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diff --git a/25450-h/25450-h.htm b/25450-h/25450-h.htm new file mode 100644 index 0000000..8202a0e --- /dev/null +++ b/25450-h/25450-h.htm @@ -0,0 +1,7697 @@ +<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Strict//EN" + "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-strict.dtd"> + +<html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml"> + <head> + <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html;charset=iso-8859-1" /> + <title> + The Project Gutenberg eBook of The Rogue Elephant, by Elliott Whitney. + </title> + <style type="text/css"> +/*<![CDATA[ XML blockout */ +<!-- + p {margin-top: .75em; + text-align: justify; + text-indent: 1.25em; + margin-bottom: .75em; + } + img {border: 0;} + .tnote {border: dashed 1px; margin-left: 10%; margin-right: 10%; padding-bottom: .5em; padding-top: .5em; + padding-left: .5em; padding-right: .5em;} + ins {text-decoration:none; border-bottom: thin dotted gray;} + h1,h2,h3,h4,h5,h6 { + text-align: center; /* all headings centered */ + clear: both; + } + hr { width: 33%; + margin-top: 2em; + margin-bottom: 2em; + margin-left: auto; + margin-right: auto; + clear: both; + } + + table {margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;} + + body{margin-left: 10%; + margin-right: 10%; + } + + .pagenum { /* uncomment the next line for invisible page numbers */ + /* visibility: hidden; */ + position: absolute; + left: 92%; + font-size: smaller; + text-align: right; + } /* page numbers */ + + .blockquot{margin-left: 5%; margin-right: 10%; text-align: justify;} + + .bbox {border: solid 2px; margin-left: 20%; margin-right: 20%; padding-bottom: .5em; padding-top: .5em; + padding-left: .5em; padding-right: .5em;} + + .center {text-align: center;} + .smcap {font-variant: small-caps;} + + .caption {font-weight: bold;} + + .figcenter {margin: auto; text-align: center;} + + .figleft {float: left; clear: left; margin-left: 0; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-top: + 1em; margin-right: 1em; padding: 0; text-align: center;} + + .figright {float: right; clear: right; margin-left: 1em; margin-bottom: 1em; + margin-top: 1em; margin-right: 0; padding: 0; text-align: center;} + + .unindent {margin-top: .75em; + text-align: justify; + margin-bottom: .75em; + } + .right {text-align: right;} + .sig {margin-right: 10%; text-align: right;} + .hang1 {text-indent: -3em; margin-left: 3em;} + // --> + /* XML end ]]>*/ + </style> + </head> +<body> + + +<pre> + +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: ISO-8859-1 + +*** 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 + + + + + + +</pre> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_2" id="Page_2">[2]</a></span></p> + + + + +<h3>The Boys' Big Game Series</h3> + +<h1>THE ROGUE ELEPHANT</h1> + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 257px;"> +<img src="images/cov01.jpg" width="257" height="400" alt="Cover" title="Cover" /> +</div> +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_3" id="Page_3">[3]</a></span></p> + + +<div class='center'> +<table border="0" cellpadding="4" cellspacing="0" summary=""> +<tr><td align='left'><h2>The<br /> +Boys'<br /> +Big<br /> +Game<br /> +Series</h2><br /></td><td align='left'><img src="images/ad01.jpg" width="149" height="200" alt="Moose" title="Moose" /> +</td></tr> +</table></div> + + + + + + +<div class="blockquot"><div class='hang1'><b>THE GIANT MOOSE.</b> The monarch of the big Northwest; a story told +over camp fires in the <ins title="Transcriber's Note: original reads 'reak'">reek</ins> of cedar smoke and the silence of the barrens.</div> + +<div class='hang1'><b>THE WHITE TIGER OF NEPAL.</b> The weird story of the man-killer +of the foothills. Tinged with the mysticism of India, dramatic and +stirring.</div> + +<div class='hang1'><b>THE BLIND LION OF THE CONGO.</b> 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.</div> + +<div class='hang1'><b>THE KING BEAR OF KADIAK ISLAND.</b> A tale of the bully of +the Frozen North and his mysterious guardian. A game-and-man-story +that makes a good boy-story.</div> + +<div class='hang1'><b>THE ROGUE ELEPHANT.</b> A big game hunt that leads into strange +lands and stranger adventures in a real big game country.</div> +</div><div class='center'><br /> +<i>Remarkable covers and four-color jackets. Illustrations and<br /> +cover designs by Dan Sayre Groesbeck</i><br /> +<br /> +Price 60 cents each<br /> + +—————————————————<br /> +Publishers The Reilly & Britton Co. Chicago</div> +<hr style="width: 65%;" /><p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_4" id="Page_4">[4]</a></span></p> +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 255px;"> +<img src="images/gs01.jpg" width="255" height="400" alt="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." title="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." /> +<span class="caption">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.</span> +</div> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /><p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_5" id="Page_5">[5]</a></span></p><div class='bbox'> +<h1>THE ROGUE<br /> +ELEPHANT</h1> + +<h3>BY</h3> + +<h2>ELLIOTT WHITNEY</h2> + +<div class='center'><br /><br /><br />Illustrated by Fred J. Arting<br /> + +<br /><br /><br /><br /> +The Reilly & Britton Co.