make up all our
+luggage. Any trunks, Doctor?"
+
+"Trunks?" The blond German glared over his beard in surprise. "Would I
+preserve elephant hide with air? No, but I have eleven cases of
+chemicals, which you must take."
+
+"Very well--that will make about twenty porters," commented the explorer
+quietly. "I think we'll have a mighty interesting time if we carry out
+my original program of living off the country. Anything more to settle?"
+
+As nothing more seemed to present itself, the meeting was declared
+adjourned. Von Hofe shook hands with the boys, put away his big pipe,
+and retired to write some letters. As both Charlie and Jack had seen all
+of New York that they cared about, Mr. Schoverling spent the afternoon
+at the club with them, showing and explaining the cases full of savage
+arms, relics and curios which had been contributed by the explorers and
+scientists who formed the club. He introduced them to many of its famous
+members, a few of whom they had already met while waiting for him. It
+was an informal, cosy place, and during their stay the boys enjoyed
+themselves immensely.
+
+As the news spread about of the General's proposed trip, a number of men
+who had been in Africa promptly carried all three off to the library and
+there ensued a high discussion. Most of them flatly declared that living
+on the land might be possible, but that moccasins and traps were absurd.
+
+"But why?" laughed the General. "You fellows wear puttees and leather
+breeches to keep dry, and safe from scratches or snakes. Moccasins are
+equally as good, especially high ones like ours, and a whole lot more
+comfortable. You chaps who go in for big game with all the comforts of
+home don't know what real work is like!"
+
+This good-natured taunt happened to hit most of those around, and the
+situation looked stormy until a little, awkward-looking man strolled up
+and joined in.
+
+"Nonsense!" His irritated voice shrilled high above the rest. "Shut up,
+you fools! Why, what do you know about East Africa? When I tramped from
+Fort Rosebury to Kituta in my bare hide I got nothing worse than
+mosquito bites, and I've had to make moccasins many a time or go
+barefoot. I'm leaving this afternoon for Africa; how many of you chaps
+want to go with me? Don't all speak at once, please."
+
+Charlie stared, expecting to see the little, bitter-tongued man mobbed.
+But to his vast surprise not a word was said, and the dilettante hunters
+faded away one by one. The little man turned to Schoverling with a
+bristling laugh of delight.
+
+"See 'em run, General? Going in, I hear."
+
+"Boys, I'd like to have you meet Mr. Mowbray," said the explorer,
+introducing the two. "You aren't going to British territory, I suppose?"
+
+"Never you mind, my son," snapped the little man. "Give me back my map.
+Just got in from Washington an hour ago, and leave in another hour. I'll
+need that map worse than you will--got wind of something big."
+
+As Schoverling pulled out the folded map and handed it over, Mowbray
+lowered his voice.
+
+"I'll beat you there by some time, old boy, but I'll be around. Let you
+in on it, if I can't handle it. Good-looking boys, there. Keep your ears
+open for a nigger who says 'Me debbil man.' You can trust him. Got to
+go, General. Mighty glad to have met you, boys--see you later, maybe.
+Besselama!"
+
+"Jumping sandhills!" ejaculated Charlie. "Who's he? A grand mogul around
+here? What's that last word mean?"
+
+"Arabic for 'so-long,'" smiled the General.
+
+"What made 'em all shut up when he handed it to them?" inquired Jack
+curiously.
+
+"That's the chap, of course, who lent me the map, boys." And the General
+spoke very seriously. "You must never repeat what he said to a soul, or
+mention his name. In British Africa they have hunted him for years, by
+regiments; there's a price on his head of some thousands of pounds, and
+he's slipped into and out of the country whenever he liked. He's
+defeated the Somali troops and even the white regulars time and again,
+and no one knows how he gets into the ivory country. He does it for
+sheer love of the game, for he has a fortune of his own."
+
+"You mean," asked the puzzled and wondering Charlie, "that he's one of
+the ivory raiders?"
+
+"He's _the_ ivory raider of them all," nodded Schoverling, "and the
+biggest man in the club here. For all his scornful words, not a man
+there but would bite off his tongue sooner than repeat that Mowbray was
+starting for Africa to-day. Why, the British would pay a thousand pounds
+for those half-dozen words! Now just forget it, boys."
+
+Forget it! It was a long time before Charlie ever forgot the sight of
+that little man, and the time came when he was to remember him more
+vividly still, as was Jack also. Neither of them gave any thought to the
+muttered "Me debbil man." If Schoverling did, he betrayed no inkling of
+it through his bronzed mask of a face.
+
+That night they were aboard the steamer. During the days that followed
+Charlie enjoyed every minute of the time, as did Jack also. But they
+were both accustomed to hard work, and the luxuries of civilization,
+where everything was done for them, soon grew monotonous. When they had
+gone over their beloved guns, oiling every inch, and received
+instructions for the use of the few simple medicines taken along, there
+was little to do except to read up on Africa, which labor they threw
+themselves into gladly.
+
+They saw little of von Hofe on the way over, for he was busy on some
+chemical experiments; but the day before they reached Gibraltar a
+strange odor, which permeated the whole ship, drew down on him the wrath
+of the captain, after which the big Teuton abandoned his beloved
+mixtures.
+
+The whole voyage to Port Said was uneventful in actual happenings. But
+at Port Said they went aboard the _Mombasa_, and off Aden they had the
+pleasure of meeting the gentlemanly Selim ben Amoud, and of first
+hearing of the Magic Lake and its mysterious Rogue Elephant guardian.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER III
+
+QUILQUA THE MYSTERIOUS
+
+
+He was a suave, polished, open-shirted Arab, who appeared the morning
+after they had left Port Said and the Suez far behind, and who smiled at
+Louis Schoverling with the air of old acquaintance. The American sprang
+up with extended hand.
+
+"Why, Selim! I had no idea you were aboard!"
+
+"Neither had the authorities at Port Said," rejoined the Arab softly.
+The explorer raised his eyebrows, and Jack nudged Charlie significantly.
+A moment later they were being introduced, and von Hofe was explaining
+the object of their journey.
+
+"It should interest Mr. ben Amoud," smiled the General, "as he is one of
+the largest Arab dealers in ivory--and other things--on the Coast."
+
+Selim, much to Charlie's surprise, spoke fluent English, enjoyed his
+cigar as much as did the explorer, and was not as swarthy as their
+Italian captain. He sat quietly beneath the awning, his wide hat shading
+his face, and would easily have been taken for a German or Boer, with
+his flowing beard and European clothes. Most of the Arabs on board wore
+the burnous and sandals, and Charlie wondered if there were any reason
+behind this European garb.
+
+The trader heard of their expedition, and gravely complimented von Hofe
+on his work, of which he spoke with some knowledge, until the doctor
+beamed genially.
+
+After a pause Selim turned to Schoverling. "Much has happened in the two
+years since I last saw you. You have not, by any chance, heard of one
+who calls himself 'Me debbil man'?"
+
+Charlie started, but Jack, his deep black eyes suddenly afire, gripped
+his arm. Von Hofe stared, and the Arab gazed at Schoverling, whose face
+never changed.
+
+"Yes," replied the explorer, quietly. "We are all friends of his."
+
+The Arab's gaze darted to one of the deck-hands, lounging on the rail
+near by. Charlie saw ben Amoud rise, step to the man's side, and hiss
+something. The man looked startled; then his face changed and he slunk
+away. Selim, his narrow eyes glittering, returned to his deck-chair and
+settled himself comfortably.
+
+"Now we can talk, my friends. Mr. Schoverling, have you ever heard of
+Lake Quilqua?"
+
+The American looked puzzled. "Can't say I remember the name, Selim.
+Where is it?"
+
+"Ah, many men have asked that question!" and Selim's white teeth shone.
+Charlie stole a glance at Jack. His dreams of the mysterious East were
+being rapidly realized! "No one has ever answered it, however. It is one
+of those odd native yarns that are generally founded on fact, though you
+white men disbelieve them. Here it is for you:
+
+"Two years ago rumors began to drift to certain of us that somewhere,
+far down from the Abyssinian border in that desolate land north of the
+Lorian Swamp, there was a lake. The tale was given me in fuller form by
+one of my own Arabs who had got lost and found his way out to die,
+crazed and raving of horrible things, only a few months ago.
+
+"This lake, it seems, is fed by underground springs--hot springs, that
+spout up and fall like fountains on the water; its outlet is also by an
+underground river, so that the lake lies, sweltering in the sun and
+surrounded by desert and jungle and marsh, where no people live."
+
+Ben Amoud turned to the calmly interested German. "You, Doctor von Hofe,
+are a scientist. Granted such a body of water, at an average temperature
+of ninety to a hundred degrees Fahrenheit; would animal life in it and
+near it be liable to any change in average size?"
+
+The big man stroked his beard reflectively, pulling at his pipe.
+
+"Possibly," he admitted at length. "But only one way. If animal life
+could exist at such a temperature, it would perhaps be much larger than
+elsewhere. For instance, a buffalo lives much in the water. In such a
+place as that, a buffalo's great-grandchildren would be larger, and so
+on through succeeding generations, each a little larger. Yes, it iss
+possible--but nod probable."
+
+"Do you mean," cried Charlie, unable to repress his eagerness, "that
+there are giant animals there?"
+
+The Arab smiled and waved his hand. "It is but a tale, remember. See, I
+have heard that in this lake are great serpents of monstrous size. That,
+as our friend has just said, there are such buffalo there as were never
+seen, and that evil spirits dwell on an island near the reed-encircled
+shore. But there is one thing more, that might interest you; indeed, it
+was my reason for telling you the story.
+
+"Not only the wandering natives, but my own Arab, have raved of a
+tremendous elephant, a rogue, who dwells near there. He is said to be of
+great size, very wicked, and cursed by Allah with the desire to fight
+men. His size is said to be that of a mountain--and in truth I doubt if
+any man has ever seen him and lived to tell of it. There, my friends,
+would be a conquest worthy of your skill!"
+
+Von Hofe grunted, but Charlie saw that his blue eyes were never off the
+face of the Arab. Jack sat listening with all his ears.
+
+"What's a 'rogue'?" he asked.
+
+"Wait till you see one and you won't need to ask. A rogue is a big bull
+elephant who's broken away from his herd and lives by himself in the
+jungle. He's usually a man-fighter, and doesn't think anything of
+attacking a whole herd of elephants. He's an outlaw, and he's a bad
+citizen to meet.
+
+"But I hardly think, Selim," continued the General with a smile, "that
+we will penetrate to such a place. All we wish is a couple of very large
+bulls; the others of the groups can be picked up nearer home, but it is
+essential that we get magnificent tuskers."
+
+"And I have told you where to get the best of all tuskers," rejoined
+Selim seriously. "There is some foundation for such a tale, believe me.
+I am not at liberty to tell you more, but perhaps you, Mr. Schoverling,
+could imagine a friend of yours who would be very likely to try the
+truth of the yarn."
+
+Charlie's quick eyes roved from face to face. He had not fought with the
+world for most of his life and emerged unable to read men's faces, young
+as he was; and he knew enough of Jack by this time to feel confident
+that the other was losing nothing of what went on.
+
+At the Arab's last words a glance flashed between him and the explorer.
+Von Hofe was frankly puzzled over these references to an unknown
+person, but he asked no questions, wisely. It was the explorer who
+finally spoke.
+
+"Yes, I can imagine such a man, Selim. But we are in no way connected
+with him, nor are we acting in conjunction with him. He told me, the day
+he left New York, that he had something big on hand, and would perhaps
+meet me later."
+
+The Arab smiled slightly and tossed his cigar over the rail. Charlie had
+jumped at the conclusion that they spoke of Mowbray, the ivory raider,
+when Selim had first uttered the catch-phrase or password. At
+Schoverling's reply he knew that he had been right, and watched eagerly
+for more.
+
+But the conversation shifted to other things, and during the morning
+there was no more said of the mysterious lake. The two boys got off by
+themselves and discussed the matter, but arrived nowhere.
+
+"Prob'ly Mowbray is making a try for that Quilqua business," concluded
+Jack sagely. "It sounds mighty good to me, old boy?"
+
+"Here too," agreed Charlie. "But Selim laid it on too thick, with sea
+serpents and elephants like mountains. Bet a dollar to a pine chip that
+he had some axe to grind with the General. You wait and see."
+
+"Mebbe," conceded Jack doubtfully. "He's a slick-lookin' proposition,
+Chuck. I saw the lines of a gun in his coat pocket, too. He didn't do
+much grinding, anyhow. The General didn't fall for his line of talk
+worth a cent. Well, let's get back; it's almost time for lunch--or what
+do they call it here? Tiff 'em?"
+
+"Tiffin," chuckled his friend; "same's they do in India. There's a heap
+of Indians all down the coast, 'cause it's a Mohammedan country an' they
+don't lose caste by coming over to work."
+
+All of which explanation was largely lost on Jack. Charlie knew a good
+deal of the East Indians, having witnessed most of the Hindu immigrant
+riots in western Canada, and he was frankly interested in them as a
+race.
+
+When they returned to the after awning they found Selim just saying
+good-bye. He was to leave the ship at Ras al Kyle, a port on the Italian
+Somaliland coast, and they were nearly due to reach there. So he suavely
+bowed himself away, in odd contrast to his Boer-like appearance, and the
+boys immediately deluged the General with questions. Dr. von Hofe
+rumbled out a laugh.
+
+"Would you prefer my absence, General? I--"
+
+"Nonsense, Doctor!" broke in Schoverling sharply. "Here is all I know,"
+and he told the big German of meeting Mowbray, and of the latter's
+words.
+
+"So!" drawled von Hofe. "Then, this Selim ben Amoud is who?"
+
+"I have heard that he is the wealthiest Arab on the east coast," replied
+the American. "You noticed, I suppose, what he first said?"
+
+Charlie nodded eagerly.
+
+"Privately, I have no doubt that he is a slaver," went on the explorer.
+"He has a hand in everything, and is always in hot water with the
+British authorities. He was trying to find out whether or not our
+expedition had anything to do with that of Mowbray. I have met him
+before and we know each other slightly."
+
+"Well," asked Jack, "is Mowbray going to the magic lake?"
+
+The explorer laughed. "Who knows? The whole yarn may be a
+bluff--probably is. Selim would like the British to think that
+Mowbray's party is merely exploring, and perhaps he thinks we will
+spread the news, in which he is mistaken. Or, he may have been honest in
+the matter; you can never tell what lies behind his words."
+
+At this Charlie's face fell slightly. He had been intensely interested
+in the Arab's tale, and the thought that it was a put-up job did not
+appeal to him in the least.
+
+"But wasn't it true?" he inquired, disappointed. "It sounded pretty good
+to me!"
+
+"Frankly, Charlie, I don't believe a word of it. You can hear yarns like
+that wherever you go, and they usually pan out pretty small--just like
+Jack's story of the mammoth up in the north. You noticed the password,
+'Me debbil man'? Well, there isn't a particle of doubt in my mind that
+Mowbray and Selim are parts of a big underground concern for illicit
+trading. I don't for a minute think Mowbray would traffic in slaves, but
+of course he's the biggest ivory raider in the game."
+
+"Then it's a sort of conspiracy?" shot out Jack quickly. "Any chance of
+our gettin' mixed up in the business?"
+
+"Not a bit of it," asserted the explorer, with a smile at von Hofe.
+"I'll answer for that, Jack. Selim is satisfied, and we'll probably
+never hear from him or Mowbray again. Our own trip is perfectly fair and
+square, the authorities will know everything we do, and we can't afford
+to soil our fingers with anything crooked. It doesn't pay."
+
+"That is why," struck in Dr. von Hofe, "I came to you. 'Schoverling,'
+they told me, 'he is straight.' It is a good reputation to have, my
+friend."
+
+The boys nodded, understanding. A look of gratification crossed the
+explorer's face, such gratification as comes to a man when he knows that
+he has won the esteem of other men.
+
+"We are not looking for hot water and sea serpents," went on the doctor
+with a broad smile at the boys. "We are looking for elephants, let us
+remember, please!"
+
+With that, the topic of Lake Quilqua was promptly dropped. At Ras al
+Kyle, Selim ben Amoud went ashore--this time wearing sandals and
+burnous--and the _Mombasa_ took up her interrupted journey south. But
+late that night, as the boys swung into their bunks, Jack gave vent to
+his long-repressed thought.
+
+"Chuck, I wish to thunder we were goin' to hunt for that lake!"
+
+"Forget it," advised Charlie. "Von Hofe isn't paying expenses for us to
+chase around after sea serpents. Anyhow, Jack, when you come to think it
+over it doesn't stand to reason that there's any such place as that.
+There's a heap of sense in what the General said. I've heard that Injun
+yarn about the mammoths up north; but you know's well as I do that when
+it comes down to hard pan there's nothin' to it. Same with this magic
+lake."
+
+"Guess you're right," sighed Jack regretfully, turning out the light.
+While the boys were turning in, Dr. Gross von Hofe was replying to a
+certain question put to him by the General, before they retired.
+
+"Yes, my friend, it could be. Lieutenant Graetz found just such gigantic
+buffalo at Lake Bangweolo, and was all but killed by them. He has
+promised that I shall mount one, when he is able to undertake a second
+expedition to bring home specimens. But elephants and sea
+serpents--ach, no! Such a yarn is crazy."
+
+"So crazy as a loon," laughed Schoverling, and said good night.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER IV
+
+MAKING READY
+
+
+"Mombasa!"
+
+Before them lay the picturesque harbor, filled with Arab dhows from
+Zanzibar and the Somali ports, tramp steamers, coasters, and a trim
+French corvette up from Madagascar. Up above the waters rose the old
+Arab city, now a trim English-ruled town of immense trade, while behind
+all shimmered the vivid green of trees.
+
+"Dandy sight, isn't it!" and the boys turned to find Schoverling at
+their side, with the doctor. "That old town used to have a sultan, as
+Zanzibar has, and a gay pirate life was led along the east coast in the
+days of Captain Kidd. Portugal captured the place, but the Arabs drove
+her out again. Now England is making Mombasa into a mighty big trading
+center, and as the Uganda Railway taps the Cape-to-Cairo, which is about
+done, things are going to boom."
+
+Charlie and Jack had seen considerable of the cosmopolitan aspect of
+Port Said, although they had had no time to visit Alexandria, but here
+was something entirely new to them. As they passed through the streets
+to the Mombasa Club they were surrounded by English officers in neat
+uniforms, by Somali and other native troops, by Arabs in fez and
+burnous, and above all by Indians. Hindus and Mohammedans alike moved
+through the streets, some wearing the fez, others the turban; there were
+Sikhs and Gurkhas, lordly Brahmins who disdained to touch the Europeans
+with their garments, and those of the lower castes who were equally
+particular.
+
+"I was reading the other day," said Charlie, "that the Indians were
+swarming over here by the shipload, and this certainly looks like it!"
+
+Louis Schoverling brushed aside the would-be native guides, and led the
+party direct to the Mombasa Club, where they were soon comfortably
+ensconced. Barely had they arrived when a bronzed, trim Englishman
+sought out the explorer.
+
+"Mr. Schoverling?" he inquired. "I am Inspector Harrington. The governor
+heard that you and Doctor von Hofe came in on the _Mombasa_, and he
+detailed me to look after you. He was anxious to see you in person, as
+our embassador at Washington had written him, but he was called up
+country yesterday."
+
+"That is very good of you," returned the explorer, introducing his
+party. "I was assured at Washington that you would have our permits for
+us."
+
+"They are ready at the Government House," said the inspector. "We are
+anxious to extend every courtesy to you and Doctor von Hofe, of course.
+You won't do any trading?"
+
+"Frankly, I don't expect to. We are here to procure specimens and
+nothing else. But if I could pick up any ivory on my own hook, I suppose
+it would be all right?"
+
+"With you, yes," smiled Harrington. "Men like you and Selous and
+Cuninghame can be accepted at the standard of gentlemen. Unfortunately,
+there are some who cannot. Now, how about porters and so on?"
+
+"We'll take about twenty-five porters," answered the explorer
+carelessly. At this the Englishman sat up.
+
+"My word! Are you spoofin' me or what? Twenty-five porters! Why,
+Roosevelt had two hundred, to say nothing of askaris, saises, tent
+boys, and the rest!"
+
+Smiling, Schoverling and von Hofe explained their plan of action.
+Harrington's amazement grew into settled doubt that such a march was
+possible, for although a remarkably fine young officer, he was decidedly
+conservative.
+
+"We are all used to doing things for ourselves," concluded the explorer.
+"The doctor is less used to the trail, but he can wash his own dishes
+and things right enough, and we'll do the shooting."
+
+"Well, it's your expedition," returned Harrington, "and not mine. But
+how do you expect to send back the skins with such a small safari?"
+
+"Safari" was the term used for caravan, and was usually applied to the
+entire expedition, who instead of being on the march, were said to be
+"on safari."
+
+"There is where I want your help," said Schoverling. "We will camp at
+the nearest possible point to Mt. Kenia and let the doctor make what
+sketches he desires. There we will kill the cows and calves and send
+back their skins. For this purpose we can pick up porters on the spot,
+but I must have three or four reliable men to bring them back. Also, I
+want a good cook who can act as a sort of major-domo over the men at
+each place."
+
+Harrington pulled out his notebook and jotted down the requirements
+methodically. Then he rose and shook hands all around.
+
+"As a member of the Club," he told the explorer, "you need no cicerone.
+You will take the morning train? Well, I will meet you here at eight
+o'clock with your men. Good-bye!"
+
+For the remainder of the day they rested. Schoverling departed to see
+that their cases were placed aboard the train safely, while the boys
+rambled around town with the doctor. The latter had been in Mombasa
+before, but to-day his head was full of the expedition.
+
+Instead of the great quantity of salt usually taken along to cure hides,
+he was using a strong chemical powder of his own invention, which could
+be dissolved in water, and thus be greatly diffused. His fifteen cases
+comprised not only a sufficient supply of this, but also the medicines
+which were likely to be necessary.
+
+It had been found that a certain supply of provisions would have to be
+taken along, but Schoverling was well satisfied when it was found that
+evening that twenty-five porters would be sufficient for all. Their
+tents were small sleeping-tents, and two porters could carry the lot
+with ease.
+
+That evening they had a long talk with Piet Andrus, a Boer merchant of
+the city. He very strongly advised them to procure ox-wagons at Nakuro
+and to proceed north with them.
+
+"I do not know the country up north of the Guasa Nyero," he said, "but I
+can see no reason why oxen could not be used. It would save porter hire
+and be more reliable. If you lost them, for any reason, you could always
+hire porters. I am going up on the same train with you, and if you like,
+would be glad to pick out seasoned beasts."
+
+After a brief discussion it was decided to take both porters and wagons
+as far as the first camp, and then send back the porters with the skins
+taken there.
+
+In the morning Harrington arrived, followed by a group of men. These, it
+proved, were all Indians who had been in the British army and in Africa
+for years. They salaamed at the verandah steps.
+
+"First your cook and general manager," smiled the inspector. "Gholab
+Singh!"
+
+A strapping Gurkha stepped out and saluted. Charlie liked his manner at
+once.
+
+"Gholab Singh," said Schoverling promptly, "are you willing to serve me
+faithfully and follow wherever I lead?"
+
+"I am, sahib," returned the other in a quiet, confident voice.
+
+"Then you will cook for us, and will be in charge of the safari under my
+orders. The pay shall be as the inspector sahib has agreed with you. Is
+it well?"
+
+"It is well, sahib."
+
+Harrington then brought up the gun-bearers--two Gurkhas and a stalwart
+Sikh. The last, Guru, the General chose for himself as personal
+attendant. To Charlie was alloted Amir Ali, and to Jack, Akram Das. All
+three were faithful and highly recommended by the inspector. The four
+remaining, one an Arab half-caste, two Somali, and one a Gurkha, were to
+take charge of the safari under Gholab Singh, and to return with the
+skins as obtained.
+
+At the railroad station Gholab Singh was given money for the tickets and
+food en route, and the men vanished into one of the tiny carriages.
+Special arrangements had been made in honor of Schoverling and the
+doctor, however, and as the weather was fine they were to travel on a
+wide seat fastened across the cow-catcher, which held four with comfort.
+The boys took their places with some misgivings, but found the seat
+comfortable enough.
+
+Inspector Harrington now waved them farewell, with assurances that all
+had been arranged for their comfort on the trip, which would take two
+days. Andrus, they knew, was on board, and had that morning wired ahead
+to his traders to prepare teams and wagons. In fact, the general
+courtesy with which they met both surprised and delighted the two boys.
+
+"They seem to do things just to please you," exclaimed Jack happily, as
+he gave a last wave to Harrington and the train started. "Are they as
+hospitable and obliging as this all the time, General?"
+
+[Illustration: Everything else was forgotten in the novel method of
+riding.]
+
+"Those we meet are, Jack. But you must remember that we are a special
+party, and that most of these men, who are big men themselves, consider
+it an honor to assist the doctor, here. That chap Harrington, for
+instance, just got in from two years up-country. He had charge of some
+three hundred square miles of absolutely savage country, and with a
+dozen Somalis kept order and law enforced. Andrus is another real man,
+and real men are above smallness."
+
+As the train pulled out everything else was forgotten in the novel
+method of riding. The boys already knew that on each side of the
+railroad was a great game reserve, but on the first day's trip they saw
+nothing save one or two antelope and jackals. Birds were plentiful,
+however, and the rolling country was constantly presenting a change of
+scene before them.
+
+The neat railroad stations were always surrounded with curious crowds of
+natives, some half dressed. As a rule the station agents and officials
+were Indians in the government service. Both Charlie and Jack kept their
+pocket cameras busy.
+
+Toward evening they retired into their special carriage and wrote
+their last letters home, which would be mailed at Nakuro. But with the
+morning they were in the game country, and took advantage of the first
+stop to resume their seats in front. Now everything was changed. At one
+moment they would pass a group of giraffe, running in their ungainly
+fashion to one side; hartebeests, impalla and other varieties of
+antelope were everywhere, gazing in fearless fashion at the train. Herds
+of zebra came into sight, while through the trees scampered monkeys in
+endless variety.
+
+"They know they're safe, all right," chuckled Charlie, as a herd of
+beautiful little gazelles stopped a dozen yards away to stare in mild
+wonder. "Funny how animals get to know where they're protected."
+
+"It's the same in the Yellowstone," said von Hofe. "Within the limits
+they are almost tame, but across the line--pouf! and they are gone."
+
+The wonderful journey, like no other in the world, was ended at last,
+however, and they puffed past Lake Nakuro to the village station. Here
+their trip was ended, their baggage was rolled off, and they were taken
+in charge by a young subaltern, Lieutenant Smithers, together with the
+Boer merchant, Piet Andrus. The latter offered them the hospitality of
+his trading store, which they gratefully accepted.