<br /> +Chicago<br /></div></div> + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_6" id="Page_6">[6]</a></span></p> + + + + +<div class='center'> +<small>COPYRIGHT, 1913</small><br /> +<small>by</small><br /> +<small>THE REILLY & BRITTON CO.</small><br /> +<br /> +<br /><br /><br /> +<small>THE ROGUE ELEPHANT</small><br /></div> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /><p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_7" id="Page_7">[7]</a></span></p> + +<h2>CONTENTS</h2> + + + + + + + +<div class='center'> +<table border="0" cellpadding="4" cellspacing="0" summary="Table of Contents"> +<tr><td align='left' colspan='2'><small>CHAPTER</small></td><td align='right'><small>PAGE</small></td></tr> +<tr><td align='right'>I</td><td align='left'><span class="smcap">A Chance "Out"</span></td><td align='right'><a href="#Page_9">9</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='right'>II</td><td align='left'><span class="smcap">Off for the Front</span></td><td align='right'><a href="#Page_21">21</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='right'>III</td><td align='left'><span class="smcap">Quilqua the Mysterious</span></td><td align='right'><a href="#Page_33">33</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='right'>IV</td><td align='left'><span class="smcap">Making Ready</span></td><td align='right'><a href="#Page_46">46</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='right'>V</td><td align='left'><span class="smcap">The First Hunt</span></td><td align='right'><a href="#Page_59">59</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='right'>VI</td><td align='left'><span class="smcap">Mount Kenia</span></td><td align='right'><a href="#Page_71">71</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='right'>VII</td><td align='left'><span class="smcap">Elephant</span></td><td align='right'><a href="#Page_83">83</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='right'>VIII</td><td align='left'><span class="smcap">A Reconnaissance</span></td><td align='right'><a href="#Page_95">95</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='right'>IX</td><td align='left'><span class="smcap">Into the Unknown</span></td><td align='right'><a href="#Page_108">108</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='right'>X</td><td align='left'><span class="smcap">Mowbray's End</span></td><td align='right'><a href="#Page_120">120</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='right'>XI</td><td align='left'><span class="smcap">The Desert Trek</span></td><td align='right'><a href="#Page_133">133</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='right'>XII</td><td align='left'><span class="smcap">A Deserted Land</span></td><td align='right'><a href="#Page_145">145</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='right'>XIII</td><td align='left'><span class="smcap">A Desperate Battle</span></td><td align='right'><a href="#Page_158">158</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='right'>XIV</td><td align='left'><span class="smcap">The Lake of Mystery</span></td><td align='right'><a href="#Page_170">170</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='right'>XV</td><td align='left'><span class="smcap">"Under the Left Gate-Post"</span></td><td align='right'><a href="#Page_182">182</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='right'>XVI</td><td align='left'><span class="smcap">Selim Shows His Teeth</span></td><td align='right'><a href="#Page_194">194</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='right'>XVII</td><td align='left'><span class="smcap">Fresh Spoor</span></td><td align='right'><a href="#Page_206">206</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='right'>XVIII</td><td align='left'><span class="smcap">Lost!</span></td><td align='right'><a href="#Page_218">218</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='right'>XIX</td><td align='left'><span class="smcap">The Rogue Elephant</span></td><td align='right'><a href="#Page_230">230</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='right'>XX</td><td align='left'><span class="smcap">The Back Trail</span></td><td align='right'><a href="#Page_242">242</a></td></tr> +</table></div> + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /><p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_8" id="Page_8">[8]</a></span></p> + +<h2>LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS</h2> + + + +<div class='center'> +<table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" summary="List of Illustrations"> +<tr><td align='left'><div class='hang1'>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.</div></td><td align='right'><i><a href="#Page_4">Frontispiece</a></i></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><div class='hang1'>Everything else was forgotten in the novel method of riding.</div></td><td align='right'><i><a href="#Page_54">Page 54</a></i></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><div class='hang1'>For the man, just as he relapsed into unconsciousness, murmured four words: "Help—me debbil man!"</div></td><td align='right'><i><a href="#Page_118">Page 118</a></i></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><div class='hang1'>One slash of the knife, and out trickled a little stream of yellow grains into the brown fist of the explorer.