+
+"Now to business," said the General that night after dinner.
+"Lieutenant, what would be your advice as to porters? I'd like to get
+off in the morning, if possible."
+
+"The usual way," laughed Smithers, "is to take Swahilis, but you seem to
+be an unusual party. Since you are going to take wagons from here, I
+would suggest that you load everything into the wagons and trek north to
+Jan Botha's ranch. There you can pick up a score or two of Masai. They
+are an offshoot of the old Zulu stock--brave as lions, faithful enough,
+and able to provide for themselves. This safari business is largely
+bally rot, to my mind."
+
+"Bully for you!" cried Charlie in delight, while the others laughed
+heartily.
+
+"According to law," said Smithers, "you'll have to provide tents for the
+porters. But the Masai would laugh at such things, and this will save
+you a good deal of carriage. How about horses?"
+
+"They are in the compound," said Miers, the local agent of Andrus' firm.
+"I have two good wagons and a dozen 'salted' oxen, specially selected.
+This gives you six to a wagon, and even if you lose four of the beasts,
+the other eight will do the work. Better to have too many than too few."
+
+Von Hofe nodded, thoroughly satisfied. By 'salted,' the trader meant
+that the animals had been through the sickness caused by the bite of the
+tsetse fly, and were henceforth immune to the worst scourge of Africa.
+That night there was a gathering of the Boers, English settlers, and
+officers at the station, all of whom were keenly interested in the novel
+excursion. It was the general opinion that the expedition would succeed,
+although the nature of the country beyond the mountains was an open
+question.
+
+"Well," commented Charlie that night, as he made ready to share his bunk
+with Jack, "we're off! Looks like we'd have a bully time, eh?"
+
+"It sure does, if we strike a rogue," chuckled Jack. "I'm crazy to get
+out those guns, Chuck. Funny the doctor doesn't care for shooting."
+
+"He's got some tough work ahead of him, all right. Did you see those
+paints an' things he brought along? Right on the job! Well, see you in
+the morning. Good night."
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER V
+
+THE FIRST HUNT
+
+
+The place was astir with the dawn, and after sunrise, with breakfast
+over, the party prepared for the start. Gholab Singh took charge of
+loading the wagons, and the main question was the matter of personal
+equipment.
+
+Each of the boys carried matches in a water-tight box, compass, and
+sheath-knife, of course. The elephant guns and ammunition were stored
+away for future reference, but the 30-30s were to be slung in holsters
+at their saddles for the present. Each wore a bandolier for cartridges,
+and their ordinary clothes--flannel shirt and khakis. And, instead of
+sun helmets, each boy wore his northern hat--a light, stiff brimmed
+Stetson.
+
+"As our shoes go to pieces," said the General, "we'll replace 'em with
+moccasins. No use fussing with leggings while we're going to ride. We'll
+have open veldt country as far as Mount Kenia, anyway. Just get the
+idea that we're in Canada, going by wagon from Athabasca to Fort
+McMurray."
+
+Dr. von Hofe was the only member of the party who from habit insisted on
+leggings and boots. Their horses were steady, flea-bitten little beasts,
+not unlike mustangs, and mounts had been provided for the gun-bearers,
+to the huge delight of all three. Gholab Singh also demanded a horse,
+which he obtained, as being worthy of his dignity.
+
+It was a military-looking little cavalcade. The Indians had all served
+in the native cavalry regiments and Gholab maintained strict military
+discipline. Behind their saddles the boys strapped slickers and H. B. C.
+blankets--the sight of the latter making Jack just a trifle homesick.
+Water canteens also were slung at the saddle.
+
+After receiving a letter from Andrus to Jan Botha, Louis Schoverling
+gave the order to march. Gholab Singh rode to the gate of the compound,
+reined up, and drew from his neck his silver whistle. One sharp blast,
+and the two wagons, containing the four who were to bring back the
+skins, started. A shouted farewell, and the two boys followed the
+General and von Hofe to the head of the march, the Sikh riding with
+them and the other gun-bearers on each side of the wagons.
+
+"Isn't this glorious?" declared Charlie as he rode at Jack's side. "I
+thought it would be as hot as blazes!"
+
+"Oh, we'll need our blankets at night, I guess,--hello! There's an
+antelope! What kind is he, General?"
+
+Charlie unslung his glasses hastily to gaze at the quiet figure on a
+ridge four hundred yards away, but the explorer answered quickly.
+
+"Grant's gazelle, Jack. The most beautiful of all antelopes. He must be
+an old buck, to judge from his long horns."
+
+"When are we going to hunt a little?" asked Charlie. "I'm itching to get
+at the guns."
+
+"Not till this afternoon. We can knock over a couple of small antelope
+then, which will be plenty for all of us. See here, Doctor. These wagons
+won't make Botha's ranch until sometime to-morrow. How would it suit you
+to ride on and put up there overnight, then get our Masai all ready to
+start as soon as the wagons come up?"
+
+"I am very happy," declared von Hofe, who was settled down comfortably
+in his saddle, his pipe going full blast. "It matters not to me a bit.
+Perhaps it would be better to spend to-night in solid comfort."
+
+"Very well. Guru!"
+
+"Yes, sahib?" The Sikh drew up and saluted.
+
+"You will bring the other gun-bearers with us for a short hunt. We are
+going to have an early meal and then push on. Gholab Singh, I leave the
+safari in your care. You know the way to Jan Botha's?"
+
+"I do, sahib. We will arrive to-morrow morning at ten of the clock."
+
+Charlie winked at Jack, who smiled. The military precision of the
+stately Gurkha was of no little amusement to them at first, but Gholab
+promised to be a valuable man in a pinch. The gun-bearers were of little
+use at present, but would be highly necessary later on, and with their
+advice Schoverling knew that the two novices in Africa would get along
+well enough.
+
+Von Hofe having absolutely no interest in hunting, save as regarded his
+own work, stayed with the wagons. The other six rode out to one side,
+parallel with the line of march. At a word from Guru, Amir Ali spurred
+up his horse and departed at a steady gallop to the right.
+
+"He will beat up something," replied the Sikh to their looks of
+surprise. "Here game is not very thick."
+
+Amir disappeared amid the tall grass and dotted trees, and five minutes
+later Charlie, with rifle ready, saw a tiny shape bounding through the
+grass two hundred yards to the right.
+
+"You first, Chuck," exclaimed Jack quietly.
+
+Setting his sights for two hundred yards, Charlie aimed behind the
+shoulder of the antelope, and fired. The shot went a little high, owing
+to the jump of the beast, but the boy gave a yell of satisfaction as the
+antelope went down, its back broken by the shot. As they rode up he
+mercifully killed it with a shot through the brain, and the two boys
+looked down on their first Thomson's gazelle, or "tommy."
+
+"Good shot, Charlie," declared the explorer. "Now one for you, Jack, and
+we'll have enough for this time."
+
+A mile or so farther on Jack got his chance at one of the larger
+Grant's, and fetched him down with a single shot at three hundred
+yards, which caused the two Indians to give a cry of delight at his
+skill. By the time Amir rejoined them the wagons, were "hull down" on
+the horizon. Guru and Akram Das slung the two gazelles over their
+saddles, and all six started across the veldt at a brisk canter.
+
+Suddenly Jack's horse, in the lead, stopped dead still, trembling. In
+vain the boy urged him on, wondering what was the matter. The horse only
+backed, his ears flat, and then Jack saw that those of the others were
+doing likewise.
+
+"What's the trouble, General?" exclaimed Charlie. Schoverling unslung
+his rifle.
+
+"Lion, boys. These are well-trained horses, evidently. See that patch of
+mimosa just ahead? We are down-wind from that, and they probably smelled
+a lion. Head around it, and they will be all right."
+
+They arrived opposite the little ridge, topped with a dense growth of
+long grass, thorn and trees, when an exclamation burst from the Sikh.
+Out from the thicket broke a long, tawny shape, barely a hundred yards
+away. It was a magnificent black-maned lion, who stood lashing his sides
+and watching them as they drew rein.
+
+"There's your chance for a lion," said Schoverling, as the Indians cast
+a glance at him. Charlie shrugged his shoulders, watching the animal
+with eager interest.
+
+"What's the use in killing him, General?" he replied. "We don't want his
+skin particularly, and he's no good for food. How about it, Jack?"
+
+The other's hand fell from his rifle-butt.
+
+"Of course, Chuck. He won't attack us, I suppose?"
+
+"You'd like the excuse, eh?" laughed the explorer. "No, he won't attack
+us. He's probably got his dinner in that thicket, and heard us coming.
+It might be of advantage to the sheep ranchers hereabouts to kill him,
+but certainly not to us."
+
+They rode on, leaving the tawny beast still gazing after them. The
+Indians were keenly disappointed over not shooting the lion, but neither
+boy had cared to do so. They had been too well trained to slaughter
+needlessly; Jack, in particular, had no small share of the Cree feeling
+that animals are but "little brothers," and more than once thereafter
+Charlie heard him mutter the Indian's apology for taking life, as he
+shot.
+
+Upon rejoining the wagons a halt was made, Gholab Singh taking charge of
+the gazelles. After a good dinner the four white men rode on ahead,
+following the rude track across the veldt, and the wagons were speedily
+out of sight.
+
+"This looks a whole lot like the Alberta and Montana country," declared
+Charlie as they rode along. "With those hills off in the distance, and
+the dry gullies fringed with trees, a fellow might think he was just
+pushing across our own range land. Wouldn't this be a swell cow country,
+Jack?"
+
+"Looks like it," rejoined the Cree. "Look at those ostriches! Isn't that
+a ranch, up there among those buttes?"
+
+By the aid of their glasses they could see a small ranch-house, a good
+four miles away, but clear-cut and distinct in the rarefied atmosphere
+of the plateau. White dots were scattered near by, which Schoverling
+declared were sheep.
+
+"They must suffer to some extent from wild animals," he said, "but on
+the whole the sheep ranges up here are in fine shape. It's a great
+little old country, boys. If I could make up my mind to settle down I'd
+like to take up a few thousand acres back near the hills and try
+irrigation."
+
+"It is too dry," nodded the doctor wisely. "Some day they will irrigate
+all this. Then the animals will be gone, all gone."
+
+"What of it?" said Jack slyly. "Folks will come just the same to see the
+masterpieces made by the great von Hofe! The sooner the game goes, the
+more valuable you will be."
+
+"Ach, no!" Von Hofe shook his head sadly. "It is not nice to see the
+fine animals be killed off. Look at South Africa--all the game is gone,
+all the Zulu kingdoms are gone, and instead there is railroads and mines
+and factories. It is not nice."
+
+"Well, that's the advance of civilization," declared Schoverling. "It
+was the same in Ohio and Missouri and Montana--everywhere. And yet there
+are always new fields to conquer."
+
+"As long as the H. B. C. ran things," flashed up Jack, with the true
+Indian prejudice, "it was all right in Canada. The Company took care of
+the game first rate. But now everybody takes a whack at trapping--and
+where's the beaver gone?"
+
+"True enough," sighed the explorer. "But the hunter must give place to
+the settler, Jack."
+
+A spirited argument ensued, to which Charlie and von Hofe listened
+amusedly. In the end Jack had to confess that Schoverling was right,
+however. Towards evening they got into more rolling country, while to
+the northeast towered up the hills about Mount Kenia, whose snowy summit
+had been long visible, although nearly a hundred miles away.
+
+Just before sunset they cantered up to Botha's ranch. The hospitable
+Boer did not need the letter from Piet Andrus to welcome them, and the
+boys were keenly interested in his family. This consisted of his wife,
+two stalwart, bearded sons, and their own families--chubby little Dutch
+people who clambered over everyone, once their shyness had been removed.
+Von Hofe was soon a prime favorite with them.
+
+After dinner was over, the boys discovered that Botha was related to the
+famous General of the same name, and had fought through the Boer war
+with him until his capture. Like many other Boers, Jan had brought his
+family up into the new country, where his sons had grown up, and where
+his great ranch was speedily making him wealthy. Dutch and English lived
+side by side on a perfectly friendly footing, and the old quarrels were
+forgotten forever.
+
+Jan Botha willingly agreed to ride over early in the morning, and set
+them right at the Masai village, a dozen miles away, where he was well
+known. So Charlie and Jack found themselves up before the dawn with the
+rest of the family, eating breakfast by lamplight, and with the first
+light of dawn they were on horseback, shivering in the chill morning
+air.
+
+An hour after sunrise they reached the village, a collection of grass
+huts beside a river in the hills. Charlie was a little surprised to find
+that the Masai were stalwart, eager-faced warriors, well dressed in
+blankets or cotton cloth draped from the shoulder, and bearing spears,
+bows, and black-and-white shields of hide.
+
+"I wonder if they are really a branch of the Zulus?" asked Jack while
+Botha was talking with the headman.
+
+"Hardly," said Schoverling. "But no doubt they are distantly connected.
+Perhaps they are some of the Zulus driven north by the great king
+Tchaka, a hundred years ago. They are extremely fierce warriors, and
+highly respected by the other natives. With a score of those fellows for
+bodyguard, we'll get along finely."
+
+Bakari proved to be the name of an English-speaking Masai who was put in
+charge of twenty-five men and hired to accompany the expedition as far
+as Mount Kenia, or beyond. As the Masai eat nothing but meat, foraging
+for vegetables would be an easy matter, Charlie concluded.
+
+They reached the Botha farmhouse about nine, the warriors loping easily
+behind them. An hour later, almost to the minute, the wagons topped a
+rise and Gholab Singh drew up and saluted. As there was no use in delay,
+they all bade the hospitable Boers farewell, and pushed on straight for
+Kenia.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER VI
+
+MOUNT KENIA
+
+
+Now began the real march--a swift, ceaseless trek over veldt and through
+the foot-hills, for Schoverling was in haste to reach Mount Kenia,
+secure the cow and calf skins, and be gone on the real work of the
+expedition, which lay farther on. Had he been able to foresee just what
+that work would be, his eagerness would have been increased tenfold.
+
+"Gholab," he said that afternoon, "we are going to push for Kenia as
+hard as we can. Can we push the oxen day and night?"
+
+"Easily, sahib. Halt for three hours at dawn, at noon, and at nightfall.
+This will rest the beasts well, and the rest of the time we can march.
+There will be a good moon for a week yet."
+
+The Masai seemed to make little of a forced march, and so it was agreed
+upon. The Indians and Masai did not mix, but Bakari and his men yielded
+ready obedience to the semi-uniformed figure of Gholab Singh. That
+afternoon the real work of the two boys began.
+
+"Charlie, you and Jack come over here," called Schoverling, who was
+sitting with von Hofe in one of the wagons, poring over a map. "We'll
+have to have meat for these Masai by sundown. I must go over our route
+with the doctor, so it's up to you. Get busy."
+
+"Aye, aye, General!" and the boys saluted in high delight. They called
+their two gun-bearers, but Guru the Sikh refused to be left out of the
+part, so all five cantered off ahead, followed by the eager Masai at a
+little distance.
+
+Their first taste was not very encouraging. One of the Masai had leaped
+ahead to a ridge in the veldt, and motioned them that there was game on
+the other side. Slipping from their horses, the boys stole up gun in
+hand, to see a herd of at least fifty wildebeest and zebra grazing about
+three hundred yards off. But before they could get up their guns, the
+quick-eyed beasts were off like the wind and out of range in an instant.
+
+"Pretty rotten," exclaimed Charlie disgustedly. "Say, they move like a
+streak!"
+
+"You bet. Well, there's lots more where they came from."
+
+And there was. Half a mile farther on they came upon a dozen
+kongoni--another form of antelope--feeding about some bushes. Happening
+on a drift, or dry water-course, the boys and Guru crawled up this and
+managed to get a shot. This time Charlie dropped a buck perfectly, but
+Jack had to place a second bullet in his animal. The Masai took charge
+of the bodies, tying the hoofs together, placing a long spear between,
+and two men trotting off with each toward the wagons.
+
+Guru declared that this was not half enough meat for them all, so
+accompanied by the rest of the Masai, they rode on, just within sight of
+the caravan. Suddenly an eland dashed out from a clump of bushes barely
+a hundred yards off, not having heard their approach. Jack fired,
+missed, fired again, and the eland gave one high spring and rolled heels
+over head. But as he did so Bakari let out a yell, and they drew rein
+suddenly at sight of a lion leaping toward them through the long grass,
+plainly bent on mischief.
+
+"We've roused him up, all right," exclaimed Charlie hastily, as he drew
+bead. "I'll give him a chance to turn off."
+
+But the lion, as they discovered later, had been disturbed at his
+feeding, and came straight for them. The Masai showed no signs of
+flinching, and the horses trembled but stood still. Anxiously Charlie
+waited until the great beast had come within two hundred yards, flying
+over the grass-hummocks in great bounds, then he drew trigger.
+
+The lion went down, but was up again instantly with a roar of pain.
+Charlie gave him another bullet, but with no better result. At a hundred
+yards the Masai spread out, spears and arrows ready, but with his third
+bullet Charlie dropped the huge beast for the last time, the ball
+piercing the eye to the brain.
+
+"Good shot, old man," cried Jack, as the other wiped the sweat from his
+face. That had been an anxious moment.
+
+"Had to hit him in the eye," returned Charlie. "Didn't see where else to
+shoot, after I missed his shoulder."
+
+But he had not missed the shoulder. His first shot had been a mortal
+one, and his second had struck nearly in the same place; the tremendous
+vitality and energy of the lion had served to carry him forward until
+the third bullet pierced his brain. This gave Guru a chance to point out
+the advisability of shooting for the shoulder, in which case the lion
+would be crippled and could not charge.
+
+The lion was packed off to be inspected, then photographed, and on the
+way back Jack knocked over a small Grant's gazelle, which would make the
+food supply a sufficient one. Charlie received many compliments on his
+first lion from von Hofe and Schoverling, and regretted that keeping the
+skin was impossible under the circumstances.
+
+At six that evening they outspanned the oxen, fed and watered them at a
+waterhole, and rested for three hours, during which all the party slept
+save Schoverling, who remained on guard. At nine the march was taken up
+again, and they went on steadily until four in the morning. The night
+was cold. Overhead on the horizon blazed the Southern Cross, while the
+moon afforded a good light.
+
+At seven in the morning the oxen were inspanned and they went forward
+until noon. On this occasion the General accompanied the boys, and they
+brought in enough game for the rest of the day and night. During their
+noon halt they met a freighter's wagon-safari trekking west to some of
+the outlying ranches, but the men were all Boers or natives, and no stop
+was made.
+
+So during four days and nights they pushed on relentlessly. During the
+last two days they ran into a driving, cold rain, but finally this was
+gone and the boys found themselves on the verge of the heavily forested
+country about Mount Kenia.
+
+At the last stopping place, a shallow drift, or river, in a valley under
+the western slopes of the great hills, it was decided to make camp here
+beside the drift, as a sort of headquarters. They had met scattered
+parties of Kikuyu men, and had passed one or two of the native villages,
+so after a day's rest a number of the Masai were sent out to bring in
+some of the natives.
+
+"They can tell us any news of the elephants," declared Schoverling, "and
+can guide us to the herds. It's ticklish business going without some of
+them along."
+
+"Why so?" inquired Charlie, "Are they such good hunters?"
+
+"Never mind," laughed the explorer. "You wait and you'll see something."
+
+With this the boys were forced to be content. The lower slopes of the
+mountains were heavily forested, while the valleys were nothing but
+jungle. Great trees reached far up above, and between them giant bamboos
+formed an almost impenetrable mass.
+
+Bakari returned with a dozen Kikuyu hunters, who readily agreed to lead
+the party to elephants. There was a herd of about fifty, they declared,
+a day's journey to the east, and as it was morning now, the General
+determined to start out at once.
+
+"Now, Doctor, just what stuff do you want to take along?"
+
+"My sketching kit," replied the German, all action on the instant. "My
+small camera I have in my pocket. Beyond this, nothing."
+
+The two Somalis were appointed to take care of the doctor's needs. Half
+a dozen of the Masai volunteered to serve as porters, for the tents and
+some supplies had to be carried. It was arranged that the camp should be
+supplied with fowls, pigs and vegetables from the nearest village, but
+at the last moment it developed that they would have to do without
+pigs, the Gurkhas being Mohammedans and refusing to allow pigs in the
+camp for fear of defilement.
+
+The horses would of course have to be left behind. For an hour the camp
+was in a buzz of excited preparation. The elephant guns and cordite
+ammunition were broken out, the blankets, slickers and other necessaries
+were loaded up on the porters, and the three hunters donned their
+moccasins for the first time.
+
+"Feels mighty good to get back into moosehide," laughed Charlie, as he
+laced up the water-tight flaps. "What are the Masai chattering about,
+Jack?"
+
+"Making a corral--zareba, they call it--out of thorns," answered the
+other, looking out through the end of the wagon. "For the oxen, I
+suppose. I heard the General giving them orders about it. Gholab's
+bossing things lively."
+
+Charlie finished first, and had barely emerged from the wagon-tilt when
+he saw that something was wrong. The horses were pulling wildly at their
+pickets, and a number of the porters had dropped their loads. Von Hofe
+and Schoverling were in the other wagon, making final preparations. But
+they were not fated to leave the camp for that day at least.
+
+"Hey, Jack! General!" shouted Charlie. "Tumble out lively--something's
+busted!"
+
+At this moment Guru and Amir Ali ran up excitedly, uncasing the heavy
+guns and loading them as they ran. Amir reached Charlie first, and
+thrust the weapon into his hand.
+
+"Rhino, sahib! Rhino coming through the bushes from the river!"
+
+Jack and the explorer leaped to the ground from the wagons as Akram ran
+up with the third gun. The Masai had clustered at the edge of the camp,
+but as the explorer took in the situation the warriors broke and fled
+before a huge dun shape that crashed bushes and trees down before it in
+blind rage. Charlie gasped at the size of the beast, for he had not yet
+seen a rhino.
+
+"Female," stated the General quietly. "Going to tear things up, too.
+Ready, boys?"
+
+By this time the ground was littered with cast-off loads, while the
+natives fled in all directions. Fortunately, the zareba and oxen were at
+the other end of the camp, and the courageous Gholab ran down to the
+horses and loosed them as the rhinoceros charged.
+
+This made the three hunters unable to fire for an instant. Gholab ducked
+behind a huge tree, and the infuriated brute crashed full into it,
+knocking off a great flake of the bark and wood. Stunned for an instant,
+it stood glaring around, and in that instant Schoverling fired.
+
+His bullet took the rhino behind the shoulder, but the beast, rage
+darting from its deep-set eyes, whirled in the direction of the wagons.
+It was barely fifty yards from them, and as the explorer fired his
+second barrel, Charlie pulled trigger also. The tremendous charges
+halted and shook the big animal, but for an instant only. Then, rocking
+and stumbling, it came on full tilt for the wagons, the wicked-looking
+head held low.
+
+One of the Kikuyu porters had started to slip across the open space, and
+was caught before he could escape. As the terrified man turned, the head
+of the rhino caught him and tossed him a dozen feet into the air. But
+that gave Jack and Charlie their chance. As the head went up, they fired
+together.
+
+Jack's bullet broke the rhino's off-shoulder; that of Charlie tore into
+her throat. Jack fired again, and at this instant Guru handed back
+Schoverling's rifle, reloaded; but another bullet was unnecessary. The
+huge beast stood for a moment quite still, then swayed and plunged down,
+dead.
+
+"Good!" came the calm voice of von Hofe from behind them. "Now led us
+see how the man hurd iss."
+
+Only his accent betrayed his excitement as he led the way to the injured
+porter. The man had been gored in the side by the horn, but had saved
+himself from mortal injury. The doctor dressed his wound and saw him
+borne off to the village; meanwhile, the others had gathered about the
+dead rhino, the natives with wild shouts and chants, the two boys in
+silent wonder.
+
+"You chaps'll have to give me lessons in shooting," laughed the General.
+"See here--my first bullet missed her shoulder, and my second likewise.
+She couldn't have gone far, though; but she could have finished us right
+enough. That was good shooting, boys."
+
+"Wouldn't have been," admitted Charlie, "if she hadn't lifted her head.
+Jumping Sandhills! How that fellow did go up!"
+
+"Lucky he wasn't killed," added Jack. "I got her with both bullets,
+right in the shoulder. Chuck's bullet must have gone clear through to
+her tail."
+
+It proved that the bullet fired by Charlie through her throat had
+penetrated to the spine, thus paralyzing her. But as the honors were
+equal, it did not matter greatly. The Masai took possession of the hide,
+while the Kikuyu bore off the flesh to their village.
+
+"I guess that ends our trip for to-day," said Schoverling ruefully, as
+Gholab was directing the re-ordering of the camp. "Everything is badly
+mussed up; even the men are demoralized. Well, no matter. We can leave
+the camp in better shape, perhaps."
+
+So, content with their conquest of that day, they gave all their
+attention to putting the camp in better order. Jack learned how the
+thorn zareba was built, and Charlie visited the Kikuyu village with his
+camera. The elephant trip was to take place the next day, and guides
+came over that night, with a fresh party of natives.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER VII
+
+ELEPHANT
+
+
+The start was made early. First went Schoverling, von Hofe and the boys,
+with the guides and gun-bearers. Then the Masai marched along, followed
+by the crowd of natives. So far they had not struck the mountain slopes,
+and the Kikuyu led them deeper into the great African forest.
+
+The sun was shut out above by the dew-wet foliage,--twisted vines, trees
+and bushes all matted together. The party traveled by means of old
+elephant trails, which alone made the jungle passable to man. Hour after
+hour they walked through the tangle of vegetation, striking into fresh
+paths, twisting and turning until the boys felt hopelessly lost.
+
+Great ferns and mosses grew about them. Mighty trees with trunks
+corrugated and knotted towered overhead, draped with Spanish moss and
+filled with scampering, chattering monkeys. Into and across tree-ferned
+ravines, through dashing streams of icy water, past cataract and
+morass, the party plowed its devious way until long past noon.
+
+Suddenly one of the guides held up a warning hand and slipped ahead. In
+a few moments he returned in great excitement.
+
+"Elephant!" he whispered. "Him close! Come!"
+
+No sign of elephant could Charlie or Jack see until they had advanced
+another hundred feet in the half-gloom. Then the guide pointed out the
+spoor, deep and heavy in the damp leaves that matted the trail. Here the
+natives squatted down to wait, and here also the boys made a discovery.
+
+Charlie had stepped ahead, a little to one side of the trail. But as he
+did so the guides started forward in silent dismay. He paid no attention
+to them, trying to peer through the dense vegetation; suddenly it seemed
+that everything gave way beneath him, and the next moment his legs were
+dangling in vacancy, while he gripped the vines and sticks spread over a
+great hole dug at one side of the track.
+
+The others broke into quiet laughter at his amazed expression, while the
+guides pulled him out hurriedly and silently. Then he saw that he had
+tumbled into an elephant pit--a long, deep trench, narrowing at the
+bottom.
+
+"I told you you'd see something," whispered the explorer, as Charlie
+recovered himself, somewhat disgusted. "Now let's get busy on the
+trail."
+
+By lighting a match and by watching the tree-tops far overhead they
+ascertained that the wind was right for an approach, and with guides and
+gun-bearers they started off on the spoor.
+
+"How many, do you think?" asked Schoverling cautiously. Jack had been
+studying the signs intently, and answered without hesitation.
+
+"About eight females, three little fellows, and a big chap."
+
+"Just what the guides say," grinned the explorer delightedly. "Pretty
+good, eh, Doctor? We were lucky in finding them so near camp."
+
+The trail was now marked by freshly broken branches and splintered
+trees, while in places the bushes were trampled down for yards, where an
+elephant had stopped to feed. Charlie declared that the animals were not
+more than half an hour ahead of them, at which the explorer nodded.
+
+Dr. von Hofe had been sketching busily for some time, paying special
+attention to the spoor and the marks of feeding. He made careful
+photographs as they advanced, and as Charlie watched him he wondered at
+the painstaking efforts of the big German to get every smallest detail
+correctly. Then Schoverling beckoned, and the two boys slipped ahead
+with him, their moccasined feet as noiseless as the naked soles of the
+guides.
+
+"Hear anything?" muttered the explorer when they had gone a hundred
+yards. Listening, Charlie could hear a faint crashing, and his heart
+leaped in excitement. Jack nodded also.
+
+They went on, but now the noise grew plainer and seemed to come from one
+side. As they stood in perplexity, Charlie saw a single elephant track
+leading off ahead.
+
+"General! One fellow has struck off through there--the others have
+doubled back, and are on one side of us. We could follow that single
+track."
+
+A guide was sent back for the others, and now the gun-bearers handed
+over the heavy guns, retaining the thirty-thirties for emergencies.
+Slowly they crept forward in silence, while the gruntings, crashings,
+and rumblings of the great beasts came to them clearly. Cutting through
+the single track, they soon came upon the whole spoor of the herd
+again--but this time they knew that Charlie had been right, and that the
+beasts could not be far ahead.
+
+So dense was the matted vegetation, however, that nothing could be seen.
+One of the guides pointed to a tree-trunk with his spear, and a thrill
+went through the boys at sight of the fresh-rubbed bark. From one side
+flew up a flock of hornbills, with squawkings and flappings of wings,
+but the slow movements of the elephants went on.
+
+At this juncture the guides nimbly sidestepped any farther advance by
+going up trees like monkeys. They indicated that the herd was close at
+hand, and again the party stole forward, rifles ready for instant
+action.
+
+"Makes you feel queer," murmured Jack in Charlie's ear, "to hear 'em and
+not be able to get a crack."
+
+Every sense on the alert, Charlie gripped Schoverling's arm and pointed
+ahead. A long tendril of Spanish moss at a bend in the trail was shaking
+slightly, and without a sound the three stepped off the trail to one
+side, followed by the Indians. The doctor had remained some distance
+behind, to sketch a strange flower.
+
+Something huge and shadowy appeared vaguely, and the hunters drew back
+farther still amid the tangle. Then there came a tremendous crash, and,
+at the side of the trail proper a sudden quivering seized the
+vegetation. At the same moment that the first elephant appeared
+leisurely, two more crashed from the undergrowth.
+
+Schoverling cast a quick glance of warning and shook his head. The two
+who had burst through from the side stopped to feed, and after them came
+two calves. All three were cows, but there were crashings all around,
+and the Indians were as nervous as the two boys. They stuck to their
+post nobly, however, the smaller rifles ready. The explorer leaned over
+and breathed in Jack's ear.
+
+"Give the two cows both barrels. I'll bag the calves."
+
+Jack nodded and passed the word to Charlie. But slight as the breathed
+whisper had been, the sensitive ear of the elephants caught it and their
+heads went up. Without hesitation Charlie aimed at the eye of the cow
+on the right, and all three pulled trigger together.
+
+Fortunately they stood at some distance apart, or the concussion of the
+three heavy guns would have worked sore damage. Charlie's cow shivered
+and went down at the first shot; that of Jack trumpeted loud and shrill
+and tried to whirl, but the second barrel, just back of the shoulder,
+finished her.
+
+The General had given each calf a single barrel. One plunged to its
+knees, the other stood shivering. The boys felt the Indians press the
+lighter guns into their hands, as a great crashing arose ahead. The
+single cow in the trail proper was just turning, so rapidly had all
+passed, when Charlie and the General fired together. Both bullets struck
+her vitally, and she went down.
+
+For an instant the forest was filled with shrill trumpetings and the
+earth seemed to shake beneath the tread of the frightened beasts. So
+loud was the clamor that there came not the slightest warning of their
+danger until the trees directly opposite them swayed and shattered
+apart, and the enormous head and tusks of a great bull shoved through.
+
+There was no time to run, even had they been able. Jack let drive with
+both barrels of his 30-30, and the huge beast paused with the shock. In
+that brief instant the large guns, already reloaded by the agile
+bearers, were thrust forward. Charlie brought his up and fired just as
+the bull plunged on. The enormous trunk swept up and then down, hardly a
+yard in front of them. One step more, and he would be on them.
+
+But even as the boys shrank aside instinctively, Schoverling fired
+deliberately, right and left. So close was the huge head that Charlie
+could distinctly see both bullets go home, each taking the bull in an
+eye fair and square.
+
+It was enough. For a moment there was no movement--a little trickle of
+blood came from each eye--and then the mighty head dropped, the trunk
+swept down to the trail, and over went the tusker on his side, the last
+sweep of his trunk narrowly missing Guru as he leaped away.
+
+"Jumping sandhills! I'm satisfied!"
+
+Charlie sank down weakly on a fallen bamboo, gazing at the tremendous
+bulk five feet away. Jack, deadly pale, gripped his gun and waited while
+the crashings and trumpetings died away. The explorer, his deep bronze
+flushed with red, smiled and mopped his face.
+
+"By George, that was a close thing, boys! I wouldn't go through that
+again for a million dollars cash." He turned and gripped the hands of
+the gun-bearers. "Guru, Amir, Akram, you are men! I am proud of you!"
+
+"I guess we all owe you a vote of thanks, General," smiled Jack weakly.
+Charlie nodded.
+
+"You bet! Jack and I both missed his eye--what dandy shots those were!"
+
+The nervy Indians showed their white teeth at the praise showered on
+them, and a moment after, von Hofe appeared excitedly, followed by a
+stream of Masai and Kikuyu. These gave wild yells of excitement and
+leaped and danced on the fallen carcasses, while the story of that
+terrible moment was told the doctor. He could barely speak, as he
+realized what the danger had been.
+
+"Himmel! Ach, er ist--it iss vonderful! Bang-bang, und you haf ein,
+zwei, drei cows, two calfs, und a bull killed! I shall no more say--ach!
+Avay--raus!"
+
+And with a roar of anger he rushed at one of the Masai who had
+triumphantly thrust his long spear into the elephant's hide. The
+warrior gave one look, then vanished with a long leap, while the
+disgusted doctor pulled out the spear and flung it after him.
+
+"Afraid they'll spoil your skin, eh?" laughed the explorer. The swift
+change from the tragic to the ridiculous restored them all to even
+balance once more, and they went forward to examine the kill. It was
+indeed a wonderful example of shooting, the whole affair having taken
+hardly more than two or three minutes, and Charlie found it hard to
+realize that in such a short space of time they had almost fulfilled the
+requirements of the whole world-over expedition.
+
+The bull was a large, old fellow, and the General pronounced his tusks
+as weighing at least a hundred and thirty pounds each. It was a great
+piece of luck that he should have wandered out of the wilds almost to
+their side, for full-grown bulls with good tusks are rarely found. The
+big Teuton pronounced him exactly suitable for one of his groups.
+
+The two cows who had been shot together were both of good size; the
+third was smaller. The two largest were selected for skinning, together
+with the calves. For a few moments the doctor sketched and
+photographed, then handed over the task of skinning to Guru and his two
+assistants, who were thoroughly qualified.
+
+"Do you want to stay by them?" asked Schoverling. "If not, we might get
+back to camp by dark, and they can bring in the sections of skin."
+
+"The Sikh knows all about it," replied von Hofe. "Yes, he will see that
+they are careful. Let us go back and rest."
+
+As the explorer captured one of the guides and explained his wishes, the
+boys gazed at the scene before them. Stripped naked, the natives were
+swarming over the great carcasses, which had to be skinned without a
+moment's delay. Most of them were already splashed with blood, festoons
+of meat were dripping from the branches, and the busy hands and knives
+were making fast progress with the work. It was not a nice scene, and
+Charlie turned away; but Jack watched it until the explorer called him.
+
+Carrying their own guns now, they found the trip back to camp a weary
+one. All were tired and hungry, not having eaten since morning, and it
+was dark when they finally stumbled into camp, to be met with exultant
+shouts. Runners had already come across the forest paths bearing loads
+of meat, and after a good wash in one of the mountain streams the four
+sat down to a delicious meal of broiled elephant's heart and flapjacks,
+with tea for beverage.
+
+"Do you chaps realize that we almost accomplished the work of this
+expedition in about two minutes?" asked the General, smiling. The boys
+leaned back with a sigh of content.
+
+"I don't care," returned Charlie. "I got all I wanted of elephant
+hunting, and that's flat, General. My knees are shaking yet."
+
+"It was sheer luck, though," said von Hofe as he filled his pipe and
+settled back in his folding chair. "We will not find another bull like
+that for a hundred miles."
+
+"Well, I'm just as glad it's over," announced Jack. "Now we can strike
+for parts unknown and enjoy life. We haven't struck any real work yet."
+
+"You'll get work enough before you're through," said the explorer
+grimly. And as it turned out, Jack did.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER VIII
+
+A RECONNAISSANCE
+
+
+"Well, General, what's doing next?"
+
+It was the morning after the great hunt, and they had just finished a
+delicious breakfast of roasted calves' feet and bananas. The explorer
+was puffing at his briar luxuriously, and turned to the doctor.
+
+"Guru says that the skins are on the way now, Doctor. How long will it
+take you to get them in shape to go back?"
+
+"Ten days," returned the German, whose cases were all piled in readiness
+before an open space.
+
+"Need us here?"
+
+"No. Get out and keep those boys from bothering me."
+
+"Good!" laughed the explorer, and turned lazily to Charlie. "Feel like
+starting out this morning? I want to push ahead on horseback and trace
+out the route for the wagons. I've got it pretty well lined out now, but
+we've got to make sure about provisions and all that."
+
+"I'm willing," announced Charlie, and Jack nodded unconcernedly.
+
+So, just as the Masai and Kikuyu, who had worked all night, came in with
+the skins of the slain elephants, the three rode out together. The
+Indians were highly disappointed that they were not to go along, but the
+explorer did not wish to be bothered with them, and they would be
+useless on this excursion.
+
+Schoverling had provided himself with government maps showing the
+villages, and the best route across the plateau and through the hills
+had been traced out for him. On second thought, however, he sent back
+for Gholab Singh, who knew most of the native dialects from his years of
+residence in the country, and left the camp in charge of Guru instead.
+
+At noon they struck into the caravan track from the north, and stopped
+at each village in passing, where Gholab made inquiries. They found that
+there was no lack of chickens, and wild fowl might be had on every hand
+for the shooting. As for vegetables, every village had its mealie patch,
+yams, bananas, a beet-like plant, and other greens which none of the
+three recognized, but which Gholab assured them were excellent eating.
+Besides, there were quantities of fish in the streams. On the whole,
+Charlie was amazed at the readiness with which food could be had; while
+to Jack, used to a hard-earned rabbit or trap-line in the snows, the
+quantity of game was astounding.
+
+"I don't think we'll have any trouble living off the land," chuckled the
+General that night. They had camped beside a mountain stream. In place
+of tents, their hand axes lopped off a brush shelter in short order. A
+trout-like fish was plentiful in the stream, and half a dozen of these
+were soon broiling. These, with fried bananas and tea, made a generous
+meal.
+
+"Can't see the sense o' fetching them traps," grunted Jack. "Better
+leave 'em behind when we start. What good are they?"
+
+"I don't know, Jack. Can't tell what we'll strike, though."
+
+"Where does this caravan route go to?" asked Charlie. "This looks as if
+it was deserted."
+
+"Oh, a caravan of camels and horses comes down about once a year from
+the lakes up north, toward the Abyssinian border. We only follow it over
+the plateau with the wagons."
+
+There was no doubt that the route, which existed on the map only, was
+practicable for the light wagons. The next day they were among the
+hills, in high altitudes, and here the game almost vanished for the next
+two days. The villages of the natives were scattered, but those that
+they found had more cultivated land near by than the others, which made
+up for the scarcity of game. The wagons were much under-loaded, and were
+taken more to bring back what might be found north of the Lorian swamp
+than for anything else.
+
+"Seems to me," said Charlie on the third day, as he thawed out a gourd
+full of water that had frozen overnight, "that we could load up the
+wagons with green stuff when we go through here. That last village we
+came through was plumb chuck full o' pumpkins."
+
+"Melons, you mean," laughed Jack. "I dug into one. There was some
+squash, though, in the back fields. How far we going, General?"
+
+Schoverling consulted his pocket-map and compass before replying.
+
+"We ought to be near the station of the commissioner of the district
+now. If we don't strike it by night we may as well go back. I've found
+out what we came for."
+
+About noon, however, they came to a long unpainted frame building with
+corrugated iron roof, set in the midst of a grove of small trees. At the
+rear were stables and a great corral of wire netting, in which grazed a
+herd of ostriches. As they rode up to the door one or two natives came
+out, and a khaki-clad Englishman with shoulder-straps rushed out to
+receive them.
+
+"Hello!" laughed Schoverling as he shook hands. "This is the
+commissioner--Captain Yonge?"
+
+"Yes--and this is the famous Schoverling, I'll wager," smiled the
+clean-shaven officer. "But where's von Hofe? I got word from down
+country to watch out for him."
+
+Matters were soon explained, and they joined Yonge at lunch. An hour
+later a dozen trim King's African Rifles cantered up--Zulus all, under
+command of Yonge, who maintained order through two hundred miles of
+savagery.
+
+"Say, the old M. P. ain't in it with this!" said Jack that evening, as
+he and Charlie wandered out to inspect the ostrich farm. "Hear that yarn
+he told about nabbing those ju-ju murderers last year, single-handed.
+No wonder he got a D. S. O. for it!"
+
+"And they do it all with native troops, too," added Charlie
+thoughtfully. "You've got to hand it to the British for governing by
+force of character, right enough. Wonder what the country gets like on
+the other side of this plateau. Let's find out."
+
+But they found out little. Captain Yonge said that beyond the Guaso
+Nyero, in the north, the region was practically unexplored. After the
+great river was left behind there were deserts, strange tribes, great
+morasses, and the "going" was exceedingly "tough."
+
+"Did you ever hear of a Lake Quilqua?" asked Charlie.
+
+"Often," and the commissioner chuckled. "But, as you Americans say,
+there's 'nothing in it.' These natives will make up all kinds of yarns,
+simply to amuse us."
+
+Yonge himself had tried to penetrate the country to the northeast, but
+had found it impracticable, as he could not get away for very long.
+Other explorers had sheered off to the easier country to south and
+northwest, but he agreed that if they wanted a big bull, a rogue, they
+would stand a better chance of getting one in there than anywhere else.
+
+"When you stop with the wagons," he said, "I'll give you some
+water-casks. They may come in handy, as I know from experience."
+
+All remained the next day, highly interested in the court of justice
+being held over a dispute between two villages. The little plain on
+which lay the commissioner's station was not cultivated, but it lay in
+the central part of his district, and was eminently suited for ostrich
+farming, which was his hobby.
+
+They set out on a leisurely return to the little safari, accompanied for
+a few miles by the soldierly Zulus. They were well received by the
+natives, for except in a few spots of Africa, there is to-day nothing
+but respect for the whites; the dangers of early explorations have
+largely passed away under the influence of the far-reaching prestige of
+civilization. The natives are as savage as ever, but they have tasted
+the retribution of English and German justice, and have little liking
+for it.
+
+The four trotted along, Gholab making arrangements with the natives at
+each village to give them a large supply of fruit and vegetables, but
+they did no shooting as it was possible to get sheep, goats, or fowl
+from the natives and fish from the streams and pools. They had timed
+their ride to get back to the doctor in the evening, and on the morning
+of their last day's march they came upon a large party of natives
+setting off into the jungle.
+
+"Want to go along?" smiled the explorer. "Judging from their primitive
+digging implements, they're going to make an elephant pit."
+
+"You bet!" cried the boys. Slipping from their horses, which were left
+in charge of Gholab Singh, all three joined the natives, who received
+them with delight, and all set off along an old elephant track.
+
+"Guess they think we'll bring 'em good luck," grinned Jack. "Got your
+camera, Chuck?"
+
+Charlie fortunately had brought it, and an hour later he put it into
+active operation, to the curiosity and childish amusement of the
+negroes. They had stopped in a little open space full of fresh spoor and
+elephant signs, and a score of natives were instantly at work clearing
+off the ground at three points. The boys were amazed at the rapidity
+with which the work was accomplished with the primitive implements.
+Chanting a loud, monotonous chorus, the natives threw themselves into
+the work and speedily had three pits started. These were about four feet
+wide and twelve long at the top.
+
+"It's against the law for them to kill elephants," said Schoverling,
+"but they pay little enough heed to that. There are hundreds of these
+pits scattered between here and Kenia."
+
+"How do they watch them all?" asked Charlie. "They must have an awful
+time keeping track of their trap-line!"
+
+"They don't watch them," laughed the explorer. "They wait till they see
+the vultures and jackals heading somewhere, and trail along. An elephant
+lives for days after he is trapped, for you'll see that the pits narrow
+down at the bottom, and his feet are wedged in so that he can't move."
+
+"He must be pretty ripe by the time they get to him," returned Jack
+disgustedly.
+
+"They don't care for that. These Ndorobo are little better than carrion
+feeders anyway, and once an elephant is caught a whole village is
+stocked in meat for a long time."
+
+As the holes were dug deeper, others of the natives carried off the
+dirt, scattering it carefully in the depths of the jungle. The boys
+secured some excellent views of the proceedings, but they were unable to
+remain for the entire digging. The finished pit would be about ten feet
+in depth, and at the bottom scarcely a foot wide. Fortunately for white
+hunters these pits were not staked, as after a week or two the slight
+covering of sticks, leaves and dirt is overlaid with vines and
+vegetation that completely conceals it from sight. Indeed, they had
+passed more than one pit on their way.
+
+A guide was sent back with them when they left the scene of operation. A
+little after noon as they neared the safari they came upon a village
+which was in great excitement. The day before, a man had been killed and
+another badly gored by a bull buffalo, and the wounded man was then in
+camp under the doctor's care. The villagers appealed to the white men to
+kill the buffalo, and the latter needed little urging.
+
+"You want to be careful," said Schoverling as they advanced on foot with
+some of the men. "A buffalo is about the most dangerous of beasts in
+these parts. Shoot to cripple him, never mind the head."
+
+The buffalo was located in a patch of reeds and long swamp-grass near a
+pool only a few miles distant. Further approach was impossible, and they
+remained on dry ground while the natives tried to beat out the animal.
+In this they were all too successful. With a crash, the powerful beast
+swept through the reeds and charged a group of warriors, who scattered
+to shelter with yells and splashings.
+
+"All right, Charlie," said Schoverling, quietly.
+
+Charlie put a bullet behind the shoulder just in time to save a Kikuyu
+man. The bull whirled like a flash, and as he did so two more broke
+cover and charged with a bellow. Jack halted one with a stunning bullet
+that shattered against its skull. The explorer dropped the other,
+breaking its shoulder at the first shot.
+
+Then the other came on full tilt, with lowered head. Charlie emptied his
+magazine at the one he had first wounded, and all four shots took
+effect, breaking the animal's back and killing him instantly. Jack's
+bull got within fifty yards of them before the boy fired again,
+imitating the action of the explorer with the bull elephant. Taking
+careful aim, he pulled trigger when he was sure of his shot, and the
+bull crashed down into the swamp-reeds badly wounded and seemingly
+helpless.
+
+The natives darted forward with yells of triumph, but with a final
+effort the brute clambered up and nearly caught them. Jack put a bullet
+through its eye, however, that finished it, and the hunt was over. The
+natives went into ecstacies of delight, dancing around and thanking the
+three hunters exuberantly.
+
+"That is not useless slaughter," said Schoverling as they returned to
+the horses. "These buffalo are hard on the natives, breaking into their
+mealie patches and tearing things up badly. They will charge without the
+least provocation, and the natives can't stand before them. We did a
+good turn to this village, certainly."
+
+They remounted and rode on, but their halts had delayed them, and it was
+nearly dark when they finally rode into the safari and were greeted
+with loud yells by the Masai, while the big German came forward with
+smiling countenance and bade them welcome home again.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER IX
+
+INTO THE UNKNOWN
+
+
+"Well, Doctor," announced Schoverling the next morning, "How near
+through are you? The sooner we get off the better."
+
+"I will be through to-morrow night," said von Hofe contentedly. "The
+skins have been pared down to the right thickness, and to-day and
+to-morrow they will be fixed up and sent off. What does the country look
+like ahead?"
+
+"It looks like several weeks of rough work," smiled the explorer. "We'll
+have no trouble in getting on, at least for the present. When we strike
+down into the plains on the north, however, we may have a harder time.
+But there are fig-trees in plenty, and on the northern rivers cabbage
+palms and other wild fruits which ought to supply us. Then we can count
+on leaving on the third morning?"
+
+Von Hofe nodded, and fell to work. The sections of skins were set out
+on the ground and by this time were well dried, while their superfluous
+thickness had been pared off by scores of Kikuyu and Masai knives. Now
+the doctor mixed gourd after gourd of his preparative, and set the
+natives to work rubbing it into the under side of the skins.
+
+At one side stood the skulls and a few other bones, boiled clear of all
+flesh and varnished. These, with the tusks of the bull, the doctor began
+packing up while the skins were being attended to. Guru and the other
+Indians did all this work with great care, to the entire satisfaction of
+the scientist. Then the well-wrapped packages were slung to poles, for
+greater safety and more ease in carriage, and by evening were ready.
+
+The boys pitched in and gave good assistance in this work, directing the
+natives in putting on coat after coat of preservative and rubbing it in
+well. But von Hofe was everywhere, mixing his chemicals, seeing that
+everything was done exactly as he wished it, and seemingly endowed with
+superhuman energy.
+
+"He's no slouch when he gets a-going," murmured Charlie that night, as
+von Hofe was getting his sketches and films into shape for packing.
+
+"He's done more hustling to-day than on all the rest of the trip put
+together."
+
+"That's no lie," agreed Jack. "I kind of thought the old boy was a
+bluff, at first. But he's all to the good, Chuck. Shouldn't wonder if he
+surprised us a heap later on."
+
+The next day everything was packed up that could be got ready. The skins
+were still staked out to dry thoroughly, but the Indians could attend to
+them, and Schoverling was impatient to be off. Fifty Kikuyu men were
+hired to take the stuff back, under the lead of the Arab and the two
+Somalis, who were intelligent and thoroughly reliable. The spare Gurkha
+was to accompany them.
+
+So far the oxen had got along in fine shape, and when it came to loading
+the wagons, Charlie in charge of this duty, found that their equipment
+was light indeed.
+
+"Look here, Gen'ral," he complained late that afternoon, "the doctor has
+used up ten cases of his stuff. That leaves only five, with his little
+brass trunk. Then there's that case of tomatoes we haven't opened yet,
+another of baked beans, the ammunition and guns, tents and Gholab
+Singh's little stove, and the traps. The whole business won't make a
+quarter-load for one wagon."
+
+"So much the better for the oxen," returned the explorer. "We'll load up
+as we go along, Chuck. Jack, I'll appoint you commissary-major, to bring
+in the supplies of green stuff and vegetables. You can take Gholab as
+interpreter. It'll be up to you to load, Charlie. We won't have to do
+much hunting till after we pass the commissioner's place, except for the
+Masai."
+
+"I'll give you all the work you can handle," prophesied Jack, to his
+chum. "You just wait!"
+
+The next morning the safari filed out from the camp, the Masai greeting
+the inspanning with huge delight. Bakari and his men promised that they
+would accompany Schoverling as far as he wished to go, and the boys were
+struck more than once by the utter fearlessness of these Masai, who had
+absolutely no dread of advancing into a strange country.
+
+The march, however, was by no means fast. Von Hofe remained to see his
+skins safely off, promising to catch up to them later. As before, they
+made forced marches, for the oxen were fresh and the work was light for
+them now. Now, as Schoverling had foretold, Jack got all the work he
+wanted. With three three-hour halts a day, Jack and Gholab rode on ahead
+and got everything ready for each halt--bartered for goats and sheep and
+chickens, obtained what vegetables and fruit the natives could spare,
+and when the wagons arrived Charlie pitched in and loaded up.
+
+So tired were the boys that at night they wrapped up in their blankets
+and dozed as they rode. Once they passed a herd of at least fifty
+buffalo, which gathered in a clump, horns out, and pawed the ground and
+bellowed as the wagons passed. Fortunately, no charge was made, and all
+drew a breath of relief when the danger was over.
+
+They finally drew up to the station with the wagons loaded high. Captain
+Yonge greeted von Hofe delightedly, and they rested there for a day. A
+dozen small water-casks were slung beneath the wagons, to be filled
+later. As they were departing a native runner came up with news that
+caused the commissioner to saddle in haste.
+
+"There's an outbreak fifty miles to the west," he said, his men
+appearing from their own building. "We've got to go over and quash
+things before the riot spreads. Well, good luck to you all! Sorry I
+can't be with you!"
+
+Both boys were glad enough to hasten on. The high altitude was not good
+for the oxen, and the cold nights disgusted both of them, for they were
+hardly prepared to meet cold in this region. Day and night they forced
+the march along, and were soon rewarded by drawing through valleys and
+slopes to the plains once more.
+
+As they went forward the vegetation changed. There was no jungle ahead
+of them--only long rolling slopes dotted with thorntree patches and
+covered with long thick grass. More than once lions trotted away before
+them, and on one occasion they were forced to kill a lioness that
+charged full at the wagons.