</div></td><td align='right'><i><a href="#Page_192">Page 192</a></i></td></tr> +</table></div> + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /><p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_9" id="Page_9">[9]</a></span></p> + +<h2>The Rogue Elephant</h2> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2>CHAPTER I</h2> + +<h3>A CHANCE "OUT"</h3> + + +<p>"You are so crazy as a loon! Boys? Boys to +such a drip dake? Nein!"</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>"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?"</p> + +<p>The German nodded amid a cloud of smoke.</p> + +<p>"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<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_10" id="Page_10">[10]</a></span> +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."</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_11" id="Page_11">[11]</a></span> +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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>"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?"</p> + +<p>"Quite," laughed the American. "When do +we start?"<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_12" id="Page_12">[12]</a></span></p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>"All right. I'll meet you up here three weeks +from to-day, with my friends, at twelve sharp."</p> + +<p>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.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_13" id="Page_13">[13]</a></span></p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>"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!"</p> + +<p>"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.</p> + +<p>"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.</p> + +<p>"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.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_14" id="Page_14">[14]</a></span></p> + +<p>"<i>My dear Charlie:</i>—</p> + +<p>"<i>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!</i></p> + +<p>"<i>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.</i></p> + +<p>"<i>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.</i></p> + +<p>"<i>Have wired and written Sawtooth. He's a +quarter-breed—hold on, old scout! Wait till he</i><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_15" id="Page_15">[15]</a></span> +<i>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.</i>"</p> + +<p><ins title="Transcriber's Note: original reads 'Charley'">Charlie</ins> 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.</p> + +<p>"<i>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</i><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_16" id="Page_16">[16]</a></span> +<i>may have a stake to start in some kind of business +for yourself.</i></p> + +<p>"<i>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.</i></p> + +<div class='right'> +<span style="margin-right: 4em;">"<i>Yours in haste,</i></span><br /> +"<i>Louis Schoverling.</i>"<br /> +</div> + +<p>Charlie slowly folded up the letter and stared +out of the window for a moment.</p> + +<p>"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!"</p> + +<p>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<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_17" id="Page_17">[17]</a></span> +garb of the city, and as he looked at himself in the +glass that morning he grinned again.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>"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?"</p> + +<p>The other shook his head.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_18" id="Page_18">[18]</a></span></p> + +<p>"We're going elephant hunting in Africa," +laughed Charlie. Jack stared at him.</p> + +<p>"Africa? Say, Collins, don't try to give me +heart-failure that way! What is it now, honest?"</p> + +<p>"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.</p> + +<p>"Me—in Africa! Great Scott, am I dreaming +or just crazy? Does he mean it?"</p> + +<p>Charlie produced the good-sized check in evidence, +and Jack's amazement soon gave way to +calm acceptance of the situation.</p> + +<p>"Then we'll go to Africa, unless I wake up and +find myself snowed in somewhere along the trap +line. When do we go?"</p> + +<p>"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.</p> + +<p>"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<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_19" id="Page_19">[19]</a></span> +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?"</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>"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?"</p> + +<p>With much interest Charlie watched the other +scribble a hasty note in <ins title="Transcriber's Note: original reads 'wierd'">weird</ins>-looking characters. +Jack explained that his father could read the +Cree writing-language invented by Bishop Grouard,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_20" id="Page_20">[20]</a></span> +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.</p> + +<p>"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?"</p> + +<p>"Hotel," returned Charlie. "They know me +at the Alberta."</p> + +<p>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.