+
+"It is beautiful country," exclaimed von Hofe enthusiastically, pointing
+to the mountain peaks that shot up on every side. "Some day it will be
+grand farms, when the soil is watered. See, it is volcanic."
+
+He picked up a stone, showing them the indications of volcanic origin.
+Here and there palms towered up, and when they camped beside a river
+the next evening the vegetation bordered its banks thickly. Of game
+there was no lack, and that night the three took their gun-bearers and
+sallied forth.
+
+"We ought to find a deer-run along this river," declared Jack.
+Schoverling smiled.
+
+"According to the map it's a branch of the Guaso Nyero, and the last big
+stream we strike. To-morrow we head off to the northeast, and into the
+mapless country. See if you can run across any tracks, boys."
+
+Charlie and Jack separated and after twenty minutes' search in the dusk
+Charlie located an open glade in a great grove of mimosas, where the
+deep tracks showed that hundreds of animals were in the habit of
+watering. Von Hofe had followed them and now joined the party, bearing a
+little rifle which he had carried in sections in his tiny brass trunk.
+
+"I am something going to shoot," he said, paying no attention to their
+jests. "Is it allowed to smoke?"
+
+"Not much," chuckled Jack. "You just sit tight and wait. What you going
+to shoot?"
+
+"I want a good oryx head," declared the scientist. "But I will shoot him
+myself."
+
+That was a wonderful night to the two boys. Hour after hour they waited
+until the moon came up, and before them filed uncounted hundreds of
+animals. There were great droves of zebra, giraffes by the score, three
+or four rhinoceroses who plunged across the stream and vanished, herd
+after herd of gazelle, antelope, and wildebeest, and a magnificent drove
+of the cow-like eland.
+
+Lions abounded, but the other animals paid them no attention, nor did
+the great cats come for game; they would appear, drink, and slink away,
+two or three even swimming across the stream. Toward midnight a number
+of oryx were seen, their long, black, sword-like horns mixed with a herd
+of zebra. So far not a shot had been fired, but without warning von Hofe
+raised his little sporting rifle and fired twice.
+
+Instantly the game was off, with a great clicking of hoofs and startled
+snorts. The explorer and the two boys at once picked out their animals
+and opened fire. To his vast delight, von Hofe's oryx bounded high and
+fell dead; it was found that both bullets had gone through the heart.
+
+Schoverling put down another oryx and a zebra, whose flesh the Masai
+delighted in, though it was too tough for the others. Jack and Charlie
+each dropped an eland, Jack wounding a hartebeest which got away in the
+rush. An instant later, only the thunder of hoofs dying away in the
+distance showed what vast herds had been there.
+
+The next day they headed by compass for the northeast, which would take
+them into the supposed desert country, but clear of the great Lorian
+swamp. Here for the first time they began to be tormented by
+flies--great long insects such as the boys had never seen, and which
+rendered fly-nets necessary to their tents at night. Had it not been for
+them, the tents might have remained unused, for the whites needed them
+little and the Indians slept in the wagons.
+
+Once they came to an outlying village of the Samburu--a nomad people
+dwelling farther south. Here they found not only cattle, sheep and
+goats, but herds of camels, which were kept for their milk and hair
+alone. These villagers knew nothing of what lay beyond, save that it was
+desert and uninhabitable.
+
+So, with full water-casks, a renewed store of figs, cabbage-palm tops,
+and other vegetables, the safari pushed into the desert, going forward
+day and night. Charlie, much to his surprise and disgust, found that the
+Masai had little need for water, drinking the blood of game instead, "to
+make their hearts fierce." This, however, was a great saving to their
+supply.
+
+There were many hyenas scattered over the district, and these the boys
+shot wherever found, as they are a perfect scourge and good for nothing.
+The earth was sun-baked, and the explorer declared that no water had
+fallen here for possibly a year or more, which the boys could well
+believe. The game gave place to giraffes, ostriches, and a few varieties
+of the plains antelope, so that each day they had to circle farther from
+the camp to secure enough.
+
+Day after day they pushed forward, skirting at times the edge of miasmic
+swamps, and generally sticking to the desolate plain. They refilled
+their casks at occasional water-holes, and the oxen used little water on
+the march. Von Hofe made no comment, until two weeks of this had passed
+with no sign of approaching villages or elephant country. Then, one
+night, he gave voice to his thoughts.
+
+[Illustration: For the man, just as he relapsed into unconsciousness,
+murmured four words: "Help--me debbil man!"]
+
+"Are you sure, Schoverling, that there is anything beyond this? It to me
+seems not much like elephant country."
+
+"I'm taking a chance, Doctor," returned the dust-caked explorer. "This
+desert is bound to loosen up sometime, and there is surely elephant
+country ahead. Give us another week; then if we strike nothing I'll head
+around toward Lake Rudolph and the mountains."
+
+The other nodded, and said no more. Charlie and Jack had also grown
+weary of the desolate surroundings, but no complaint had come from the
+Masai. Two days later one of the oxen died, and on the third day
+another, from unexplained causes. Then, on the fifth morning, a yell of
+delight went up from all at sight of green trees ahead.
+
+"It's a drift," exclaimed Charlie, examining the slender line of trees
+as they pushed their horses on.
+
+"What's that under those big mimosas?" called Jack. "Looks like a native
+hut."
+
+"Right you are, Jack!" cried the explorer. "Come on Guru!"
+
+They advanced at a gallop, leaving the wagons far behind. Half an hour
+later they came to the drift--a wide, rocky little valley through which
+trickled a tiny stream of water. No sign of natives appeared, however,
+until their horses had watered and they clambered over the stones on
+foot toward the single hut beneath the mimosas. Then, as Jack shouted
+aloud, a man appeared in the doorway, crawling toward them on hands and
+knees.
+
+"The poor devil's all in," exclaimed Schoverling. "Careful, boys! He may
+have the plague."
+
+"Let me go first," said the German quietly. They could see that the man,
+who seemed to be an Arab, was frightfully emaciated. His head was bound
+up, and half-healed thorn-scars covered his body. Von Hofe beckoned them
+to come on, as he knelt beside the poor wretch, but as the boys came to
+his side a startled exclamation broke from them.
+
+For the man, just as he relapsed into unconsciousness, murmured four
+words.
+
+"Help--me debbil man!"
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER X
+
+MOWBRAY'S END
+
+
+"He iss starved," exclaimed von Hofe. "See what iss in the hut. I will
+care for him."
+
+Charlie, Jack and Schoverling, with a single glance of amazement at the
+words of the senseless Arab, advanced to the hut while the Indians
+clustered about von Hofe. The shelter was a crude one, of bushes and
+grass, built against the trunk of one of the great mimosas.
+
+"There's a man in here!" cried Charlie as they stood in the doorway.
+
+Before them, lying on a bed of leaves, was the figure of a man in
+European clothes. His head, one arm, and side were bound in
+blood-stained bandages. On his chest lay his right hand, still gripping
+a pencil, while on his knees lay an old letter, scribbled over. With a
+cry of pity, Schoverling knelt at the man's side--but started up again
+in horror.
+
+"Good heavens!" His voice rang with a note that struck Charlie's heart.
+"It is Mowbray--dead!"
+
+They pressed forward, and saw that the man was indeed dead. And Mowbray
+it was--his cheeks fallen in, the bandage half-concealing his face, but
+the iron chin locked grimly as ever in the last battle.
+
+"Yes," said Jack softly. "He's dead, right enough. Must have passed out
+not long ago, though. Let's see what that letter says, Chuck."
+
+Charlie leaned over and picked up the paper sheets. The hut was
+absolutely bare, save for an empty revolver that lay on the earthen
+floor. With a shudder the boys emerged into the sunlight again, followed
+by Schoverling. The wagon had not yet come up, and the doctor was
+standing over the Arab. He turned at their approach.
+
+"No use, mine friends. He iss dead--was ist das? A letter?"
+
+He peered down at the paper in Charlie's hand. Without a word the boy
+handed it to Schoverling. The wagons were just creeping through the
+first trees, toward the water, and the Indians rushed off to restrain
+the oxen from plunging into the stream.
+
+"Come over here into the shade," said the explorer quietly. "Mowbray is
+lying in there, Doctor, dead, and seemingly pretty badly wounded.
+Perhaps these two sheets will throw some light on the situation."
+
+They sat down around him beneath one of the big trees, and for a moment
+there was dead silence as the explorer examined the scrawled writing on
+the two sheets of paper and tattered envelope. Von Hofe nervously filled
+his pipe, nearly dropping it in the attempt.
+
+"He seems to have written this after he got to the hut here," began the
+explorer. "It has no date and runs on in disconnected sentences." He
+paused, a catch in his voice. After a moment he went on, with no further
+sign of the emotion that must have possessed him.
+
+"'Yesterday the camel died. Conscious but helpless. Arm, leg, ribs and
+head broken. Five days travel, to south. Zahir hurt, but managed to drag
+me to river and trees. I will lift up mine eyes unto the hills, whence
+cometh--'
+
+"That's the first of it," said the explorer. At this moment Gholab
+approached and saluted respectfully, his bearded face immobile. "Well,
+what is it?"
+
+"Does the sahib wish to outspan here?"
+
+"Yes. Outspan and pitch camp for to-day. And, Gholab, have two graves
+dug at the top of this little rise."
+
+The Gurkha saluted and wheeled. Charlie caught an excited look from
+Jack, and then gave his attention to the General once more.
+
+"'Zahir has built a hut. Could get away but refuses. No cartridges in
+revolver. Z. is cutting up camel. Tough but nourishing. Have hopes. If I
+pull out will reward Z. for life.'
+
+"That's the second bunch of sentences, written on the envelope. The next
+seems to come on the back of the letter, and is addressed doubly."
+
+The explorer swept his eye down the two dirty, torn papers, and then
+read slowly:
+
+"'To Selim ben Amoud or Louis Schoverling. Whoever finds, take to them.
+
+"'Fever for two weeks. Camel gone bad, no cartridges. Zahir-ed-din ben
+Yusuf has caught some mice for me and starved self. No hope left unless
+L. S. comes. Am weaker, and Z. has fever.
+
+"'In watchcase is plan of Selim's. Struck east from Lake Sugota with
+camels. Had brush with British but shook them off. Into desert five days
+full speed. Country deserted. Chain of small lakes, woods, hills as
+indicated on plan. Deserted ruined huts, no natives. Found Lake Quilqua
+to south of others.'"
+
+"What!" cried Charlie. "Is that there, General? Is it--"
+
+"You vill keep quiet, please!" rumbled von Hofe. Charlie subsided as the
+General nodded. Jack said nothing, only his flushed cheeks and gleaming
+eyes showing his eagerness.
+
+"'Lake fed by hot springs. Water warm, very reedy. Crossed to island
+fifty yards from shore. Found stronghold ruined, slave irons and
+neck-rings, plenty of skeletons. Evidently place was swept by plague,
+none escaping. Burned slave-barracoon and house. All very old--at least
+ten years. Slavers' stronghold explains desolated country. Natives all
+skipped or slaves.
+
+"'Z. and I located big ivory cache under left gate-post. Went back to
+camp for men, found dying Arab. Gigantic buffalo gored him. Rest gone
+with camels. Big python showed up; all scared out. Found camel in trees
+and stayed to look around. Stories true. Shot two buffalo--suggested
+prehistoric type, great horns. Shot python, thirty-nine feet.
+
+"'Guns safe. Third day found elephant spoor. Could hardly believe it.
+Sighted and caught him by deserted native village. Rogue, fine trophy
+for L. S. Biggest ever saw, must stand fourteen feet or better. Ivory
+twelve feet. Z. game to tackle him, next day.
+
+"'Rogue didn't wait. Tackled us before dawn. One foot came down through
+tent, missed me by six inches. Rolled out and grabbed gun. Z. knocked
+senseless. Fired once, but rogue placed trunk around me and threw me
+twenty feet into bushes. Senseless.
+
+"'Woke up to find rogue gone. Z. pulled me out of thorns and tied me up.
+Badly smashed. Amputated left hand at wrist. Elephant had smashed guns,
+with all he could find. Z. lost his nerve. Don't wonder. He caught the
+camel unhurt. I told him to head south to find L. S. or natives, then
+fainted again.
+
+"'Don't remember much of what happened next. Z. says we rode bareback.
+Held me in his arms all the way. Five days. No water or grub. Camel
+died with river only hundred yards away, poor brute. That's all.'"
+
+The explorer paused, trying to make out the last few lines, which seemed
+almost illegible. Charlie stared, gulping down a sob at the bare recital
+of that terrible journey. It was hard to realize that only a few weeks
+ago he had seen and talked with the intrepid little man who lay cold in
+death on his bed of leaves, and whose last words were being read to
+them.
+
+"This last is pretty faint," said Schoverling with expressionless voice.
+"It's the last thing he wrote, and he seems to have failed at the end.
+Here is what I can make out of it:
+
+"'Z. knocked over a vulture two days ago from carcass of camel. Made him
+take half, and he promised to go for help. Was too weak and came back.
+I'm pretty near gone. If you get this, L. S., go kill that rogue for me.
+Ivory worth while in cache. Feel cold to waist--must be going. Great
+news for British, eh? Thank God I've lived a decent life, according to
+my lights.'"
+
+Schoverling's voice died away, and they knew he had reached the end.
+Without another word the explorer rose to his feet, walked a few paces
+and stood gazing over the river with his back toward them. Von Hofe,
+sucking his unlighted pipe, made no secret of the tears that trickled
+over his dusty blond beard. Charlie and Jack gazed at each other in awed
+silence, for that last letter was very vivid and very real to them both.
+
+"He ampudaded hiss own hand--ach!" said the big German huskily, at last.
+
+At the words, Schoverling turned and came slowly back to them, his face
+set and hard. Behind them the Masai were digging the graves under the
+direction of Akram Das, and the oxen were splashing about in the shallow
+silver thread of the river.
+
+"Five days by camel--that would mean at least a week or ten days with
+the wagons," said the explorer quietly, looking at von Hofe. The German
+met the look and nodded.
+
+"Yess. We shall do as he ordered."
+
+"Do you mean that we are going to Lake Quilqua?" exclaimed Jack eagerly.
+
+"We are, Jack. There is no reason why we should not bring back that
+rogue. He's just the fellow we're after, as--as poor Mowbray said." His
+voice shook a little. "If we'd only arrived a day or two sooner!"
+
+"It can't be helped, General," returned Charlie softly. "We could not
+know that he was here, and we might have done no good anyhow. Those last
+words of his were fine."
+
+"That letter will be framed, some day," said the explorer, "and it'll
+hang where every man in the Explorer's Club will be proud of it. What a
+fine fellow that Arab was, too! I'm heartsick to think that we failed to
+save him."
+
+"It was no use," von Hofe rose to his feet calmly. "It was starvation
+and wounds. He was a good man, yes. My friends, we will bring that
+rogue's skin back, and those others. What a triumph of science!"
+
+"That letter said something 'bout there bein' a plan in his watch-case,
+Gen'ral," spoke up Jack. Schoverling nodded, and turned to the hut. A
+moment later he came out, a smashed and bent gold watch in his hand.
+This they managed to pry open with a knife, and the explorer pulled out
+a tiny, many-folded map of onion-skin paper. The tracings were made in a
+brown ink, with marks that meant nothing to the boys.
+
+"Arabic," explained Schoverling briefly. "Evidently it was supplied to
+Mowbray by Selim ben Amoud. From what I can make out, it is a plan of
+the chain of lakes Mowbray mentions. Here is one off by itself to the
+south, named Quilqua. Well, this does us no good. Let's get down to
+cases."
+
+"One thing is sure," said Charlie as the explorer paused. "That is, that
+our march will lie just about due north."
+
+"Yes. Now, Mowbray speaks of an island with a slaver's stronghold. That
+would account for the desolated country--that and the rogue elephant.
+Probably some Arab settled down there years ago and ran off slaves until
+he and all his men were swept out in one of the terrible and mysterious
+plagues that sometimes sweep this country. That would explain the rumors
+among the natives. Probably Selim heard the story and fancied the place
+might be worth finding, so went into partnership with Mowbray. The
+latter evidently found a good store of ivory planted away."
+
+"I guess you've doped it out," said Charlie. "How long will we stay
+here, General?"
+
+"Two days. That will give the horses and cattle a good rest. The three
+of us ought to bring in a lot of game, and we'll make some real
+northwoods pemmican to take us on. First, let's see if the Masai will go
+with us."
+
+The explorer called to Bakari and the Masai leader came over grinning.
+Slowly they explained what lay before them, the terrors of the
+mysterious lake, and the desert journey, and asked if Bakari and ten of
+his men would accompany them. The unabashed warrior grinned.
+
+"Me go! Him men go, very fierce. No 'fraid."
+
+Satisfied that he had understood, Schoverling dismissed him, and turned
+to the boys.
+
+"Pemmican for ten Masai and Bakari, us four, and three gun-bearers. The
+rest will stay here. We'll take one wagon and six oxen; they can go for
+two or three days without any water easily enough. We have one thing to
+do before we go on the hunt, though."
+
+What this duty was all knew well enough. The body of Mowbray was brought
+out and sewed in the canvas of a spare tent; a small American flag
+belonging to Schoverling was laid over him, and he was placed in one of
+the graves. The faithful Zahir-ed-din was laid in the other. As the
+story was told the Indians, they waited till von Hofe had recited the
+Lord's Prayer over Mowbray, then Gholab Singh, Mohammedan like the other
+Gurkhas, delivered a short prayer from the Koran over the Arab, and the
+graves were filled in.
+
+Charlie, Jack and the General scoured the plain that afternoon, bringing
+in three eland and sending the Masai out after two zebra. On their
+return they found that von Hofe had been at work, for over each grave
+stood a cross of wood, rudely carved with the name of him beneath. Oddly
+enough, the Mohammedans made no objection to the cross being placed over
+the Arab.
+
+"He was a good man," said the big Teuton softly. "It matters not that he
+believed in Allah, for worse Christians I haf met, yes."
+
+During the next day the game was cut up and smoked by Jack and Charlie,
+the explorer and Guru bringing in enough fresh meat to keep them for two
+or three days ahead. That night six of the rested oxen were inspanned to
+one of the wagons, loaded with water-casks and what was left of their
+yams and bananas. The spare Gurkha was left with his own rifle, an old
+Snider, to provide meat for the little camp, and as the moon rose the
+expedition pushed out across the river to the north--in search of Lake
+Quilqua and the Rogue Elephant.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XI
+
+THE DESERT TREK
+
+
+The rest, short as it had been, had worked wonders for the cattle. They
+were as fresh and sleek as ever, and the lightly loaded wagon was a
+small burden to them. At the last moment Schoverling had flung in the
+six traps.
+
+"I have a notion," was all he would reply to the questions of the boys.
+
+He and the boys and von Hofe rode first, the Masai tramping along to a
+swinging chant beside the wagon, and the three gun-bearers bringing up
+the rear. The oxen did not require any driving, as they followed the
+leaders unhesitatingly and patiently.
+
+"I guess we've got our work cut out for us," said Charlie as the long,
+rolling white-dusted plain opened out before them in the moonlight. He
+and Jack rode together, as usual.
+
+"Seems weird," replied Jack, "to think o' Mowbray coming across here on
+a camel only to die, an' us going back on the same trail. Wonder how
+that camel died in five days?"
+
+"I don't know. He said it was unhurt. Prob'ly the Arab pushed it day and
+night at full speed. Even a camel would go down under that."
+
+As they advanced, the dust rose in clouds about them, hanging low and
+choking the Indians behind until they had to come forward. Once or twice
+the barking call of a zebra sounded from the distance, and toward
+morning the distant growl of a lion, but no other signs of life came to
+them.
+
+The boys had been busy all day, and they were tired enough to doze off
+in the saddle as they went forward, the white dust covering them all
+with a thick coating. Hour after hour they plodded on, at intervals
+wiping out the nostrils of the horses and cattle with a wet cloth by way
+of refreshment. Von Hofe chatted intermittently with Schoverling, who
+guided the march by compass, but the boys were too weary for talk.
+
+At five o'clock they halted on the edge of a dry water-course. They had
+not omitted to fetch along a good supply of fodder for the cattle, which
+was loaded in the wagon to the very top of the tilt. The horses were
+given a few swallows of water each, the Masai dined on roast meat about
+their fires, while the four explorers and the Indians made an excellent
+repast on cold meat and biscuits with tea. Biscuits were Charlie's
+specialty, and before the start he had made a good supply, as their
+flour was running low.
+
+For three hours they rested here, Schoverling and Jack keeping watch in
+turn. At the next halt von Hofe and Charlie would stand guard, then the
+three Indians. At eight the cattle were inspanned, and they plodded
+onward until noon, hot and choked with dust. No complaint came from the
+Masai, and here the second meal of the day was eaten.
+
+The boys had thought that first march across that almost deserted grass
+plain was hard, but this gave them an inkling of the meaning of an
+African trek. They slept with heads on their saddles, the single tent
+they had brought along shading them somewhat. The Indians and a few
+Masai slept on the fodder beneath the hood of the wagon, the rest
+stretched out under the wagon itself.
+
+At three they inspanned and went on again until seven, when another two
+hours' rest and the evening meal took place. Thus they traveled sixteen
+hours and rested eight, the men and cattle both getting on more easily
+at night than in the blazing sun.
+
+That first afternoon nothing much occurred to interest them. Out on the
+dry desert scoured a few ostriches, at which the boys took distant shots
+but without result. In the evening they saw two giraffes lumbering
+across the horizon.
+
+"Wish we had a few yoke of those fellows," said the explorer. "They can
+go for months without water, and seem to pick up a living from the dead
+grass."
+
+"I thought camels were the only beasts who could live on air?" said
+Charlie in surprise. "Do you mean that giraffes absolutely require no
+water?"
+
+"That is it," answered von Hofe. "It is an unexplained mystery, my
+friend. The giraffe, he carries no water-tank inside like the camel, yet
+he sweats and lives. How, is not known."
+
+Charlie and Jack looked after the Masai, but found them dust-grimed and
+cheerful. The leader, Bakari, had evidently picked out the best men--all
+stalwart, sinewy warriors who won the respect of the boys in that
+terrible march by their powers of endurance and unfailing good humor.
+
+"I don't see how they can plug along on foot that way," volunteered Jack
+on the third day. "By jiminy, two days of it would 'bout put me in
+hospital! Say, Chuck, ain't these moccasins great? If we had boots now
+we'd be sorry."
+
+"You bet," nodded Charlie. "They keep the dust out pretty well. The
+doctor has to empty out a pound o' dust every hour. No wonder his feet
+are swollen up!"
+
+Indeed, that night von Hofe made application for a pair of the spare
+moccasins. The dry, irritating dust made no entrance through the thick
+moosehide, and although the moccasins were undeniably hot, they were
+much better than hunting-boots. He freely admitted that in no instance
+had Schoverling's prophecies and ideas fallen down, and thereafter wore
+his moccasins until the end of the trip.
+
+The dry, brown grass of those plains was almost hidden by the dust, but
+when their fodder gave out, on the fifth day, the oxen seemed to take it
+willingly enough. Day after day the march kept up without intermission,
+and fortunately the six-oxen suffered no loss. They were used to such
+treks, and the unremitting care of the boys kept them in good shape.
+
+On the seventh day the supply of meat, large as it had been, began to
+show signs of giving out. The Masai had accepted the smoked meat
+willingly enough, but neither the explorer nor the boys had counted on
+their enormous appetites. As it would not do to halt the march, the
+wagon was left in charge of von Hofe, while the General, the boys, and
+the three gun-bearers cantered out after whatever game they could find.
+So far the horses had stood the strain well, being seasoned, wiry little
+beasts. Schoverling rode between the boys.
+
+"I didn't want to tell the doctor," he volunteered in a low tone, when
+they were a good half-mile from the wagon, "and don't let on before the
+Indians; but we're going to be in bad unless we get across pretty soon.
+There are only two casks of water left. I'm afraid the Masai have been
+tapping them at night."
+
+"Jumping sandhills!" exclaimed Charlie, staring in dismay. "Why, we have
+to use at least half a cask a day, only giving the horses and cattle a
+few swallows, and us too! I s'pose we'll cut out the cattle?"
+
+"Have to," nodded the explorer. "I hate to do it, but we can't return
+now. I'd like to take a gun-butt to those Masai!"
+
+"You can't blame them," put in Jack. "They've got the hardest end to
+bear up, Gen'ral. We've only allowed them about a pint a day each, same
+as us, when they've been hiking steady. It's hard lines on them, take it
+from me."
+
+"We can't help that, Jack," Schoverling returned. "There's no use
+punishing them, of course, for they may be valuable later on. But when
+you're on watch, just take a look under the wagon now and then. If you
+find anyone at the water-casks, take the cattle-whip to him. That water
+means life to all of us--and _we come first_!"
+
+The boys fell silent. The danger was brought home to them, as the
+explorer intended, and they realized the grim law of the white man in
+savage places--that whatever happened, whoever perished, he must
+survive. It is not a merciful law; Schoverling was not one of the
+generous-hearted kind who treat the native as an equal at such times.
+He was an average, self-preserving Caucasian, who was only merciless
+when his own life hung in the balance. The boys had been trained in the
+same school, and fully realized the force of his words.
+
+"The Masai are holding up finely," he went on, "but we'll have to watch
+them close. At any minute they may get sick of things and try to rush
+us. That means trouble, which I hope will not come."
+
+Charlie joined him silently in that hope, though from the behavior of
+the natives he could hardly believe that they would turn on the whites.
+However, the conversation was soon shifted by the discovery of a herd of
+giraffes to the north.
+
+"Long range, I s'pose?" queried Jack, getting out his heavy gun. The
+Indians were armed with the lighter ones.
+
+"Yes," returned the explorer. "We'll never get up on them in this
+territory. Fire high, when they begin to run, or we'll lose them."
+
+The giraffes saw them plainly enough, but they got to within four
+hundred yards before the herd began to shift. All drew rein instantly,
+the trained horses standing stone still, and just as the herd took
+alarm and broke into their lumbering, awkward-looking gallop, the six
+rifles rang out.
+
+The lighter weapons of the Indians seemed to have no effect. Charlie saw
+the bull at which he aimed stagger and go down. Another stopped with a
+broken shoulder, and Jack's second barrel finished it. Schoverling fired
+again, but either missed a vital place or his bullet went wide, for a
+moment later the herd was gone in a cloud of dust.
+
+"Never mind," he cried gayly, reloading as they trotted forward. "Two
+will be all we can carry in, and will help out wonderfully. They are
+poor eating for us, but the Masai will be overjoyed."
+
+Reaching the two dead giraffes, all leaped from their horses and set
+about cutting up the bodies. At last it was finished. Spattered with
+blood, the boys got the heavy loads on their quivering, blood-sniffing
+horses after some delay, and set about returning to the wagon.
+
+"Where is it?" exclaimed the explorer. "Surely we can't have lost it?"
+
+But, even with their powerful glasses, no sign could they see of the
+little safari. In all directions the plain stretched out dry, white,
+dusty, with no moving speck to break the monotony. The general cased his
+glasses in disgust.
+
+"I was so interested in giving you my warning that I forgot to take any
+thought of our direction, and the doctor has my compass. Let's
+see--we've been riding about northeast."
+
+"Here," cried Jack, pointing to the dusty plain, "there's no wind, so we
+can follow the tracks. It's a cinch."
+
+"Of course," laughed the explorer, and with Jack and Charlie in the lead
+all six began retracing their steps. But it was not so easy to follow
+the trail, after the dust had settled down upon it, and it was an hour
+later before the white tilt of the wagon was seen, far to the southwest.
+
+"We came more east than north, evidently," said Schoverling. "However,
+all's well that ends well. Don't gallop, Akram; we must go easy on the
+horses!"
+
+They were soon up to the wagon and were greeted with a joyful yell by
+the Masai, who had no scruples about partaking of the raw meat. Knowing
+their tastes, the explorer had filled two or three gourds with the blood
+of the slain giraffes, which the natives drank greedily. The boys were
+disgusted, and sought refuge at the head of the column again.
+
+That night the two remaining casks of water were shifted to the bed of
+the wagon, the empty casks remaining slung below. With the next evening,
+however, there came a joyful change in their prospects, for as they
+proceeded they saw that dark clouds were gathering along the horizon to
+the north.
+
+"Rain!" cried the boys eagerly. Von Hofe nodded, and the Masai struck up
+a "rain chant" which seemed to have the desired effect. By midnight the
+sky was overcast, and when they outspanned the next morning for the
+early halt gusts of wind and rain were sweeping down upon them that
+gradually changed to a steady, settled rain.
+
+"This is a great piece of good luck," exclaimed Schoverling, revealing
+to von Hofe for the first time how their water supply had shrunk. "Get
+out all the casks, boys, and let them fill. It's a bad thing for the
+march, however."
+
+"Why so?" queried the doctor, as the two boys began unslinging the
+casks.
+
+"Because when this soil is wet it's mighty greasy, and makes hard going
+for the ox-team. However, it's well worth it."
+
+The only trees on the plain were stunted thorn-trees, but from these the
+Masai got enough dry wood to start a fire, after which others were
+started. The boys, Schoverling and the doctor huddled together in the
+wet grass under the tent, blankets around them and saddle-cloths over
+their feet, and slept comfortably enough despite the drenching rain.
+
+When the camp wakened into action, the rain had passed over and once
+more the sky was bright and the air hot. But they had obtained three
+full casks of water, and now had little fear for the future. As the
+explorer had predicted, the soil was wet and greasy, but aside from
+getting stuck once in an old drift, they had no great trouble, and after
+the noon halt the sun had dried up the ground fairly well.
+
+When they halted at sunset that night Charlie pulled out his glasses and
+then gave a cry of joy. Far ahead, but unmistakable, they could see
+green slopes and trees. Quilqua the mysterious was in sight.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XII
+
+A DESERTED LAND
+
+
+That night the water was not spared, and the rest of the meat was
+polished off in reckless fashion. After a three-hour rest, they took up
+the march again in renewed spirits, the Masai singing and chanting
+eagerly. But distances were deceptive in that country of clear vision
+and high altitude. When they camped at dawn after a hard march, they
+seemed no nearer the trees than before, and the Masai and Indians went
+to bed hungry, Jack making what little flour they had left into
+flapjacks.
+
+By the time they camped at noon, however, the boys and Schoverling had
+brought in an eland, which they had found solitary. This staved off
+hunger, and without pausing to sleep the hunters set off again while the
+cattle rested. The country was well timbered farther ahead, and they
+rode toward this through scattered clumps of thorn-trees.
+
+"There's a lion, right enough," said Jack, as one of the tawny beasts
+bounded away from a knoll to their right. "That means there's game
+around."
+
+"We'll strike it in the trees," declared the General. "That seems like a
+good rolling game country stretching out in front."
+
+Knowing that the doctor would bring on the wagon, they struck straight
+ahead for five miles. Gradually game became apparent, and after knocking
+over a couple of gazelles and a fine oryx, they found a waterhole. Akram
+Das was sent back to guide the wagon to it, and that night there was
+high feasting in camp.
+
+"I'm mighty glad our cattle pulled through safe," said Schoverling.
+"We'll need them on the back trail."
+
+"Yes," put in von Hofe, "they will have to draw the elephant skin and
+the ivory."
+
+"Don't count too far ahead," laughed Jack. "It's not going to be any
+cinch! But I'd like to meet up with one of those buffalo."
+
+"If poor Mowbray's account is true," said the General, "we'd better have
+the gun-bearers stick close with the heavy guns. There's no telling
+what we'll strike here. We'll have to keep pretty good guard, too, for
+lions will be apt to make a try for the cattle or horses."
+
+Now, with the worst of the march over, they relapsed into regular
+day-marches again. But that night, sure enough, Charlie heard the low
+mutterings of a lion, and by the light of the fires could see one of the
+great beasts slinking past. He gave him two shots from his 30-30, and
+the aroused camp found only a dead lion to exult over.
+
+The first day's march brought them to a tiny trickle of water in the
+center of a drift, where they outspanned. There were palms and wild figs
+in abundance, and with cabbage-palm hearts as a substitute their meat
+diet was abandoned. Game was increasing, and that night they located
+another drinking-place half a mile up the drift, where the boys bagged
+three gerenuk, a kind of gazelle, and two wildebeest.
+
+As they went forward the next day they were all amazed at the remarkable
+tameness of the herds which passed on every side. A drove of at least a
+hundred zebra paused within fifty yards of them, gazing curiously, and
+not until Bakari flourished a spear did they whirl and dash away. At
+another time a group of slender-horned impalla bunched together not a
+hundred yards away, watching fearlessly as the wagon passed.
+
+"That looks mighty queer," declared Charlie. "Seems like they don't get
+hunted much up here."
+
+"Remember what that letter o' Mowbray's said?" interjected Jack quickly.
+"How he never met any natives, I mean? Bet a cookie you were right,
+General, about the slavers."
+
+"What's worrying me," returned Schoverling, "is where that lake can be.
+There seems to be hills ahead, and to the right, but I can see no sign
+of a lake."
+
+"I tell you," cried Charlie. "If we strike another drift, it's a good
+guess that it comes from a lake, isn't it?"
+
+"Yes," rumbled von Hofe, smiling. "That is right, my boy. We will follow
+the next river to which we come."
+
+Plainly enough, the country was a desert as far as human life was
+concerned. But the animal life was far too abundant to suit them. That
+day they passed a rhinoceros, standing to one side and watching them
+from a distance of fifty yards. With his ears cocked forward he looked
+like a gigantic pig, but the hunters kept their heavy rifles cocked, for
+at any moment the beast might take it into his head to charge, and they
+had had one experience with these huge beasts.
+
+"He's two-horned!" exclaimed Jack, watching intently. It was their first
+meeting with one of the two-horned variety, and they were relieved when
+he turned and slowly trotted off, the tick-birds on his back settling
+down again.
+
+That night Schoverling issued orders that with each halt the Masai
+should construct a thorn zareba for the oxen, while big fires should be
+kept blazing all night. Lions were very plainly in abundance, and they
+could afford to run no risk of losing the cattle, or horses either.
+
+Toward dawn they were aroused by Guru, on guard, to find the horses
+shivering with fear and the glowing eyes of lions shining from the
+undergrowth around the camp. A shot seemed to have no effect, until with
+a well-placed bullet Schoverling killed one of the beasts and the rest
+disappeared with threatening rumbles.
+
+"That shows what we can expect, in this no-man's country," he said.
+"We'll have worse than that later on, I'm afraid."
+
+And his words were to prove true, though not exactly as he had intended,
+before two days more had passed.
+
+Shortly before noon they came upon lower ground, with the high hills
+rising some ten miles farther on. A stream trickled through beds of
+reeds and swamp-grass, and it was decided that they should follow the
+high ground upstream, in the hope of being thus led to their hard-sought
+goal.
+
+Schoverling and Charlie employed the shotgun in turn, shooting from
+their horses, and stocking the whole camp with wildfowl. The Masai had
+spread out in great glee, investigating this strange land like children,
+when a sudden yell of horror went up from one of them.
+
+Turning as the doctor echoed the shout, those ahead were horrified to
+see a tremendous python curled about the struggling warrior, at the very
+edge of the reeds twenty yards away. The huge head of the snake was
+high--at least six feet above that of the warrior, about whom its coils
+were tightening slowly. The Masai, with horrible yells, was slashing
+away without effect, and even as they looked his arms were bound about
+and fell useless.
+
+"Good heavens!" groaned Schoverling, who had left his rifle in the
+wagon. The Indians spurred forward with outstretched guns, but in that
+moment von Hofe proved himself cooler than any. The boys had been afraid
+to fire, but even as Charlie and Jack threw up their guns the little
+rifle of the doctor spoke out once and then again.
+
+Struck in the neck by both balls, the python's head drooped and his
+coils broke away. In a flash the Masai wriggled loose and turned, sword
+in hand, while his comrades dashed fearlessly to his rescue. For a
+moment there was a wild turmoil of bodies; one of the warriors was flung
+a dozen feet away by the slashing tail, then the python fell, cut into a
+score of pieces.
+
+The exciting combat was begun and over in a moment. Charlie dashed to
+the side of the men, but it proved that neither of the Masai had been
+seriously hurt. The first had suffered merely from a vigorous squeeze,
+the second had the breath knocked out of him, so no attention was paid
+to the injuries. Measured carefully, the python proved to be thirty feet
+in length.
+
+"Things look pretty grave," said Schoverling soberly that evening when
+they were in camp farther up the stream, but well away from the reeds.
+"Mowbray's forty-foot python was no dream, my friends. We must keep our
+rifles in the holsters and at our hands night and day in this country."
+
+"The Masai behaved splendidly," exclaimed Charlie admiringly. "Where are
+you going?" he asked as the General arose.
+
+"Show you in a minute. Guru!"
+
+The explorer had joined the Sikh at the wagon. There was a rattle of
+chains, and with the steel traps in their hands the two returned to the
+fire.
+
+"Now, Guru, we are going to set out these traps around the camp. After
+this you and Akram and Amir Ali will have to do it, so observe us
+closely."
+
+"Oh, that's what you wanted them for, eh?" cried Jack. Schoverling
+smiled.
+
+"Not exactly, but they're going to be a whole lot of help. My idea is,
+Doctor, that if we set these out around the camp they will keep us from
+being surprised to some extent. They won't stop a lion or buffalo, of
+course, but they will serve to check them or any other big game."
+
+"It is good," nodded von Hofe gravely. "I think it will be of much use.
+I will go too."
+
+The boys cut heavy stakes with their hand-axes, and all six of the traps
+were fastened securely. Then, accompanied by the Indians, they placed
+the traps in a wide circle on each side of the zareba, the most
+threatened point of attack. When the stakes were driven, the jaws of the
+traps were opened and light creepers flung over them.
+
+"By golly, that'll make me sleep a whole lot sounder!" admitted Charlie
+when they returned. Jack was disposed to turn up his nose at the
+unbaited traps.
+
+"Any fool jackal would smell 'em," he declared emphatically. "Why, you
+can see them glint in the moonlight!"
+
+"No matter," smiled the explorer. "We don't want to catch anything in
+them--they're only there to keep us from being surprised."
+
+That very night the traps proved their value, for while Jack was on
+guard he was roused by the click of steel, a tremendous snarling growl,
+and the sound of a furious struggle. The whole camp was up instantly,
+and by the light of the natives torches they could see a lioness rolling
+over, tearing furiously at a trap which clenched her two forepaws.
+
+A moment later she tore free, but Jack's elephant-gun crashed out and
+she lay still. The trap was promptly restaked and reset, while the Masai
+dragged the body away. And after that, Jack said nothing more on the
+question of unbaited traps.
+
+They were now in a veritable hunter's paradise. It was unnecessary for
+Schoverling and the boys to shoot game, for the Masai could spear all
+that was needed without trouble, two or three of them going up-wind and
+driving the game past the hiding-place of the rest. The next morning
+they were off with the dawn, in high hopes of reaching the lake, for the
+water in the stream seemed warmer than usual, though the explorer laid
+this to imagination.
+
+The country was open enough for the wagon to proceed without hindrance
+at a little way from the vegetation of the river. In the course of the
+morning Charlie descried what looked like grass huts ahead, but as they
+did not dare leave the wagon it was nearly noon before they came up to
+the little village.
+
+"Deserted, of course," exclaimed the General when they drew near.
+
+"Old and broken down, too," added Jack. "They're pretty well covered
+with vines and creepers, and that hut over on the left is a--why, all
+those mounds are old huts, General!"
+
+Sure enough, at close quarters they saw that scores of little mounds
+scattered around had once been huts, fallen to pieces under the attacks
+of animals and the weather. The few that were standing had been somewhat
+preserved by the shelter of spreading juniper trees overhead, and young
+bamboos had sprouted around and inside, thus serving to keep them in
+shape.
+
+"Pretty rotten," said Charlie, poking one with his rifle. The grass and
+twigs fell at the touch. "They've been deserted for years. But look over
+there--that used to be a yam patch, and I'll bet a dollar--"
+
+Without finishing he flung himself from the saddle and ran to an
+overgrown stretch of ground, where his quick eye had detected a few yams
+growing wild, with a variety of squash. Most of them were trampled or
+eaten by animals, but they managed to collect a dozen of each, which
+would give a welcome variety of food.
+
+"General!" called out Jack, fifty yards away.
+
+"Come over here, all of you."
+
+He was standing over something on the ground, at the edge of the forest.
+When the others arrived, he pointed to an immense buffalo track in the
+soft ground.
+
+"There's your giant bull," he said triumphantly. "This is no place for
+us, I guess."
+
+"I should say not!" cried Schoverling. "What a brute that fellow must
+be! Ever see as big a track, Doctor?"
+
+"Never," and the German wagged his great beard, with a dubious glance
+around. "Come, let us go on. Ach, what a country is this!"
+
+An hour later they outspanned for the noon halt. By some subtle warning,
+Schoverling led them away from the river to a little bare mound crowned
+by a single spreading mimosa, around which the oxen were grouped. Below
+on one side, stretched the jungle. On the other, tall grass, reeds and
+undergrowth led away to the river. And on that little eminence the
+expedition all but came to grievous wreck.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XIII
+
+A DESPERATE BATTLE
+
+
+Fortunately for the entire party, the bandoliers were filled that noon
+with the heavy cordite bullets, for Schoverling advised all to carry
+their heavy guns. Guru, Akram Das and Amir Ali carried the 30-30s, while
+von Hofe broke out a box of shells for the shotgun, as he wished to get
+a specimen of a peculiar crane he had seen that morning in the river,
+and refused to let the others shoot it for him.
+
+"Nein," he objected determinedly. "I shoot my own specimens, thanks, for
+it is good to say, 'Shot and mounted by Gross von Hofe.' I can shoot
+when I wish."
+
+"I should say you can," laughed Charlie. "You sure nipped that big snake
+in the right place, Doctor! I never saw any better shooting."
+
+"You let the doctor alone," chuckled Schoverling. "He knows his business
+better than any of us. Give him an elephant gun, if he wants it!"
+
+The big Teuton smiled broadly through his blond beard, for the praise
+was dear to his honest heart. While they sat and rested, Gholab Singh
+washed the tin dishes, humming one of his native songs. Jack's quick eye
+caught a movement in the bushes toward the river, and as he jumped up a
+big boar came running out.
+
+"Knock him over," suggested Schoverling lazily. "But we'll have to cut
+him up and cook him ourselves."
+
+Jack agreed, as the boar trotted across the open space, followed by
+another. Catching up his 30-30, which lay with the other guns close at
+hand, he put a shot through the brain of the second animal. Charlie
+joined him and they ran out to bring in the body, as the Sikh was the
+only Indian who would touch pig's flesh.
+
+"Say, Jack," exclaimed Charlie as they bent over the boar, "didn't it
+strike you queer that they'd run out that way? 'Most as if somethin' was
+after 'em."
+
+"Right," and Jack sprang to his feet. Looking closely, they could see
+the tops of the twenty-foot reeds along the river-bank shaking heavily
+and slowly, as if massive bodies were advancing. "Maybe it's a rhino,
+Chuck. He wouldn't bother us--hello! What's up?"
+
+A chorus of shrill yells from the Masai above startled them. Glancing
+up, they saw Schoverling and the gun-bearers catching up their weapons,
+while the natives were leading the cattle away from the wagon, the
+inspanning having already begun for the march. They saw Gholab Singh
+catch up the little rifle belonging to von Hofe.
+
+"Jumpin' sandhills!" began Charlie in wonder. "What on earth--"
+
+"Get up here!" roared the General at them. "Boys! Quick!"
+
+Without pausing to inquire further the boys jumped for the camp. A
+moment later they stood gazing around in amazement, inquiring what was
+wrong. For answer the explorer pointed to the river below. The boys
+whirled, then a single cry burst from their lips and they stood
+astounded, unable to believe their eyes.
+
+"Ach, himmel! Vot a sight!" broke from the doctor.
+
+There, bending down the tough reeds like grass, a mighty herd of buffalo
+was coming slowly forward, the first two or three just emerging into
+the clearing. All together, there must have been sixty or seventy of
+them--but what buffalo they were!
+
+Great, shaggy fellows, nearly a third larger than those the boys had
+seen and shot during the first part of the trip, they seemed like some
+part of a wild dream. It flashed through Charlie's mind that it must
+have been such buffalo as this that Mowbray had seen, or rather, that
+had scattered his Arabs.
+
+Slowly the great mass pushed forward, heads upturned. Plainly they had
+scented the camp, for they were down-wind, and intended to investigate.
+Both boys realized that they were in grave danger, as this became
+apparent.
+
+"Think they'll dare to charge us?" murmured Charlie, a little pale.
+
+"Can't tell," returned the explorer, staring. "Great Scott, what
+animals! No wonder Mowbray's men lit out for safety! If they come on,
+we're goners."
+
+That they plainly meant to come on was soon evident. The foremost paused
+to sniff and paw the body of the slain boar, and to gaze up at the
+waiting men, then those crowding behind shoved them onward. Two or
+three went on to one side, but the others began the ascent of the little
+hill without hesitation.
+
+"We'll have to stop them," said Schoverling, his face set. Charlie
+looked around to find Jack at his elbow, gun ready, black eyes
+glittering, and cheeks flushed darkly. Behind were grouped the Indian
+gun-bearers, fully recognizing the danger. The Masai, chattering but
+with arrow on the string, stood near the wagon.
+
+"Bakari!" called the explorer quickly. At the sound of his voice the
+giant buffalo halted for a moment, and the boys yelled in hope that they
+would retire. But the hope proved groundless, as they came forward with
+slow steps again.
+
+"Bakari, put some of your men up into that tree--keep those bulls away
+from the wagon and oxen at all costs," ordered the General. The Masai
+nodded, and a moment later five of his men went up nimbly into the big
+mimosa, and threaded their way out along the branches until they stood
+over the heads of the boys. The wagon and oxen were twenty feet behind,
+and the remaining natives grouped before them.
+
+"All right, boys," said Schoverling quietly. "Don't fire at the head,
+remember, unless you are sure of the eye. We've got to stop them at
+once."
+
+Charlie and Jack lifted their guns. The tremendous beasts were a scant
+fifty yards below, but more were crowding up from the reeds every
+instant. The four white men spread out at intervals of a few yards, the
+gun-bearers between. Von Hofe, shotgun in hand, stood on the long
+wagon-tongue with Gholab Singh.
+
+The three heavy Hammonds rang out with a crash. Charlie's bull went
+down, as did two more, and a wild bellow of fury went up from the entire
+herd. Instantly the second barrels streamed forth their deadly cordite,
+and a mass of kicking, struggling animals lay below them, while from the
+Masai streamed forth spears and arrows.
+
+"Hope that holds them," said Schoverling, as they reloaded rapidly. The
+gun-bearers, as good gun-bearers should, had not yet fired but stood
+waiting till the last extremity.
+
+"By golly!" yelled Jack, bringing up his rifle hurriedly. Instead of
+being intimidated, the shots and powder-reek seemed to render the herd
+more furious yet. Loud snortings, swishing tails and pawing hoofs
+testified to their rage, and the bodies of the slain were trampled into
+a bloody mass as the herd swept on.
+
+Down went the foremost again, impeding those behind, and Schoverling
+nodded to the Indians as he reloaded. The 30-30s spoke out, each of the
+old soldiers wasting not a shot, but firing the five cartridges in his
+magazine slowly and methodically. The scene below was terrible, and the
+wild yells of the Masai rose high over the snorting and bellowing. But
+great as was the slaughter, the immense herd poured up bodily, until
+they were but thirty yards down the hill, the bodies of the killed
+trampled underfoot, those behind pressing the others forward in mad
+rage.
+
+Now there was no let-up. Charlie loaded and fired as fast as he was
+able, as did Jack and the rest. Another volley from the Indians helped,
+and from the wagon von Hofe scattered bird-shot wildly, but Gholab's
+little rifle-ball picked more than one bull neatly through the eye to
+the brain.
+
+From above the Masai streamed down their arrows into the backs of the
+giant brutes, until the wounded ones turned and lashed out at their
+fellows. Shot after shot poured down into the crowded mass of buffalo,
+and a moment later Charlie knew that the fight was all but won. Those in
+the van had gone down, those behind were rearing and trampling, fighting
+each other in desperate confusion, forgetting what lay ahead.
+
+Suddenly a yell of terror from behind startled Charlie and he saw Jack
+whirl with a shout. While they had been fighting the foe in front, a
+single bull, led perhaps by some instinct, had quietly ascended the hill
+from the rear and was shaking his head angrily at Bakari and his
+remaining five men.
+
+As the boys turned, the Masai unhesitatingly poured spears at him, and
+with a bellow of pain he charged them. They faced him gallantly, but
+before Jack or Charlie could fire, one went high in air and another was
+trampled under foot. Gholab leaped from the wagon with his small rifle,
+and sprang forward; but, taking a desperate chance, Jack had fired at
+the brute's shoulder. The buffalo turned and made for the little party,
+and as he did so Gholab Singh shot him through the eye at ten yards.
+
+A yell of delight from Guru drew Charlie back to the front. Here it was
+evident that the buffalo were retiring, only two solitary bulls
+charging through the bloody, tangled mass of hoofs and horns. One of
+these the General dropped, and Amir Ali attended to the other. A moment
+later the herd drew away, sullenly and fighting among themselves still,
+to the shelter of the reeds, where the snortings and bellowings
+gradually died away in the distance.
+
+With the lifting of the terrific strain, Charlie staggered and caught
+Schoverling's arm, while Jack sank down beside him with drawn face. Guru
+and his comrades leaped down the hill to kill the wounded, kicking
+bulls.
+
+"There, boys, you take it easy," said the explorer, his voice just a
+trifle shaken. "That was pretty bad for a minute, but we pulled out all
+right."
+
+"Better see to the Masai," said Charlie faintly.
+
+Schoverling looked up, noting for the first time the slain bull by the
+wagon. The boys watched him leap to the side of von Hofe, who was
+kneeling over the injured men.
+
+"I've had about enough of this country," grunted Charlie, rising shakily
+as his weakness passed. "Feel better?"
+
+"Some." Jack, also unsteady under the reaction of their great mental and
+physical strain, got to his feet. "It was a tight squeeze, old chap!"
+
+"You bet. Let's see how bad the men were hurt."
+
+They joined the group. The gored man had an ugly wound in his side. The
+other had hung to the horns of the buffalo, and beyond a slash in the
+arm and a few broken ribs, was in no serious danger. The two were placed
+in the wagon, where the doctor gave them much needed attention.
+
+"I'm going to get away from here," said the explorer. "Bakari, you did
+nobly! Gholab, Guru, and the rest of you, I can only say that I am proud
+of you--more proud than ever. Shake hands!"
+
+Smiling broadly, the bearded Indians obeyed, after which the boys shook
+hands also.
+
+"It was good work, sahib," declared the Sikh gravely. "We are men, all
+of us. Such a fight will make great telling when we get back!"
+
+Von Hofe received his full share of the praise, for his bird-shot had
+contributed no little to the rout of the giant buffaloes. He, however,
+was already busy with his camera, and only the assurance of Schoverling
+that they could get a skin at another time got him to his horse. Half
+an hour later they were away from the scene of the battle, to which the
+kites and vultures were already flocking through the sky.
+
+"We won't go far," announced the leader. "I don't mind confessing that
+I'm pretty badly shaken up and want to rest for the remainder of the
+day. We got out of that scrape almighty well, boys, if you want to know
+it!"
+
+"Guess we did," returned Charlie with an uneasy glance around. "I won't
+forget that for many a long day! If the Indians hadn't stood by us--"
+
+He did not need to finish, and the explorer nodded. Two miles farther
+on, and a mile from the river; they halted beside a little creek. They
+had learned the value of a big tree, and the oxen were outspanned around
+a spreading fig-tree of gigantic size. The Masai built a zareba around,
+and for the rest of the afternoon they stayed quietly recuperating from
+the terrible exertions of that battle. In the evening great fires were
+built and the traps set out again.
+
+Nothing disturbed them that night. They slept in their blankets under
+the shelter of the giant tree, but as they rolled up--von Hofe being on
+guard for the first three hours--Jack whispered to Charlie.
+
+"If we struck a herd of them fellows while we were down on low
+ground--good-bye!"
+
+"You shut up and go to sleep," retorted Charlie. "Every time I close my
+eyes I think of those tossin' heads. I don't want to dream about them."
+
+"Bet a cookie you will," chuckled Jack. "Remember how their eyes rolled,
+and the first ones we shot got all trampled out of shape, and--"
+
+Charlie reached over with a mimosa thorn and ended the discussion
+suddenly. But, nevertheless, his dreams that night were none too
+pleasant, and he woke more than once, almost feeling a herd of those
+giant buffaloes grinding him beneath their hoofs.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XIV
+
+THE LAKE OF MYSTERY
+
+
+"This stream must be the outlet of the warm lake, all right," said
+Schoverling the next morning as they sat at breakfast. "There seems to
+be low hills ahead of us, but I think the wagon can get along."