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /><p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_21" id="Page_21">[21]</a></span></p> +<h2>CHAPTER II</h2> + +<h3>OFF FOR THE FRONT</h3> + + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>"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<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_22" id="Page_22">[22]</a></span> +hour, so that I came on the hour—ach! Let go +mine hant! I am a man, not a wood or stone +image!"</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>"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'—"</p> + +<p>"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.</p> + +<p>"You are not such foolish looking boys," +decided the German, nodding his head. "Herr<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_23" id="Page_23">[23]</a></span> +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?"</p> + +<p>"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?"</p> + +<p>Charlie grinned at the Chinook expression and +nodded.</p> + +<p>"He's a peach, Jack! Say, we're goin' to have +the time of our lives, believe me!"</p> + +<p>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.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_24" id="Page_24">[24]</a></span></p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>"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.</p> + +<p>"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.</p> + +<p>"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<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_25" id="Page_25">[25]</a></span> +the Leikipia hills and through them into the Game +Preserve—"</p> + +<p>"To Abyssinia?" cried Charlie, leaning forward +"Are we going—"</p> + +<p>"We are nod," interrupted von Hofe, his deep +voice roaring through his meerschaum smoke. +"You will keep very still, if you please!"</p> + +<p>Charlie was undecided whether to resent it or +not, until he caught a wink from Jack and his +quick anger was dissipated instantly.</p> + +<p>"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.</p> + +<p>"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."<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_26" id="Page_26">[26]</a></span></p> + +<p>The big Teuton emitted a dense cloud of smoke +before answering.</p> + +<p>"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?"</p> + +<p>"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?"</p> + +<p>"They're up in our rooms," answered Jack. +"How about clothes?"</p> + +<p>"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.</p> + +<p>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<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_27" id="Page_27">[27]</a></span> +route. At Alexandria they would pick up an East +Coast steamer to Mombasa.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>"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?"</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>"Very well—that will make about twenty porters," +commented the explorer quietly. "I think +we'll have a mighty interesting time if we carry<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_28" id="Page_28">[28]</a></span> +out my original program of living off the country. +Anything more to settle?"</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>"But why?" laughed the General. "You fellows +wear puttees and leather breeches to keep<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_29" id="Page_29">[29]</a></span> +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!"</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>Charlie stared, expecting to see the little, bitter-tongued +man mobbed. But to his vast <ins title="Transcriber's Note: original reads 'suprise'">surprise</ins> +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.</p> + +<p>"See 'em run, General? Going in, I hear."</p> + +<p>"Boys, I'd like to have you meet Mr. Mowbray,"<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_30" id="Page_30">[30]</a></span> +said the explorer, introducing the two. +"You aren't going to British territory, I suppose?"</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>As Schoverling pulled out the folded map and +handed it over, Mowbray lowered his voice.</p> + +<p>"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!"</p> + +<p>"Jumping sandhills!" ejaculated Charlie. +"Who's he? A grand mogul around here? +What's that last word mean?"</p> + +<p>"Arabic for 'so-long,'" smiled the General.</p> + +<p>"What made 'em all shut up when he handed +it to them?" inquired Jack curiously.</p> + +<p>"That's the chap, of course, who lent me the +map, boys." And the General spoke very seriously.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_31" id="Page_31">[31]</a></span> +"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."</p> + +<p>"You mean," asked the puzzled and wondering +Charlie, "that he's one of the ivory raiders?"</p> + +<p>"He's <i>the</i> 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."</p> + +<p>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<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_32" id="Page_32">[32]</a></span> +man." If Schoverling did, he betrayed no inkling +of it through his bronzed mask of a face.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>The whole voyage to Port Said was uneventful +in actual happenings. But at Port Said they went +aboard the <i>Mombasa</i>, 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.