+
+"Yes," announced the doctor. "The hot lake must be of volcanic origin, a
+very long time ago. These things one meets with often in Africa. I must
+shoot one of those big buffalo, please."
+
+"Then you'd better take my heavy gun," offered Charlie. "I've shot all
+of 'em I care to." The doctor's white teeth flashed, as he nodded.
+
+"If it was anywhere else we could ride ahead and pick out a road," said
+Jack. "But we wouldn't dare leave the wagon here."
+
+"Not much," laughed Schoverling. "If we'd been gone yesterday we'd have
+had to settle down here for life. Well, let's inspan."
+
+"Let's see that plan of Mowbray's--the Arabic one," said Charlie. The
+explorer found it and tossed it over. The two boys pored over the
+rudely-drawn chart while the oxen were being inspanned.
+
+"This must be the river we're on," and Jack pointed to the line of a
+stream flowing to the south and west of a small lake. "Why couldn't
+we--"
+
+"Hey, General!" called Charlie. "Come back here a minute!" The explorer,
+who was filling his bandolier, came over to their side, and Charlie
+pointed to the stream. "This river seems to run west out of the lake,
+and then turn south. Now, she's running north and south right here,
+isn't she?" The explorer, glancing at his compass, nodded. "Then instead
+of keeping close to the stream, why couldn't we strike off northeast and
+head straight for the lake? The river only leads us every which way."
+
+"Good idea," exclaimed the General. "I had forgotten all about that map,
+to tell the truth. The only question is whether we can depend on it."
+
+"That fellow Selim," put in the interested doctor, "was a man of brains,
+my friends. He would not send his camels and partner where he did not
+know. There is too much game beside this river, also. I like it not."
+
+"Very well," said Schoverling. "Then we will simply cut around those
+hills ahead and march by compass. No lack o' water here, fortunately."
+
+So, much to the relief of the boys, they left the dangerous vicinity of
+the river and struck across country. Except on the very banks of the
+stream there was no jungle, but open and well-wooded country that seemed
+well able to support a population of natives, had there been any to
+support. An hour after inspanning they came to another and larger
+village, which had fallen to decay as had the first. Monkeys were
+everywhere, grinning and chattering among the ruined huts, and in the
+center of the old village, fastened to a still sturdy post, they came
+upon a pair of heavy iron hand-cuffs, which were simply a mass of rust.
+
+"There's an indication of the slave-trade," and Schoverling pointed.
+"Probably a refractory slave was tied up there and whipped. I suppose
+those Arabs found this a thickly populated, happy country and simply
+made a clean sweep, men, women and children. Those that weren't killed
+or carried off north no doubt perished miserably in the wilderness. Poor
+devils! It's a tremendously good thing for Africa that the British put
+down the slave-trade."
+
+"If they'd only conserved their resources," declared von Hofe, "they
+might be running out slaves yet. But it was more than slavers, my
+friend." He had advanced to the door of a hut and now drew back. "It is
+not a good place to stay. There are skeletons--perhaps of the plague."
+
+"That's more like it," exclaimed Charlie, as they rode on. "Mowbray said
+that he had found the Arab place plague-swept, and had burned the whole
+thing, prob'ly for fear of infection. That would account for the absence
+of human life a whole lot better than by laying it all on the slavers."
+
+There was another thought running through Charlie's head,
+however--something of which no one had yet spoken openly. He wondered if
+Schoverling had paid any attention to Mowbray's narrative of the big
+cache of ivory "underneath the left gate-post." He had been long enough
+in Africa to know the tremendous value of tusks, and resolved to talk
+things over with Jack at the first opportunity. Von Hofe, meanwhile, had
+been thinking along more practical lines.
+
+"If we had a large party, Schoverling, and plenty of time, we could make
+money," he announced suddenly, and pointed to the hills on their left.
+"Those hills must be of old volcanoes. Why should the Arabs have come so
+far to settle here in a terrible land? Not for slaves or ivory alone.
+No. In these lakes and rivers there is gold."
+
+"What!" exclaimed the explorer sharply. Then, more slowly, "I shouldn't
+wonder if you're right, Doctor. I'd like to take a little trip with a
+washing-pan up through there! If that is so, as it well might be,
+there'd be some rich pickings for the taking. However, we're here for
+elephant first and last, and I'm not inclined to linger with this
+outfit."
+
+This excited the boys hugely, but both realized that on this expedition
+there would be small opportunity for any gold-hunting, even if the
+supposition should prove to be true. The sight of that big python and
+the giant buffalo had been a good indication of what they might expect
+if they lingered long hereabouts, and the fate of Mowbray's expedition
+was vivid in their minds still.
+
+The day passed with no exciting feature, as all kept close to the slow
+advance of the cattle and wagon. The Masai spread out fearlessly enough,
+and brought in enough game for the party. That terrific battle with the
+herd of buffalo had made great inroads on their stock of ammunition, and
+the explorer cautioned them not to waste a shot in useless hunting.
+
+No sign of the expected lake appeared during the afternoon, and in the
+evening they camped in a little valley between two kopjes, beside a
+waterhole that welled out and sank again almost immediately into the
+thirsty earth.
+
+"We'll need those traps here, I guess," declared Charlie when the
+outspanning was going on. "Prob'ly every one of these water-holes is
+pretty well frequented by animals, so we can look out for visitors.
+Who's on guard to-night?"
+
+"You are," chuckled Jack; "You and your friend Amir Ali. So mind you
+don't go asleep on duty, Chuck! I'd hate to wake up in the morning and
+find one of your moccasins left around to remember you by."
+
+"Never you mind about me," retorted Charlie. "I never woke up the whole
+camp by letting go an elephant gun at a jackal."
+
+This reminder of an earlier episode in the trip silenced Jack for the
+time being, but Charlie had no intention of letting himself be caught
+napping on duty. His watch lasted till midnight, when Amir would relieve
+him, and as there was no moon the boys got in a plentiful supply of wood
+for the fire. While the Indians were setting out the traps as usual, von
+Hofe departed to inspect the injured men, and Charlie seized the
+opportunity.
+
+"Say, General, what about that ivory cache of Mowbray's? Think we can
+lug it off with us?"
+
+The explorer remained silent for a moment, the boys watching him
+eagerly.
+
+"Look here, you chaps," he said at last, "there were two words in that
+letter I didn't read. Mowbray said 'ivory--_and dust_!' I was afraid you
+might get the gold fever, but I guess you're pretty safe. I was talking
+to von Hofe about it yesterday. Now, you know that we're paid by him to
+get elephant and nothing else. Still, the old boy is a sport clear
+through, and underneath his German reserve he's just as eager as any of
+us. If we strike the island before we strike the elephant, we'll camp
+on it for safety and clear out the cache."
+
+"Hurray!" exclaimed Charlie. "Bully for him! Say, we'll--"
+
+"You wait, Chuck," interrupted Jack quickly. "Look here, Gen'ral, it
+ain't so simple. Those Arabs with the camels got clear away. Selim ben
+Amoud ain't a man to let Mowbray stick alone down here, not by a
+jugfull. I'll bet you that we'll find a bunch of Selim's men there with
+Selim himself. He was no slouch, that guy."
+
+Schoverling's face clouded. "You've struck the nail on the head, Jack.
+That thought occurred to me also. Well, if he's there then we'll have to
+keep away and stick to the rogue. But if we get there first--by thunder,
+I'll load that cache into the wagon and get out with the elephant!"
+
+"Still, in a way it belongs to him--" began Charlie, but the explorer
+grunted.
+
+"Rot! His expedition lost out. Mowbray directed his letter to me or
+Selim, and said nothing about splitting up. Whoever gets there first
+lands the loot, that's flat. If it belonged to anyone, it belonged to
+the original bunch of slavers. However, we're counting our chickens a
+long while before the incubator's opened. When we get there it's time
+enough."
+
+To this there was no answer. That night, sure enough, Charlie was glad
+that he had kept the big fires blazing high, for herds crowded about in
+vain endeavors to get at the water-hole, even pressing up to the thorn
+zareba, until the boy had to scatter burning brands among the quantities
+of eland and antelope and zebra, not wishing to shoot them. Two of the
+steel traps caught, however; one a slinking jackal and the other a fine
+oryx, both of which Charlie reluctantly shot with the small rifle
+belonging to the doctor.
+
+In the morning Amir Ali reported that lions had been about, but they had
+made no disturbance, and the safari took up its advance soon after
+sun-up. At the noon halt they were still winding through the valley, but
+in the afternoon this opened out into open country once more. Jack had
+his glasses out and gave a yell of delight.
+
+"There's the lake! Dead ahead!"
+
+Even without the aid of glasses they could all see the shimmer of water
+in the sun, three miles ahead. The Masai gave a yell of joy at the news
+that they had nearly reached the end of their journey, but they could
+not hope to get up to the lake until evening with the slow-moving oxen.
+So, leaving the doctor and the Indians to defend the wagon if need were,
+Schoverling and his two assistants rode slowly onward to have a look at
+things and pick out a suitable place for the night's camp.
+
+In half an hour they were standing on a slight rise that sloped down
+gently to the waters of the lake. These were thickly cloaked with reeds,
+but there was no sign of the high jets of hot water of Selim's story on
+the _Mombasa_.
+
+"See that steam up at the other end of the lake?" said Schoverling,
+looking through his glasses. "That's where the hot springs are, no
+doubt."
+
+"There's the island," cried Jack excitedly, who had moved a hundred feet
+away. Joining him, the others were now able to see a low island which
+had been hidden by intervening trees. It lay barely half a mile beyond
+them, and seemed almost a part of the shore. Beyond this the trees
+seemed to get thicker, while across the lake itself the green and brown
+hills rose to the height of a few hundred feet. In fact, hills seemed
+to be all around them, save to the south.
+
+"Shouldn't wonder if this was one of the craters of an old volcano,"
+declared the General.
+
+"The ground has risen slightly, since we left the wagon, and those hills
+all around would indicate such a thing, as would the steaming hot
+springs up at the other end. Well, we can ride forward to the island.
+Mowbray's camp must be there somewhere."
+
+Keeping a wary eye open for any danger, they rode on until they arrived
+opposite the island. Here, under a group of spreading mimosas, they saw
+vague signs of an old camp. All was overgrown with vegetation, but as
+they rode down to it the indications of a camp were clear.
+
+"There are tattered old tents, all right," exclaimed Charlie in huge
+excitement. "But animals and the weather have covered things up pretty
+well."
+
+Arriving on the spot, they leaped from their saddles and kicked away
+vines.
+
+"Here's a gun-butt," shouted Jack, holding up a moulded fragment of
+wood. "And here's the rest of it--an elephant gun."
+
+Schoverling took the pieces and fitted them together. The barrels were
+twisted and bent, the stock splintered. Rubbing the latter clear of
+mould, something gleamed in the sun and he uttered an exclamation.
+
+"Mowbray's! Got his name on a silver plate. Well, that's worth keeping
+as a trophy, boys. Now about camp. This was a mighty poor place for him
+to land, but he wasn't expecting overgrown buffalo and pythons. There's
+a little rise behind, where we can camp for to-night, but to-morrow
+we'll try to get across to the island. That will be a whole lot safer
+from his majesty the rogue."
+
+"Jumping sandhills, I forgot!" cried Charlie suddenly. "Say, General,
+we've beat the Arabs back, that's a cinch!"
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XV
+
+"UNDER THE LEFT GATE-POST"
+
+
+They made a brief examination of the ground for any sign of elephant
+spoor, but were relieved to find that there was nothing to indicate a
+recent visitation from the rogue to the scene of his exploits.
+
+"Hold on," cried Charlie as they remounted. "Something's wrong!"
+
+The faint sound of gun-shots drifted to them against the wind, and as
+the safari was out of sight behind the clusters of trees, all three
+urged their horses into a gallop, grave anxiety in their hearts. With
+rifles ready, they galloped on to find the wagon stuck hard and fast in
+a rocky drift, while at one side lay the huge body of a rhinoceros.
+
+"All is well, sahib," saluted Gholab Singh, beaming. Von Hofe grinned
+through his beard.
+
+"The rhino wished to inspect us, Schoverling, but the boys soon finished
+him off. We'll have to work to get out of this, I fear."
+
+Congratulating the four gun-bearers, all placed themselves at the wheels
+of the wagon, while Schoverling went to the heads of the cattle. After
+twenty minutes of hard work they got the wagon across the drift and onto
+better ground.
+
+They told of finding the camp abandoned by Mowbray, and the General
+showed the fragments of the broken elephant-gun. This was a visible sign
+that the rogue elephant was indeed to be feared, and the doctor
+brightened up and rubbed his hands.
+
+"Ach, he must be wonderful! Let us push on, please!"
+
+They camped that night on the little hill that sloped down to the lake,
+just opposite the island. None knew what danger might lurk in the reeds,
+and as these seemed to be dry above the level of the water, with the
+wind off-shore, they sent the Masai ahead to fire them while the others
+waited with rifles ready.
+
+The reeds blazed up quickly for a width of a hundred feet, beyond which
+they managed to keep the fire under control, for had it spread to the
+country behind it would have worked sad havoc with animal life.
+Gradually the smoke died down without anything having happened. But a
+moment later there was a rustling of the reeds and grass off to the
+right, and a cry broke from the Masai as a tremendous python swept
+toward them.
+
+The heavy guns roared out instantly. With its head blown to pieces, the
+huge snake lashed around for a few moments and then lay still. When they
+advanced to measure it the boys could hardly believe their senses. The
+python was a good forty feet in length, and while the excited Masai
+danced around, von Hofe took photographs eagerly.
+
+"We'll get over to that island to-morrow." Schoverling peered through
+his glasses as the sun sank below the hills. "No trees on it, but you
+can make out the ruins of the place that Mowbray burned. We'll have to
+make sure the oxen can get across that thirty yards of water, too."
+
+Von Hofe and Gholab Singh were on guard that night, but the dawn came
+without any disturbance. The first move was to make sure that the cattle
+and wagon could get across the strip of water to the island; if not,
+then all their plans would have to be changed. Fortunately, they had met
+with no crocodiles in the country.
+
+Schoverling and the boys, right after breakfast, rode down to the shore.
+The burned patch of reeds had left the lake clear before them, and as
+they urged the reluctant horses down into the water, they were gratified
+to find that it was shallow--at the deepest part there was only three
+feet of water. Without returning, they shouted to Gholab to lead on, for
+the bottom was sandy and strewn, with small rocks.
+
+On these one of the oxen went down, but without injury. With the Masai
+tugging at the wheels to help, the wagon soon rolled up on the shore
+where the three were waiting, and they turned to look ahead. The island
+seemed bare of trees, which fact was explained later; only thorn-bushes
+clustered around them, the ground gently rising.
+
+"There's the stronghold Mowbray talked about," exclaimed Charlie as they
+urged their horses to the crest of the little rise on the bank. Ahead of
+them lay the ruins of a burned building, black and desolate. Others
+could be seen behind, while around the first was a ring of half-burned
+stakes that had at one time formed a strong palisade of heavy timbers.
+
+"We'd better keep out o' there," said Schoverling. "Here's a good place
+for the outspanning, just at the bank. Bakari, better get a thorn fence
+up right away. There's no telling what's liable to happen here, and we
+can command the shore at all events."
+
+"Why can't we take a look around inside?" queried Jack, somewhat
+puzzled. "There's no sign of any animals around."
+
+"Plague," returned the explorer briefly. "First thing we do, we must go
+back and get in some game. The Masai only got one impalla buck
+yesterday, and we can't run short on grub."
+
+With no disappointment the boys gazed over the blackened ruins before
+them. At one time these must have formed a stronghold indeed. Signs of a
+"corduroy" road for wagons led down to the water; a clear spring bubbled
+out cold and refreshing from inside the compound and ran on past their
+camping-place; and the sturdy palisade had resisted even the fire.
+Charlie looked regretfully at the huge gate-posts, each nearly three
+feet thick and planted solidly in the ground.
+
+"Well, the sooner we do the shooting the sooner we can dig," he sighed,
+and turned to the horses. The three gun-bearers had old Snider rifles
+of their own, which so far had not come into use, and these they left
+with the doctor and Gholab, carrying the 30-30s as had been their custom
+during the march.
+
+It was still an hour before noon, and by midday they had shot two
+impalla, which with four hartebeest made up all the game they could
+carry back. No signs of danger were seen on that short excursion,
+although once a lion broke cover and trotted away ahead of them. The
+boys could see no sign of elephant with their glasses.
+
+"He's around," laughed Schoverling to their expressions of doubt. "An
+old rogue will stay hidden away until he makes up his mind to wipe the
+earth with whomever's around. When we get ready to go after him, you'll
+have your hands full." Which statement later turned into a very true
+prophecy.
+
+They rode back to camp to find the zareba done, and von Hofe standing
+before the charred gate-posts, hands on hips. He turned at their
+laughter and smiled.
+
+"But yes," he retorted to their jokes as they surrounded him, "I too
+have the treasure-hunt fever got! Yet is there one question which
+puzzles me, my friends!"
+
+"What's that?" laughed Charlie.
+
+"The letter said 'under the left gate post.' Now, when you face the
+burned buildings here, this one is the left; but when you turn around,
+it becomes the right!"
+
+"Well, we'll tackle that one first," smiled the explorer. "But we'll
+have to satisfy Gholab before we do anything else. Impalla steak would
+taste pretty good right now, to me."
+
+None the less, the boys were too hungry to do much speculating over the
+treasure, eager though they were. Half an hour later, over their tea, a
+council was held as to just how to get at the cache. Spades they had
+none, and the spears and swords of the Masai were not fitted for
+digging.
+
+"Listen," said Jack impatiently. "Mowbray said he located the cache,
+didn't he? Well, at best, he had only a few hours over here. When he
+burned down the place the smoke kept him from knowing that his Arabs had
+lit out. That stands to reason. He didn't have time to dig around; he
+knew right where that stuff was hid, and he went for it. If he found
+it, the earth would still be pretty loose where he dug."
+
+"I've got a better scheme than digging," put in Charlie, his eyes
+gleaming. "Hitch up the cattle to the posts an' pull 'em out."
+
+"Good!" shouted Schoverling. "We're behind the times on thoughts,
+Doctor! Gholab, inspan the cattle over by those posts."
+
+Ten minutes later the oxen were standing ready, while the explorer and
+the boys made the ox-chains fast to one of the heavy posts. Slowly the
+oxen forged ahead, but to their dismay the post broke off short.
+
+"That's a pretty good sign that the earth is unmoved," declared
+Schoverling cheerfully. "Now for the other one."
+
+Once more the oxen were inspanned to the other post, and walked off at
+the yells of the Indians. This time a shout went up from all, for the
+huge post had been ripped out of the earth bodily, leaving a cavity
+exposed. Charlie leaped down at once, feeling around.
+
+"More logs down here," he cried. "We'll have to throw out the dirt after
+all."
+
+Instantly Jack was at his side, with two of the broad-bladed Masai
+knives. There was but room for one to work, but with Jack above and
+Charlie below the dirt began to fly at a great rate. The two boys were
+soon plastered with sandy mud. Then came a shout from Charlie, who was
+buried to his eyes.
+
+"Catch hold, up there!"
+
+Something rose above the ground, and Schoverling and Jack caught it,
+while the doctor peered down. No sooner had the explorer caught the long
+object than he gave a cry.
+
+"Those aren't logs, Chuck! They're tusks--wrapped up for carriage!"
+
+A moment later the hole had been enlarged in the sandy soil enough to
+let Jack leap down to his chum's aid. One by one the tusks were passed
+back to the Indians and Masai, who grouped them in a pile with much
+wondering chatter.
+
+"Reg'lar cave down here," came the muffled voice of Jack. "All ready?"
+
+"All ready," and more tusks came up. A moment later the dirt-smeared,
+excited face of Charlie appeared, and he clambered out, followed after
+by the figure of Jack.
+
+"That's all, General. Hurray!"
+
+"All!" echoed Schoverling. "Sure there's nothing else? Here, let me get
+down there."
+
+For the first time Charlie remembered the gold-dust. But although the
+explorer poked around in the cave-like hole beneath with one of the
+Masai knives, he finally had to climb up with the admission that the
+boys had been right. There was no gold-dust.
+
+For a few moments they stood around the huge pile of tusks, while von
+Hofe counted them. All were wrapped securely in canvas, mouldy and
+rotted away with the damp of the ground. Charlie tore at one and it came
+loose in his fingers.
+
+"Thirty-two," announced the big German excitedly. "They vas all goot,
+but none fery large, too. Ach, vat a pile of ifory!"
+
+"I'm sorry there was no gold-dust, though," said Schoverling. "Funny
+Mowbray mentioned it. Prob'ly he took it for granted that it was down
+there with the tusks. You don't suppose there could be a cache under
+that other post, do you?"
+
+"One o' these would be plenty to build," returned Jack. "Let's have a
+look at the ivory, Chuck."
+
+He pulled out his knife and ripped off the covering of the tusk Charlie
+had been pulling at. The ivory gleamed yellow and discolored in the
+sunlight, while a gasp of surprise went up from the Masai, as for the
+first time they realized what these things were. The gun-bearers gazed
+stolidly.
+
+[Illustration: One slash of the knife, and out trickled a little stream
+of yellow grains into the brown fist of the explorer.]
+
+"What's this?"
+
+Jack had held up the tusk, the point of which towered far above his
+head. As he lowered the hollow butt to the ground in triumph, Charlie
+sprang forward and picked up a little bag of skin that had been held
+inside the hollow end by a wooden plug, rotted away. The explorer leaped
+forward, whipping out his knife, and grabbed the little bag from
+Charlie's hand. One slash of the knife, and out trickled a little stream
+of yellow grains into the brown fist of the explorer.
+
+"Gold!"
+
+For a moment they all stood motionless, gazing at the little bag. Von
+Hofe's face expressed mild interest; that of Schoverling was aflame with
+passion; Charlie knew that his own eyes were gleaming and glittering, as
+were those of Jack. But almost instantly the General laughed and resumed
+control of himself.
+
+"We're acting like a lot of fools. Here, boys, rip open the rest of
+those tusks and see if there are more sacks."
+
+They fell to work with their knives, von Hofe joining in the work, and a
+few moments later a little heap of skin bags, each the size of a man's
+fist, was piled up. Each tusk had held one, and two or three yet
+retained the wooden plugs, which had to be dug out, so firmly were they
+fastened.
+
+Charlie stood at the edge of the group, oblivious to all else. Suddenly
+he felt the hand of his gun-bearer, Amir Ali, laid on his arm, and the
+Gurkha whispered in his ear.
+
+"Will the sahib come over here?"
+
+Wondering, the boy followed the Gurkha off to one side. The gun-bearer
+pointed to the mainland, toward the foot of the lake, and Charlie
+whipped out his glasses instantly.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XVI
+
+SELIM SHOWS HIS TEETH
+
+
+No sooner had he obtained a focus than Charlie gave a cry of surprise.
+There, half a mile away still, were a dozen camels grouped together and
+covering the ground with huge strides. On their backs he could make out
+the white figures of men, and something flashed in the sunlight like a
+rifle-barrel.
+
+Despite his surprise, Charlie saw with a glance that the others had not
+heeded him, and smiled. Casing his glasses, he walked back to the group
+and stood beside Schoverling, who was examining some of the gold-dust
+from the opened bag.
+
+"I have a little surprise-party for you," he said quietly. They looked
+up at him, but Jack caught something in his voice. "You might be
+interested in knowing that Selim and his party are about half a mile
+away and coming up at full speed."
+
+With a rush and a shout the party ran to where they could get a good
+look at the mainland, Charlie smiling at the sensation his words had
+created. Gholab, whose keen eyes had first detected the approaching
+camels, came running from the camp with the rifles in his arms.
+
+Schoverling, after a long look through his glasses, turned and took one
+of the 30-30s without a word, buckling on his bandolier hurriedly. Von
+Hofe turned to him protestingly.
+
+"We are not going to fight, Schoverling?"
+
+"Don't see what else," returned the explorer, grimly, as he motioned to
+the boys to take their rifles and bandoliers. "Those are Arabs beyond
+any question. There's only one thing they are here for, and that's the
+ivory and gold."
+
+With a troubled look, the doctor watched them.
+
+"You don't mean that they'd fight for it, General?" asked Charlie,
+pausing. "Are you joking or do you mean it?"
+
+"Mean it?" repeated the explorer, his bronzed face hardening. "Why,
+boys, there's a fortune in that stuff there! Do you think for a minute
+that those Arabs are going to give it up to us, or that I'm going to
+hand it over to them? Not much! We've got it and we'll keep it while we
+have a cartridge left!"
+
+The Indians grinned, while they loaded their own Sniders, Gholab taking
+one of the heavy Hammonds. Schoverling took command of the situation,
+while the boys gazed at each other in dismay, knowing that he would
+never give in, and not relishing the idea themselves of either fighting
+or giving up the treasure that lay there in the sun before them.
+
+"Bakari! Come here. Gholab, you see that the cattle are led inside this
+old stockade, which will keep them under cover from shore at least.
+Bakari, post your men to north and south in the bushes fronting the
+mainland. Do you understand? But don't loose an arrow or spear until I
+tell you. Got that?"
+
+The Masai understood well enough, and his fierce eyes glittered at the
+thought of battle with the Arabs, whom every native hated with good
+reason. The oxen were led inside the half-burned stockade and left to
+themselves.
+
+"Now, Doctor," and Schoverling's voice was very keen and cold, "this
+isn't your funeral, you know. If we have a row with these fellows you
+had better keep--"
+
+"You are crazy as a loon, yes!" roared the big Teuton with a smile.
+"Would we gife up all dis?" and his hand swept toward the tusks. "Never,
+mine friends! I like not to fight, und maybe we don't fight, but ve vill
+not gife up,--nein!"
+
+At this emphatic declaration the explorer smiled grimly. A look showed
+Charlie and Jack that the camels were almost to their old camp above the
+lake, opposite.
+
+"If there's any chance to get out of it, General," said Charlie, "I
+suppose you won't go huntin' for trouble?"
+
+"Not I," returned Schoverling. "There are twelve of them and eight of
+us, besides the Masai, but we've got the stuff and we've got a strong
+position here. Well, come on down to the shore and we'll see what's
+doing."
+
+Five minutes later they stood in the bushes above the water. The Indians
+Schoverling posted at intervals, the Masai being hidden farther on.
+Across the way, through the burned opening in the reeds, they could see
+the camels drawing up on the eminence a hundred yards back from the
+lake, and through their glasses the boys distinctly made out the figure
+of Selim ben Amoud, in white burnous.
+
+The Arabs bunched together for a few moments, examining the island
+through their glasses. The wagon and zareba were in plain sight, but
+they seemed to be puzzled by the absence of men or cattle. All were
+armed with rifles, and two or three began picketing out the camels,
+others taking off the camel-bags and proceeding to make camp. A moment
+later the tall form of Selim ben Amoud advanced alone to the edge of the
+water. As he did so, Schoverling rose to his feet and greeted him with a
+warning shout in Arabic.
+
+"_Naharak said_, Selim!"
+
+Selim paused, evidently in astonishment, stared, and half-raised his
+rifle. Then he dropped it again, and Charlie could distinctly see his
+white teeth flashing in the sun.
+
+"_Naharak said_, effendi! So it is my friend Mr. Schoverling, eh? What a
+delightful surprise to meet you here!"
+
+"I guess it's a surprise all right, Selim," responded the explorer. "But
+the delight is all on your side. Are you out trading?"
+
+"If you would come across and visit us," returned the Arab evasively,
+"we would be very, very pleased to receive you."
+
+"Don't doubt it a bit," and Schoverling grinned. "Say, come on over and
+have tea, Selim. Come alone, though. You can trust me but I don't trust
+you worth a whoop."
+
+For answer the Arab waved his hand and turned back to his camels. The
+boys gazed after him in curiosity, and Charlie turned to the explorer.
+
+"Think he'll come, Gen'ral?"
+
+"You bet," laughed the other. "He's dying to know whether we've found
+that cache, and he'd trust me well enough. But we've got to make ready.
+Jack, go and sling a tent over that pile of ivory. Gholab!"
+
+"Ready, sahib."
+
+"Make tea for all of us, with Selim thrown in. A slice of that impalla
+for him, too, as he's apt to be hungry. Guru, you and Akram and Ali keep
+hidden. When I call for you, come alone."
+
+"Yes, sahib."
+
+"What you goin' to do, General?" asked Charlie as the explorer told him
+to return to the zareba with von Hofe and make every preparation to
+receive their visitor.
+
+"I'm goin' to run a big bluff on him," said Schoverling. "Remember,
+those chaps are watching everything we do. Ah, Selim's taking a camel.
+Keep well hidden up there, Guru!"
+
+With this parting admonition he departed. As they walked slowly back
+toward the camp, Charlie saw Schoverling pause amid the bushes, fling
+out his arm as if talking to some one, and point toward the shore. At
+one place he called Bakari and two of the warriors, whose appearance and
+disappearance caused a flutter in the group of Arabs.
+
+Selim, meanwhile, had mounted a camel and was approaching the shore. It
+was only three in the afternoon, and the stately Arab, clad in pure
+white from head to foot, gleamed in the sunshine, to the admiration of
+the boys. He drove his ungainly steed into the water and they splashed
+across. Schoverling, returning, met them at the shore of the island, and
+led the camel forward to the camp.
+
+Selim cast quick glances to right and left, but the gate-post hole and
+the treasure were hid beneath canvas and behind the grazing horses--a
+touch of Jack's. The camel knelt, and the Arab slipped off, Charlie
+dividing his attention between the man and the ugly, thick-lipped camel.
+
+They all shook hands with smiling courtesy, as if rifles had not been
+leveled five minutes before, and squatted on blankets around the folding
+canvas table. Gholab was just making ready tea and a slice of game for
+the Arab.
+
+"So," smiled Selim, though his black eyes narrowed, "you found the
+wonderful lake of Quilqua, after all! Did you have any guides?"
+
+"We had Mowbray for a guide," retorted Schoverling dryly. A look of
+astonishment went over the dark face as the explorer handed him his own
+map. Then, in a few words, the General related how they had found
+Mowbray and produced the letter in proof. As he finished, Gholab came up
+with the tea, the plate of impalla for Selim, and one or two biscuits.
+The Arab glanced at the game hesitatingly.
+
+"All right, Selim," declared the explorer. "There is no salt on it. Take
+away the biscuits, Gholab."
+
+Charlie and Jack interchanged a meaning glance. The Arab would eat no
+salt with them, which was not a good sign. But he fell to on the
+venison with gusto, and for half an hour the talk was merely of the
+country, the game, and their trip. Selim stated that the Arabs who
+deserted Mowbray had all perished crossing the desert except one, who
+had remained to guide him with a rescue party. He congratulated them
+warmly over their first elephant hunt, and also on their battle with the
+buffalo. But at last Schoverling became exasperated.
+
+"Look here, Selim," he said firmly, "you and I know each other pretty
+well, and I don't see any use in beating about the bush. Did you come
+after Mowbray, and nothing else?"
+
+The Arab's face changed, his lids narrowing and his cruel smile thinning
+down. He met the gaze of the American squarely.
+
+"Do you know of anything else I might have come after?"
+
+"It might have been ivory and gold-dust, for one thing," with which the
+explorer relieved the tense situation by proffering a cigar. Von Hofe
+smiled to himself as Selim took it with no indication that the words had
+startled him.
+
+"Yes," he admitted, "it might." He lit the cigar calmly. At the same
+moment Guru came into sight, evidently having received some
+instructions beforehand that Charlie had missed. He advanced toward the
+party and saluted.
+
+"Well?" said Schoverling.
+
+"Report, sahib. Two of the Arabs have gone up north by the shore."
+
+"You'd better call over to your men, Selim," chuckled the American.
+"They're liable to meet a buffalo or python in there." The Arab shrugged
+his shoulders unconcernedly. "Very well, Guru. Keep the men just as they
+are. Send out twenty of the Masai to spread along the shore to the
+north. Your men are arranged?"
+
+"Yes, sahib," said the quick-witted Sikh impassively. "Ten near the ford
+under Amir, and my ten somewhat to the south."
+
+"You may go." Guru saluted and wheeled. Charlie, watching Selim's
+clear-cut face during this amazing dialogue, saw it change expression
+slightly.
+
+"You have quite a force, Schoverling," remarked the Arab calmly. "Then,
+I suppose that you have found the gold-dust and the ivory?"
+
+"Under that canvas," and the explorer pointed. "The game's up, Selim ben
+Amoud. We got here first, that's all. If your men had not deserted
+Mowbray he would have cleaned up the stuff. As it is, we have it."
+
+"Yes, you have it," repeated Selim slowly. "But, my friend, you shall
+not have it long."
+
+"Oh, we have men enough to defend it," retorted the American carelessly.
+Charlie drew a quick breath. "You have only a dozen over there, and
+could not cross the strait under our fire."
+
+"If it comes to that," and Selim's teeth glinted, "you cannot cross
+under _our_ fire, my friend. I learned of the cache and of this lake,
+and equipped the first expedition. By right, that treasure is mine."
+
+"But I found it," returned the explorer brutally. "And by might it is
+mine."
+
+For a moment tense silence fell upon the group. The boys watched the
+slim Arab, whose composure never gave way under the strain, which must
+have been terrific. He puffed slowly at his cigar, and then smiled.
+
+"Mr. Schoverling, and you, Dr. von Hofe, you will realize that your men
+cannot subsist on air. They must have food. You may be too strong for us
+in open fight, but at least we can keep you on the island. I do not
+give up so easily. You may give me trouble, but in the end you will
+die--either of starvation or by bullet. By the way, this brush seems to
+be pretty dry. When my men were here it was green. I think a taste of
+fire--you catch my meaning!"
+
+Charlie, at least, caught it and stared aghast at the cruel smile of the
+Arab.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XVII
+
+FRESH SPOOR
+
+
+"That's a good bluff, Selim," rejoined Schoverling coolly, "but it won't
+go down with me. You might as well give in."
+
+The other shook his head, still smiling. But at this instant Jack, who
+had listened with intense interest to the duel of words, struck in and
+cut the Gordian knot.
+
+"Look here, General, and Mr. ben Amoud," he said, leaning forward
+earnestly. "There's no sense in getting hot-headed over this. As near's
+I can see, we've each got a mighty good excuse to scrap, and we can do a
+whole lot of damage once we start. But this country isn't the place to
+start a row, not to my notion.
+
+"You hold on, Gen'ral, till I get through. We might shoot things up
+consid'able, both of us, an' when we got through there wouldn't be
+enough of us left to get back home with. If you start anything, Selim,
+we'll raise you the limit; but there's no sense to it. _I_ say, let's
+each of us divvy up the loot an' dig out for home."
+
+That Schoverling had not considered any division of the cache was
+evident, and he considered Jack's speech silently. Selim, however,
+smiled again.
+
+"My young friend, you are very wise. Mr. Schoverling, perhaps we might
+agree on that basis. A fight would be costly to each of us, and might
+leave us unable to get home, as is suggested. I am none too anxious to
+stay in this land after the tales you tell. I recognize the fact that
+you have the advantage of having the treasure in your power, and see no
+reason why we should not share it and be gone."
+
+Schoverling hesitated as Selim spoke. He plainly realized the force of
+the argument, and yet to give up even a share of the ivory and dust went
+against the grain. Perhaps he doubted the good faith of his friend the
+enemy, but in any case von Hofe's grunt of approbation decided him.
+
+"It iss goot," said the doctor anxiously. "We haf come for elephant,
+please."
+
+"All right," and the American's face cleared as he held out his hand to
+the Arab. "We'll split even, Selim!"
+
+"Hurray!" shouted Charlie in delight. "Bully for you, General! Good
+work, Jack!"
+
+"That is entirely agreeable," smiled Selim, as he gripped Schoverling's
+hand. "Now, my friends, we have been in this country for two days, and I
+have many affairs to get back to. There is no reason why we should delay
+here for an hour. It is still two hours to sunset, and our camels could
+cover much ground before then. So, if you are willing, let us divide the
+spoils and I will trouble you no more."
+
+"That suits us," exclaimed the explorer, springing to his feet. "Come
+along and we'll have a look at the stuff."
+
+Casting a glance opposite as they arose, Charlie saw that the Arabs had
+started a fire and seemed to be eating, while the camels grazed. The
+party left the zareba and moved over to the stockade. Jack threw the
+canvas from the two piles, and for a moment the Arab's eyes glittered as
+he surveyed the great heap of ivory.
+
+"Those tusks," he said, "will be hard for us to carry off. We had
+thought to sling them on our camels, but after our experience of that
+desert to the north it would make hard work, I fear."
+
+"Well," suggested Charlie, "you might swap your share of the ivory for
+some of our gold-dust. That would make it easier to carry."
+
+"Yes," added the General thoughtfully. "We can carry the tusks easily
+enough in the wagon. There are sixteen each, Selim, and the same number
+of bags. Here's one I cut open."
+
+The Arab ran the soft gold-dust through his fingers for a moment.
+
+"There is no use stopping to count or weigh all this, Schoverling. Each
+tusk must be worth, at an average, some fifteen pounds at the coast.
+Each of these bags seems to be of a size, and they are probably weighed
+to the same amount. My share of the ivory is worth, at a guess, some two
+hundred and forty pounds, or twelve hundred of your dollars. What would
+you say the dust weighs?"
+
+"That is a little hard to say," returned the American. "I rather think,
+however, that an estimate of about two hundred and fifty dollars--or
+fifty pounds a bag--would be just about right. If that suits you, I'm
+agreeable."
+
+"I think that is nearly correct," smiled Selim, nodding. "It is, I
+believe, slightly an under-estimate, but that matters little. Then, at
+the rate we figure, I would have twenty-one bags as my share, leaving
+you all the ivory. That is correct?"
+
+"Perfectly," returned Schoverling. "It looks to me like a fair split,
+and if the gold runs over that figure, I won't kick. I'll throw in an
+odd bag for good luck, Selim; that leaves us an even ten and the ivory.
+There must be more gold where that came from, just the same. You might
+come back here with a good force and make a clean-up, old man."
+
+"Perhaps I will," said the other seriously. "Now, will you help me get
+these bags into my saddle-bags? I have no fancy to remain overnight by
+this lake."
+
+All pitched in and helped to carry the twenty-two little bags of
+precious metal over to the camel, which was kneeling and chewing
+stolidly. Jack stepped too near with his burden, and the vicious head
+swung about to snap. He leaped back amid the laughter of the rest, who
+remained at a safe distance.
+
+"Well, I suppose we must part," smiled Selim, holding out his hand as
+the last of the bags was laced in the leathern flaps. "It would be
+insincere to say that I am not sorry at finding you here before me, but
+I am really very glad we did not have to fight. To tell the truth, my
+men were almost too frightened to remain here, and had it come to
+fighting, they would have refused point-blank."
+
+"Well," laughed Schoverling whimsically, "I might as well show under
+true colors, since you have led the way," and he called in all the men.
+At sight of their real numbers, Selim gave a shout of laughter.
+
+"Good, brother, good!" he cried as he urged his camel forward from its
+knees. "We played the game well, you and I." He waved a hand as the
+camel plunged into the water at the ford. "_Abqa'la kheir!_"
+
+"_Abqa'la kheir_," shouted the American, and the two boys waved their
+hats with attempts at the Arabic, which drew a last laughing wave from
+Selim. Then his camel went up the farther bank.
+
+"That means 'until the next time,'" laughed Schoverling. "Well, I'm glad
+that we got out of that as we did."
+
+"So am I," declared von Hofe, smiling broadly. "See, they are going."
+
+So it appeared, for as Selim joined the rest there was an immediate
+bustle. The camels were unpicketed, the saddles adjusted, and the camp
+broken. All twelve Arabs were now in camp, and one by one the awkward
+steeds rose to their feet.
+
+"They're mighty fine beasts," declared Schoverling. "No common camels
+there, but picked racers, worth a fortune apiece. Selim does things up
+right, no doubt about that."
+
+"He come pretty near doing us up right," grinned Jack. Then came a
+flutter of the burnouses, those on the island waved, and the group of
+camels moved away at an amazing speed, to the southwest.
+
+"Probably going to circle around the hills and strike for the north,"
+commented Charlie.
+
+While daylight remained they did nothing save store the ivory in the
+wagon and place the gold-dust in the brass trunk belonging to von Hofe.
+
+It was decided to place the traps along the shore of the island near the
+mainland, and all the men were called upon to make note of where they
+were placed, as they would be left in position until the camp was
+abandoned.
+
+The injured Masai were slowly recovering from their hurts, for although
+their wounds rapidly healed, the broken bones took longer. As they sat
+around the dinner-table that night the four explorers decided that every
+day spent in that country added to their danger, and that the search for
+the rogue elephant should begin the next morning.
+
+"I'm kind of disappointed," muttered Charlie to Jack, as they rolled up
+that night with Schoverling on guard. "Aren't you? I thought that stuff
+would be worth heaps o' coin, but according to the General's figures it
+doesn't come to more'n five thousand iron men."
+
+"What're you looking for?" retorted Jack wearily. "Four or five million?
+S'pose we split up on that, it means a thousand each, easy. Why, I never
+saw a thousand dollars in my life. It looks mighty good to me, Chuck."
+
+"Oh, it looks good," admitted Charlie hastily. "But when you talk about
+treasure you reckon in big figures. I'm not kicking, though,--not on
+your life! Good thing you came in when you did with that splitting
+proposition. How'd you happen to think of it?"
+
+"Who wouldn't?" returned Jack. "Made me tired to hear 'em sit there and
+argue back and forth, making threats and so on. No sense in it."
+
+Nothing occurred that night to disturb the camp, although the Masai kept
+up until late a dance and chant in triumph at having, as they supposed,
+put the Arabs to flight. But in the morning Schoverling made an
+announcement that roused everyone.
+
+"About eleven last night," he said at breakfast, "I heard a big crashing
+north of us, farther toward the head of the lake. Then came snorts, and
+a single trumpet. Sounded as if the rogue elephant was out on a stroll
+and had run into a buffalo or something."
+
+"Then I feel very sorry for that buffalo," smiled von Hofe. "We shall
+all go out this morning, no?"
+
+"You don't have to go, Doctor," said the explorer earnestly. "At best
+you could only take one of the rifles, for we'll have to carry the big
+guns."
+
+"Pouf!" grunted the German. "It is my party, and I shall go."
+
+"We might as well go on foot," declared the American. "Now, boys, we can
+put a little tracking into play. The Masai won't do us any good. As
+near as I can see, we'll have to catch that fellow when he isn't looking
+for trouble. And remember, under no circumstances fire at his head."
+
+"How about the bull you killed back at Kenia?" objected Charlie. "You
+put a bullet in each eye, an' laid him out cold."
+
+"He was within ten feet of me then, and I had no choice in the matter.
+No, when we do get a shot just you aim to cripple him--in the shoulder
+or leg. If he charges, hit his trunk or break his leg. One of those
+bullets, big as they are, would simply flatten out on his skull and stun
+him."
+
+Von Hofe, who still wished to kill one of the giant buffalo himself,
+took a 30-30, and Akram Das had perforce to take his Snider or go
+weaponless. The three hunters carried their own heavy guns, for they
+might be needed at an instant's notice, and filled their bandoliers to
+the limit. Gholab Singh was left in charge of the camp with five Masai,
+Bakari and the other five accompanying the party as flankers and scouts.
+
+An hour after sunrise they waded across the strip of water between the
+island and shore, and turned toward the head of the lake, as it was in
+this direction that the explorer had heard the elephant during the
+preceding night. There seemed to be no sign of any game around them, for
+once, at which Jack wondered.
+
+"Scared out," said the explorer grimly, "if that rogue was around."
+
+Ahead, the country did not appear so densely wooded as they had thought.
+It ascended toward the hills beyond in gentle, rolling swells, and they
+had no difficulty in advancing through the knee-deep grass. On every
+hand were trees in clumps or singly, but no sign of elephant spoor could
+they see.
+
+"Maybe we'd better strike in a little from the river," suggested
+Charlie. "Jack and I could have a look, anyhow, an' we might pick up a
+trail."
+
+"I don't think there's much danger that he'd be here, so go ahead,"
+returned Schoverling to their delight. "Circle around for a couple of
+hundred yards, but don't get out of sight. If he was here last night, he
+was probably drinking, and has gone in to feed."
+
+The two boys left the party, followed by Akram and Amir Ali, their
+gun-bearers. But although they searched the ground well, no sign of a
+trail did they see. Getting a little farther from the party all the
+time, they proceeded for nearly a mile, and found the forest verging
+into a jungle of bamboo.
+
+"Jack," exclaimed Charlie quietly, stopping, "come over here."
+
+Jack and the Indians joined him, and he pointed to the ground a yard
+ahead. There, deep in the soft soil, was the fresh spoor of an
+elephant--and at its size the Indians gave a gasp of wonder. It was the
+rogue!
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XVIII
+
+LOST!
+
+
+Charlie looked around. The bamboos were all about them, and without
+retracing their steps they could not summon the others. Jack gripped his
+arm.
+
+"Look here, Chuck! Let's cut away from the General an' get after that
+rogue ourselves!"
+
+"Got to obey orders," and Charlie negatived it with a shake of the head.
+"That spoor is too fresh to suit me, Jack."
+
+"Well, then," and Jack was quivering with eagerness; "we can start on
+an' send Akram back--slow. We ain't kids. We can tell pretty well if we
+get up on him."
+
+Charlie considered this proposition for a moment. He longed to have the
+triumph of downing the old rogue himself, and yet he knew that
+Schoverling would countenance no disobedience, no departure from orders.
+But that fresh spoor, leading off through the trees, tempted him and at
+last he fell.
+
+"All right. Akram, you go back and call the General. But don't hurry.
+Tell him that we'll wait for him at the first sign of any danger."
+
+The Indian grinned, saluted, and loitered away. Without hesitation
+Charlie turned and led the way along the trail. This followed a
+newly-broken path through the bamboos, and five minutes later they were
+swallowed up in the dense thickets.
+
+Both the boys had been used, Jack especially, to following the trail of
+deer or moose and smaller animals through the woods of the northland,
+but this was very different. The ground was soft, and the huge bulk of
+the elephant had sent his feet down at times three or four feet.
+However, they were able to read the signs of the trail well enough.
+
+"He stopped to feed here," declared Charlie, pointing to a tangle of
+broken branches at one side. Wherever possible they trod in his tracks,
+as no sticks or twigs remained to crack beneath their feet; the holes in
+the swampier ground they of course avoided.
+
+"Hello, what's this?" cried Jack. A new trail merged into that which
+they followed, and by a footprint they knew it for that of one of the
+giant buffaloes. "We've got to see if he's waiting or not."
+
+The Indian watched them stolidly, gun ready, while they examined the
+broken bamboos and twigs, as well as the hoof-prints.
+
+"He came in ahead o' the rogue," declared Charlie positively. "Look,
+here's a deep buffalo-print that's dry. There's one 'bout as deep made
+by the rogue, but there's water at the bottom. Then these trees over
+here are dry, but there's still a little sap on the elephant's trail."
+
+"Then they came by last night, sure enough," said Jack. "The buffalo
+started along feeling pretty good. Stopped to nibble here. The rogue
+struck into his trail and swished right along careless. Stopped to rub
+on that tree--there's buffalo hair--whew! Say, that rogue is big!"
+
+"Twelve feet up," said Amir Ali with a delighted display of teeth, as he
+reached in vain toward the scarred bark.
+
+Somewhat sobered by this, the boys stared at each other until Charlie
+resumed the march. No sign had come from behind of Schoverling and the
+rest. Fifty feet farther on the bamboos thinned out, and in a little
+glade they came upon fresher tracks.
+
+"Hello!" cried Jack. "Buffalo stopped to feed over here but didn't stay
+long. Look at the tracks, Chuck. He turned around and stood for a
+minute, till his hoofs sunk down. Most likely that's where he heard the
+elephant coming along."
+
+"Well, he didn't wait." Charlie was bending over the spoor as he walked
+along, reading the sign eagerly. "He pushed right ahead after a
+minute--say, do you s'pose that was the rumpus the General heard last
+night? He said it sounded like a buffalo and an elephant!"
+
+Jack shook his head, and now they followed the trail out onto higher
+ground. The bamboos thinned behind them, and before them were scattered
+woods, heavy, flat-topped thorn trees, junipers, and others the boys did
+not know, while the country was well broken up by little rises. But that
+was not what caused the boys to leap forward.
+
+In the open space ahead lay a shapeless mass that had once been a
+buffalo. It was easy to tell what had happened here. The elephant,
+possibly coming upon the great bull at the edge of the bamboos, had
+paid no attention to him; possibly had brushed him aside. At all events,
+the bull had drawn blood, for they saw spots on the edge of the elephant
+spoor. The huge rogue had plainly turned and pressed his opponent
+against a big tree, which was scraped and dotted with hair and blood.
+But this stood a good fifteen feet away from the position of the
+buffalo, and there were only elephant tracks between!
+
+"Jumping sandhills!" cried Charlie, realizing the truth. "He must have
+caught up that buffalo and _flung_ him! Then he went over and kneeled
+all over him."
+
+"Right you are," exclaimed Jack. "Ugh, what a mess! Let's go on."
+
+As they turned, a vulture came winging out of the sky and descended
+without fear on the carcass. Charlie pointed out that they must be
+wrong.
+
+"This is another bull, Jack. If the other fellow fought last night, the
+vultures would be on him by now. Anyhow, that sap was too fresh on the
+twigs. Bet a dollar the rogue had two scraps last night instead of
+one."
+
+That they were right was verified a moment later by Amir Ali, who
+attracted their attention to a moving object behind some trees six
+hundred yards away, at the crest of a rise. The boys had their glasses
+out instantly.
+
+"It's either a rhino or the fellow we're after," declared Jack with a
+low exclamation. "He's moving off--there he goes on the other side!"
+
+"Come on!" cried Charlie, running forward. Carried away beyond all
+thought of caution by the excitement, Jack and Amir Ali dashed after him
+recklessly. It had been impossible to make out the elephant clearly by
+reason of the trees between, but Charlie had no doubt that he was the
+one they were after.
+
+That they were plunging into grave danger never occurred to him, nor did
+he wonder why Schoverling and the rest had not come up. The sun was now
+high overhead, and the higher ground around them bore no tracks. But
+neither boy had eye for anything except that clump of trees where the
+huge animal had stood.
+
+"You keep your eye peeled," cried Jack, at his chum's shoulder. "He's
+liable to be waitin' there."
+
+But as the trees opened out ahead they saw that the elephant had not
+waited. The group of mimosas where he had been was waving slowly in the
+wind, and for the first time Charlie remembered that most essential part
+of African hunting. A brief glance, however, showed that they were
+across the wind from their prey, and so were safe enough. What lay
+beyond the mimosas was hidden by the rise, toward which they were
+rapidly approaching.
+
+Panting, the boys at length drew up to the trees, and the country ahead
+unfolded. To their keen disappointment, there was no sign of the
+elephant to be seen. Jack, however quickly pointed to some tall bushes
+that grew on a slope to their left, more in the direction of the lake.
+
+"There he is! See them bushes wave, Chuck? Better send in a bullet!"
+
+"Cut it!" exclaimed Charlie sharply as Jack brought up his rifle.
+"Remember what the General said--that we'd have to catch him when he
+wasn't looking? Got to bust a leg first crack or we're goners. Say,
+how'll the rest know where we are?"
+
+"They can follow our tracks," cried Jack over his shoulder, as he fell
+into a lope and headed for the bushes, beyond which rose trees. They
+were but four hundred yards away, and could plainly be seen waving as
+some heavy body struggled through them. The thought crossed Charlie's
+brain as he followed, that even Schoverling would have a hard time
+tracking; them on that high, rocky ground, but he dismissed it
+carelessly enough. Amir Ali pounded along after them, grimly determined
+not to be left behind.
+
+They were soon near the bushes, but instead of venturing into them, Jack
+turned aside toward a small hill. Charlie was at his heels, and a moment
+later the two boys drew up with a simultaneous cry of dismay.
+
+"Rhino!" ejaculated Charlie in disgust. "We're a dandy pair, we are!"
+
+Emerging from the bushes, a hundred yards farther on, was a huge
+rhinoceros. They were now down-wind, and he neither heard nor saw them,
+but trotted off lumberingly without so much as a glance in their
+direction.
+
+"We're a nice bunch of idiots," said Jack angrily, unconsciously
+including the innocent Amir in the epithet. "We just saw something big
+and gray moving around, and took it for granted he was an elephant. We
+should have stuck to the trail, Chuck."
+
+"Well," returned Charlie, "we're here. Next question is, where are we?"
+
+"Where are we?" repeated Jack, turning in surprise. "Why, we headed east
+to that first clump of trees, and then north to here. There's the bamboo
+patch we left, over there."
+
+"Not much," retorted his chum with conviction. "We headed south first,
+and then east. There's our elephant trail," and he pointed to a second
+patch of bamboo jungle to their left.
+
+For a moment the two stared at each other. Then Jack broke into a laugh.
+
+"Say, remember that story 'bout the two tenderfeet up north o' Smith's
+Landing? One said east was one way, the other said it was the other way.
+They had a scrap and each went east for the camp. An hour later they
+come face to face in the same place. Well, that's us."
+
+Charlie appealed to Amir Ali, but the Indian shrugged his shoulders and
+declared that he had not kept the sense of direction, supposing that the
+sahibs had done so. As neither boy had followed the compass, the
+instruments were of little use to them.
+
+"Plain fact of the matter is, we're lost," announced Charlie. "If we
+fired our guns we'd get the General down on us soon enough, but it'd
+scare off the rogue."
+
+"Be a heap more likely to bring _him_ down on us," grunted Jack. "We've
+got to find the bunch before the General gets sore, Chuck."
+
+Charlie suggested following their track back, but of course this proved
+impracticable. There were clumps of mimosa thorn in every direction,
+each similar to that which they had first headed for. They had left no
+tracks on the bare, rocky soil, and the grass had closed behind them in
+the wind.
+
+The tired Amir Ali squatted down to rest, while with their glasses they
+searched in every direction. They thought of the smoke from the
+camp-fire, but this was invisible behind the trees. In the distance
+moved a herd of zebra and another of impalla, but this was the only
+indication of life that they could find.
+
+"We'll hear the General shooting pretty soon," said Charlie disgustedly.
+"What's that over in those trees? Looks like an old native village."
+
+"Let's go over an' see," suggested Jack. "We can camp down there and
+build a fire. That'll draw the General quicker'n shots would. They might
+get the rogue's notice."
+
+"Ain't so eager," grinned Charlie. "What's the matter? Nerve failed
+you?"
+
+"No," confessed the other. "It's all right chasing along when you know
+the rest of them are right behind. But to get stuck off somewhere all by
+yourself isn't so soothing. Guess we won't monkey with that rogue till
+the General comes along."
+
+They started across the slope to where a few of the ruined huts showed
+the location of a former village. This, when they reached it, proved to
+be of large extent, a few huts yet standing, others lying in over-grown
+mounds amid the trees. To their right extended fairly open plain, while
+at the left the heavier forest and bamboo patches closed in almost to
+the village.
+
+Jack set about building a fire to send up a smoke-signal, while Charlie
+wandered through the desolate village. Suddenly he came upon something
+that surprised him. Lying in a half-cleared space were the half-burned
+sticks and the ashes of a fire. Plainly, they had been there for weeks,
+for vines were growing through, but they could not be as old as the
+village itself. He called Jack over to look at it.
+
+"This must be where Mowbray hit off to after the rogue," exclaimed Jack
+excitedly. "We're plumb on his tracks. I'm goin' to let off a gun, rogue
+or no rogue. There--that's the bunch now!"
+
+To their ears came the faint report of a heavy gun, borne over the
+trees, Jack lifted his own Hammond, and sent off both barrels in
+response.
+
+"That'll get him," he chuckled as he threw out the shells and reloaded.
+"Now for the fire."
+
+But as he turned away, a startled cry from Amir Ali drew their
+attention.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XIX
+
+THE ROGUE ELEPHANT
+
+
+"Sahibs! Sahibs! The elephant!"
+
+At first the boys looked behind him, taking it for granted that he was
+running from the danger. But at his gestures they whirled, and there
+Charlie saw a sight that he never forgot.
+
+Breaking slowly and deliberately from the forest to their left, three
+hundred yards from where they stood, was an elephant. But no ordinary
+tusker, this. To the startled imaginations of the two boys it seemed
+that the tremendous brute towered far above them; in reality, he was
+over thirteen feet tall, but his immense tusk and huge flapping ears
+increased his terrific aspect two-fold.
+
+"Jumping sandhills!" breathed Charlie. He heard Jack give a startled
+gasp at his side.
+
+They were up-wind, and the elephant not only heard but saw them. For a
+moment he stood, and the boys were so awed by that terrible sight that
+they forgot to shoot. With his great trunk flung far up, those
+twelve-foot tusks stretched far up, and the great semi-circular ears
+lifted up until they almost met above his head, he seemed like some
+prehistoric monster from thousands of years ago.
+
+Watching the evil glitter of the little red eyes, Charlie stood as if
+paralyzed. He realized how the primitive men must have felt when they
+stood face to face with some huge mammoth, hurling against him their
+stone-tipped spears and wielding stone axes.
+
+The very thought woke him to himself, bringing back to mind the gun in
+his hands. Jack stood, awestruck at that fearsome sight, and Charlie
+yelled at him. As he did so, the rogue elephant curled forward his trunk
+and trumpeted loud and shrill--a wild scream of rage and defiance that
+sent the chattering monkeys scurrying in frightened silence.
+
+"Shoot, sahibs!" implored the sweating Amir Ali, not daring to infringe
+the rules himself.
+
+Once again the elephant trumpeted, and broke forward with a lurch that
+sent the trees crashing down around him. Jack, trembling with buckfever,
+flung up his gun and let go both barrels at once. The shock sent him
+over backward with a groan.
+
+Charlie waited an instant. He knew that Amir was helping Jack up, but
+those two cordite bullets had not stopped the great rogue--if, indeed,
+they had hit him at all. As it proved, both bullets had merely raked
+along his side. Then he charged--terribly, deadly, asking and receiving
+no quarter from these puny men who dared to stand before him.
+
+For that instant Charlie felt a wild inclination to turn and run. Then
+he conquered himself and became cool as he heard the click of Jack's
+rifle-breech behind him. Up went his Holland, and aiming for the
+elephant's right fore-leg, he pulled trigger.
+
+Without pausing to see the effect, he followed it instantly with the
+second ball. During one brief moment it seemed that neither had taken
+effect, and with feverish energy Charlie pressed home two fresh shells.
+That awe-inspiring beast was a hundred and fifty yards away, and each
+second seemed an hour. But, just as Jack stepped forward and fired
+again, the great beast rocked and went down.
+
+Both bullets had struck his fore-leg, shattering it. A wild thrill of
+hope ran through Charlie and he leaped forward. But the rogue had
+vitality beyond the ordinary, vitality and a tremendous raging strength
+that carried him to his feet again. For an instant he stood, lurching
+and rocking on three legs, trumpeting shrilly until the woods re-echoed,
+and then the horrified Charlie saw him plunge forward, trunk thrown out.
+
+Again Jack fired, and splinters of skin and bone flew from the rogue's
+head. Charlie realized full well that his only hope lay in crippling the
+terrible beast, crippling him so that he could advance no farther. A
+hundred yards away now, and as he raised the big rifle slowly, mist
+blurred his sight for a moment. All depended on those two last shots in
+his rifle.
+
+The mist cleared away. It seemed that the great beast was towering over
+him, reaching for him with that terrible trunk. But he resisted the
+temptation to fire at the head, and drew a careful bead on the left
+fore-shoulder.
+
+Charlie never remembered firing those two shots. The next thing he knew,
+the rogue was standing before him, then the great head went down with a
+shrill scream of pain and anger, the mighty form crumpled, and with a
+crash that shook the very earth beneath them the rogue elephant toppled
+forward.
+
+Something long and white flashed past, and from behind came a sudden
+scream of pain. Whirling, Charlie saw Amir Ali, who had stuck to them
+bravely, stagger away and sink down. As the elephant dropped, his
+impetus and the tremendous weight of his gigantic body had snapped off
+short one of the ends of his tusks, the severed ivory flying forward and
+striking the Gurkha in the head.
+
+Charlie ran to the man's side, but at a shout from Jack left him and
+sprang up. The rogue was not dead yet. Fighting to the last, he was
+trying to rise to his shattered knees, trumpeting till the woods rang
+again with the horrible screams. Jack was dashing around to his side for
+a finishing shot, and Charlie watched. Despite himself, he could not
+help feeling a throb of pity for the great animal, rogue and destroyer
+though he might be, struggling there so desperately to rise.
+
+And, impossible though it seemed, the elephant actually regained his
+feet. But even as he did so the shattered fore-legs crumpled up again,
+and with a low muttering moan of pain he went down. A moment later Jack
+fired, twice, placing each bullet behind the left shoulder.
+
+Charlie saw the mighty trunk go up, but no sound issued forth. The red
+eyes seemed to meet his as with one tremendous effort the rogue lurched
+up once more, then the huge ears sagged down, the trunk frothed forth
+bloody foam and fell in the dust, and with a single groan the elephant
+went over on his side, dead.
+
+Charlie's first thought was for Amir Ali. Reaching the man's side, he
+pulled the stopper from his canteen and poured water over the Gurkha's
+head, which was flowing with blood. The wound, however, proved to be
+slight and the man was but stunned. Charlie gazed down at the foot-long
+sliver of ivory, and rose. He felt unable to do more, and glanced around
+for Jack. The other was sitting in the grass, gazing at the dead rogue.
+
+Feeling his knees growing weak with the reaction, Charlie staggered to
+his side and sank down. For a few moments neither boy spoke. There was
+something terrible about having killed such an animal, something that
+oppressed them both with a feeling that it was not yet over, that at any
+moment he might rise and come at them.
+
+Charlie tried to speak, but his throat was dry. He had emptied his
+canteen over Amir, and caught that of Jack. Taking a swallow, he forced
+the water on Jack, and a moment later the boys rose to their feet.
+
+"I'm kind of sorry," was all Jack could find to say, as he stared down
+at the brute who had lived so badly and died so well. Charlie shared his
+feeling, but a moment later a loud gun-shot came to his ears. He
+remembered the other party, and raising his gun, fired twice in the air.
+
+"Buck up, old man," he said, with a shaky laugh. "The General will be
+here in a minute, and he'll give us what for. The old boy died game,
+Jack--but he had it coming to him. Just remember Mowbray."
+
+Jack nodded without speaking. Then, from the forest, not behind but
+ahead of them, broke a group of yelling Masai headed by Bakari, running
+on the spoor of the rogue elephant. Behind, trying to hold them back
+from too close pursuit, ran the figure of Schoverling.
+
+Both explorer and natives paused together as they grasped the scene
+before them. Jack and Charlie stood at the side of the dead beast, still
+pale with the strain of their terrific battle. Behind lay the motionless
+form of Amir Ali, his beard sticking up in the sunlight, the sliver of
+ivory by his head, while a few yards away the forgotten fire sent up a
+thin wreath of smoke into the air.
+
+Schoverling was the first to break that awed silence, as on his trail
+appeared Guru, von Hofe, and the rest, all at full speed. While they
+came up and paused in amazement, the explorer advanced and held out his
+hand.
+
+"I congratulate you," he said huskily. Meeting his eye, the two boys
+found there only honest admiration, as from man to man, and they shook
+hands without a word. Then von Hofe joined them, shaking hands with a
+flood of excited German through which broke no word of English, and the
+boys laughed.
+
+"We thought you'd be pretty sore, General," admitted Charlie a moment
+later, "about our going off that way. But, honest, we didn't mean
+to--except at first."
+
+"I understand, boys," smiled the bronzed explorer. "But never mind
+that--Akram told me all about it when we began to get anxious. We
+thought you had gone right on the trail of the elephant, which only led
+us out here, so we kept on as fast as we could. And this is the great
+Rogue Elephant! How on earth did you boys kill him? Is Amir dead?"
+
+"No, only stunned," said Charlie. Guru and Akram were attending to their
+injured comrade, who by this time was sitting up, dazed but not badly
+injured. Before hearing their story, Schoverling despatched Bakari and
+Guru to bring on the Masai with all speed, while Guru had instructions
+to inspan and move the camp to this spot, it being possible for the
+wagon to get around the forest from the south. The Masai who were left,
+at once fell to work, von Hofe directing them while he listened.
+
+The two boys told the story of the hunt together, freely confessing that
+at first they had been too much frightened to take good aim. The course
+of their bullets was followed, von Hofe carefully pocketing the sliver
+of ivory that had so nearly done for Amir Ali.
+
+"It iss no matter," he said. "I can it fix when I set him up.
+Ach--vait, vait! My camera!"
+
+He hastily brushed the five Masai off the carcass and photographed it
+from every angle, then posed the boys with their rifles, each holding
+out an ear of the huge beast. The elephant had rolled back until its
+head lay on the ground, trunk extended, between its fore-legs, and the
+two boys looked and felt very small indeed as they stood on each side of
+the massive head.
+
+An hour later the remaining Masai arrived and all fell to work on the
+skinning. The explorer built up the fire, making a great smoke signal
+that would guide Guru and Gholab for miles, but it was not until evening
+that the slow ox-team crawled up to them and was outspanned. In place of
+a zareba, the traps were set out, but there was to be no rest for the
+skinners. While great fires were lighted, before which strings of
+elephant meat were roasted, they worked far into the night getting off
+the skin of the Rogue.
+
+"How long will we be here, Doctor?" asked the explorer anxiously.
+
+"We have not enough men to pare down the skin inside of a week," said
+the scientist. "However, the wagon can stand the weight, and we can let
+the paring go. With two days of drying in the sun and one day to rub in
+the chemicals, we will go."
+
+"Three days," nodded Schoverling, and turned to the boys. "Well, boys, I
+needn't say that I'm sorry not to have had a shot at the brute, for poor
+Mowbray's sake, but I'll donate a case with his shattered rifle, his
+letter, watch, and pictures of the Rogue to the Club when we get back.
+So you both get the credit for him together, eh?"
+
+"I guess so," said Jack. "I didn't do much to knock him over. Chuck did
+that. But I got in the two shots that finished him."
+
+"Jack stopped him all right," protested Charlie, "with that bullet in
+the head, when he charged us on three legs. Honest, General, even after
+he went down the second time, I was scared stiff when I saw him get up!
+I thought I was dreaming, for I knew that both my bullets had got him in
+the knee."
+
+"I should think you would have been scared!" laughed the explorer. "I
+was scared myself, that day the other bull nearly got us up on Mount
+Kenia. Well, it's all over now. I guess you boys have gained the
+biggest share of the credit, but you sure deserve it."
+
+When the boys woke in the morning, the Masai were already hard at work
+again. At last they got the huge sections of skin off, and the
+protesting oxen were made to drag off the carcass away from the camp.
+The hide was thoroughly cleansed, and then staked out to dry in the sun
+for two days, after which the doctor would attend to it further.
+
+"Doesn't it all seem like a wild old dream to you?" asked Jack that day,
+as they rode out after an impalla steak. "It's hard to realize that
+we've done it, Chuck."
+
+"Just the same, we have," laughed Charlie. "Say, when we get back an'
+show up the pictures we've taken, with the doctor's, won't we raise a
+howl? I'd like to see that Inspector what's his name?--Inspector
+Harrington's face when he hears about it! He'll throw a fit!"
+
+"Not him," chuckled Jack ungrammatically but happily. "He'll put out his
+hand an' say, 'By Jove, allow me to congratulate you! Wonderful!'"
+
+Which, as it turned out, was exactly what he did.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XX
+
+THE BACK TRAIL
+
+
+They remained in "Rogue Camp," as Charlie christened it, for three days.
+The injured Masai warriors were still in no shape to march, although
+Amir was all right again, but the big wagon had plenty of room. The
+ivory was loaded solidly and lashed down, with the elephant hide and
+skull over it, the latter being up in front. On top were placed the
+tents and other impedimenta, leaving just enough room for the two Masai
+to lie comfortably beneath the tilt.
+
+"I don't envy him his place," grinned Jack as they loaded him on, the
+fourth morning. "Bet that hide won't smell like roses."
+
+"Little he minds that," laughed von Hofe, in huge delight. "He is used
+to much worse. Schoverling, what are the plans?"
+
+All gathered about the explorer with interest. He drew forth the chart
+belonging to Selim, which the Arab had omitted to take with him.
+
+"I have our compass-bearings from the other camp, where Mowbray died,
+to the first water-hole we struck. We can circle around these hills to
+the southwest, then strike back to the river. To follow our old march
+back to the water-hole will not be hard.
+
+"There we had better rest a day and stock up. Fortunately, the cattle
+are in prime shape for the return march. I'll warn Bakari to keep his
+men away from the water this time, and we ought to get across. Gholab,
+come over here. Can you follow a compass-bearing through the desert?"
+
+"Yes, sahib."
+
+"Very well, that is all for now. You see," and Schoverling turned to the
+others, "I figure that by sending Gholab and Guru on ahead with the
+wagon for three or four days, the other six of us can wait at the
+waterhole. That will help out the water in the casks wonderfully. With
+three canteens apiece, we will be able to catch up to them after four
+days, and our horses will still be in prime condition."
+
+This plan was ultimately followed, and proved excellent. They reached
+the water-hole by easy stages, the wagon now being heavily laden, and
+gave the cattle a day's rest here. The doctor was forced to abandon his
+idea of getting a buffalo, as every pound of weight would tell on the
+oxen, but he cared little for that now.
+
+They met with no molestation on the return trip beside the river. On one
+occasion Jack shot another of the forty-foot pythons, which seemed to
+live in the river, but they saw nothing of the great buffalo herd. On
+the day they reached the waterhole a rhino charged down on the caravan
+and narrowly missed goring Bakari, but Schoverling managed to drop him
+in the nick of time.
+
+The explorer allowed the wagon and the Masai four days' start from the
+waterhole. A good supply of fodder for the cattle was taken, although
+this was hardly necessary for any save the horses, and with full
+water-casks Gholab and Guru plodded off. The others camped, resting the
+horses and hunting, and on the fifth morning took up the desert trail.
+
+They caught up with the caravan on the eighth day, after narrowly
+missing it, for a compass-led trip over the desert is no easy matter to
+keep accurate. The cattle were going along well, the injured Masai were
+healing well enough to walk part of the day, and all promised favorably
+for the last stages of the journey.
+
+Being away from fresh game, the Masai were forced to drink water on the
+desert, much to their disgust. However, Bakari realized the necessity of
+keeping his men on the allowance given them, and there was no tapping
+the barrels at night this time. Day after day they plodded along through
+the dust, and at length Schoverling and the others rode ahead to bring
+out the other wagon with more water.
+
+So well had the explorer led them that they arrived within half a mile
+of the camp, to be met with shouts of delight by the men and tears of
+joy by the lonely Gurkha who had remained in charge. The other oxen were
+found sleek and well, and Guru, who protested his entire ability, was
+sent out with the second wagon, loaded with water and fresh fodder, to
+meet the other.
+
+They came in five days later without accident, the footsore and weary
+Masai riding delightedly in the extra wagon. After a rest of two days,
+the load was divided between the two wagons and all set forth for the
+last trek across the first plain they had crossed. But this was not so
+bad as that other, and with the aid of an opportune rainstorm that
+lasted all night, they reached the friendly foothills once more and
+gained the villages of the Samburo.
+
+From here on to Yonge's Station was play compared to what they had been
+through. The commissioner met them with great delight, and they
+outspanned the oxen for a three-days' rest before going on. The Masai
+were paid and dismissed, each with a handsome gift that sent them away
+rejoicing.
+
+"Here," said Captain Yonge, holding out an envelope, "is a cable that
+was forwarded by runner. It came in two days since."
+
+Schoverling reached across the dinner-table and tore it open. He scanned
+it, then broke into a laugh and read it aloud:
+
+        "'_Louis Schoverling, care Captain Yonge, Commissioner
+              District, B. S. A._:
+
+"'Best wishes. Bags valued seventy pounds. Got ahead of you there.
+
+                                             "'SELIM BEN AMOUD'"
+
+They related the story of their trip to Yonge. Schoverling had been in
+some doubt as to the advisability of saying anything about the
+gold-dust, but von Hofe overruled him. When they had finished, the
+captain dissipated their doubts.
+
+"Why, of course, my dear fellow! There will be no objection in the least
+to your keeping the ivory. You have brought back great news. Poor
+Mowbray! He was a plucky fellow, and we always regretted orders to go
+out after him--though he licked us every time. But that news about the
+new country up north is great! I shouldn't wonder if you got an F. R. G.
+S. out of it, Schoverling."
+
+Taking it easy, they arrived in due course of time at the end of their
+trip. Runners had gone on ahead, and for the last two days Piet Andrus
+with a dozen more rode with them, having gone out to meet the wagons.
+
+At Mombasa they interviewed the governor, relating officially their news
+of Mowbray and giving a detailed account of the lake country which had
+been discovered. It was at once arranged that six months later a great
+safari was to be sent up, with Louis Schoverling in charge, to make a
+scientific exploration and map out the country about the hot lake.
+
+Letters and cables poured in on them, and the two weeks spent at
+Mombasa were busy ones. Accounts of their trip were despatched to
+London, New York and Toronto, and on the day they left a cable came
+which announced that Schoverling had gained one of his life-long
+ambitions--Fellowship in the Royal Geographical Society.
+
+"Well, we've sure had a great time," sighed Jack as they steamed out of
+Mombasa. Von Hofe was accompanying them to New York. "We've pulled
+pretty near two thousand each out of that ivory and dust, Chuck."
+
+"It certainly does look like big money now," admitted Charlie. "Well, I
+see where I dig in to learn for a while. Then maybe we can get together
+for another trip somewheres, eh, General?"
+
+"I hope so," laughed Schoverling. "I thought maybe you would have had
+enough of it."
+
+"Not much!" cried both boys together. Von Hofe smiled.
+
+"Wait!" he said. "I have a surprise, some day!"
+
+And one day, months later, he took them to a special room in the great
+Museum of Sciences, where stood the Rogue Elephant as he had stood on
+that last day of his life; beneath, on the great brass plate at the
+bottom, were these words:
+
+                _Elephas Africanus Peeli_
+
+        SHOT BY CHARLES COLLINS AND JACK SAWTOOTH.
+
+           Mounted by Gross von Hofe, F. R. S.
+
+
+
+
+The Boy Scouts of the Air Books
+
+_By_ GORDON STUART
+
+Are stirring stories of adventure in which real boys, clean-cut and
+wide-awake, do the things other wide-awake boys like to read about.
+
+_Five titles, per volume, 60 cents_
+
+        THE BOY SCOUTS OF THE AIR AT EAGLE CAMP
+
+        THE BOY SCOUTS OF THE AIR AT GREENWOOD SCHOOL
+
+        THE BOY SCOUTS OF THE AIR IN INDIAN LAND
+
+        THE BOY SCOUTS OF THE AIR IN NORTHERN WILDS
+
+        THE BOY SCOUTS OF THE AIR ON FLATHEAD MOUNTAIN
+
+        _Splendid Illustrations by Norman P. Hall_
+
+       *       *       *       *       *
+
+        Publishers     The Reilly & Britton Co.      Chicago
+
+
+
+
+The Famous AIRSHIP BOY SERIES
+
+_By_ H. L. SAYLER
+
+_SEVEN TITLES_
+
+=1. THE AIRSHIP BOYS Or, The Quest of the Aztec Treasure=
+
+=2. THE AIRSHIP BOYS ADRIFT Or, Saved by an Aeroplane=
+
+=3. THE AIRSHIP BOYS DUE NORTH Or, By Balloon to the Pole=
+
+=4. THE AIRSHIP BOYS IN THE BARREN LANDS Or, The Secret of the White
+Eskimos=
+
+=5. THE AIRSHIP BOYS IN FINANCE Or, The Flight of the Flying Cow=
+
+=6. THE AIRSHIP BOYS' OCEAN FLYER Or, New York to London in Twelve
+Hours=
+
+=7. THE AIRSHIP BOYS AS DETECTIVES Or, On Secret Service in Cloudland=
+
+Fascinating stories of that wonderful region of invention where
+imagination and reality so nearly meet. There is no more interesting
+field for stories for wide-awake boys. Mr. Sayler combines a remarkable
+narrative ability with a degree of technical knowledge that makes these
+books correct in all airship details. Full of adventure without being
+sensational.
+
+        _The make-up of these books is strictly
+        up-to-date and fetching. The covers are
+        emblematic, and the jackets are showy and in
+        colors. The illustrations are full of dash and
+        vim. Standard novel size. Price 75 cents net
+        each._
+
+       *       *       *       *       *
+
+        Publishers     The Reilly & Britton Co.      Chicago
+
+
+
+
+The Aeroplane Boys Series
+
+_By_ ASHTON LAMAR
+
+"The best yet written," says the Grand Rapids Herald. These stories have
+a strong appeal to the active American boy, as their steady sales bear
+witness. Each of the seven titles already published has met with great
+popularity, and the new title, "On the Edge of the Arctic," is the best
+of the series. Correct in all mechanical details, full of wholesome
+adventure and excitement.
+
+EIGHT TITLES
+
+        _1. IN THE CLOUDS FOR UNCLE SAM
+            Or, Morey Marshall of the Signal Corps_
+
+        _2. THE STOLEN AEROPLANE
+            Or, How Bud Wilson Made Good_
+
+        _3. THE AEROPLANE EXPRESS
+            Or, The Boy Aeronaut's Grit_
+
+        _4. THE BOY AERONAUTS' CLUB
+            Or, Flying for Fun_
+
+        _5. A CRUISE IN THE SKY
+            Or, the Legend of the Great Pink Pearl_
+
+        _6. BATTLING THE BIGHORN
+            Or, The Aeroplane in the Rockies_
+
+        _7. WHEN SCOUT MEETS SCOUT
+            Or, The Aeroplane Spy_
+
+        _8. ON THE EDGE OF THE ARCTIC
+            Or, An Aeroplane in Snowland_
+
+        _Fully illustrated.    Colored frontispiece.
+                Cloth 12mo.     60 cents each._
+
+       *       *       *       *       *
+
+        Publishers      The Reilly & Britton Co.     Chicago
+
+       *       *       *       *       *
+
+Transcriber's Notes:
+
+Obvious punctuation errors repaired.
+
+Page 3, "reak" changed to "reek" (the reek of cedar)
+
+Page 19, "wierd" changed to "weird" (in weird-looking)
+
+Page 29, "surpise" changed to "surprise" (his vast surprise)
+
+Page 90, "botton" changed to "bottom" (at the bottom)
+
+Page 131, "Ghobal" changed to Gholab" (then Gholab Singh, Mohammedan)
+
+Page 136, "though" changed to "thought" (I thought camels)
+
+Page 207, "shoud" changed to "should" (we should not share)
+
+"Charley" was changed to "Charlie" to fit rest of 308 uses in the text.
+
+    15: Charlie paused and
+    84: Charlie had stepped
+    90: thrust forward. Charlie
+        Charlie sank down
+    91: Charlie nodded.
+    97: Charlie. "This looks
+   100: Quilqua?" asked Charlie.
+   177: began Charlie, but the
+
+
+
+
+
+
+End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of The Rogue Elephant, by Elliott Whitney
+
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