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /><p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_33" id="Page_33">[33]</a></span></p> +<h2>CHAPTER III</h2> + +<h3>QUILQUA THE MYSTERIOUS</h3> + + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>"Why, Selim! I had no idea you were +aboard!"</p> + +<p>"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.</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>Selim, much to Charlie's surprise, spoke fluent +English, enjoyed his cigar as much as did the<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_34" id="Page_34">[34]</a></span> +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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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'?"</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>"Yes," replied the explorer, quietly. "We +are all friends of his."</p> + +<p>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<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_35" id="Page_35">[35]</a></span> +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.</p> + +<p>"Now we can talk, my friends. Mr. Schoverling, +have you ever heard of Lake Quilqua?"</p> + +<p>The American looked puzzled. "Can't say I +remember the name, Selim. Where is it?"</p> + +<p>"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:</p> + +<p>"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.</p> + +<p>"This lake, it seems, is fed by underground<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_36" id="Page_36">[36]</a></span> +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."</p> + +<p>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?"</p> + +<p>The big man stroked his beard reflectively, pulling +at his pipe.</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>"Do you mean," cried Charlie, unable to repress +his eagerness, "that there are giant animals +there?"<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_37" id="Page_37">[37]</a></span></p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>"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!"</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>"What's a 'rogue'?" he asked.</p> + +<p>"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<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_38" id="Page_38">[38]</a></span> +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.</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>At the Arab's last words a glance flashed between +him and the explorer. Von Hofe was<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_39" id="Page_39">[39]</a></span> +frankly puzzled over these references to an unknown +person, but he asked no questions, wisely. +It was the explorer who finally spoke.</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>"Prob'ly Mowbray is making a try for that +Quilqua business," concluded Jack sagely. "It +sounds mighty good to me, old boy?"</p> + +<p>"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<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_40" id="Page_40">[40]</a></span> +he had some axe to grind with the General. You +wait and see."</p> + +<p>"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?"</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_41" id="Page_41">[41]</a></span> +questions. Dr. von Hofe rumbled out a laugh.</p> + +<p>"Would you prefer my absence, General? +I—"</p> + +<p>"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.</p> + +<p>"So!" drawled von Hofe. "Then, this Selim +ben Amoud is who?"</p> + +<p>"I have heard that he is the wealthiest Arab +on the east coast," replied the American. "You +noticed, I suppose, what he first said?"</p> + +<p>Charlie nodded eagerly.</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>"Well," asked Jack, "is Mowbray going to +the magic lake?"</p> + +<p>The explorer laughed. "Who knows? The +whole yarn may be a bluff—probably is. Selim +would like the British to think that Mowbray's<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_42" id="Page_42">[42]</a></span> +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."</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>"But wasn't it true?" he inquired, disappointed. +"It sounded pretty good to me!"</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>"Then it's a sort of conspiracy?" shot out +Jack quickly. "Any chance of our gettin' mixed +up in the business?"</p> + +<p>"Not a bit of it," asserted the explorer, with<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_43" id="Page_43">[43]</a></span> +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."</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>"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!"</p> + +<p>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 <i>Mombasa</i> took up her +interrupted journey south. But late that night,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_44" id="Page_44">[44]</a></span> +as the boys swung into their bunks, Jack gave +vent to his long-repressed thought.</p> + +<p>"Chuck, I wish to thunder we were goin' to +hunt for that lake!"</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>"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.</p> + +<p>"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<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_45" id="Page_45">[45]</a></span> +specimens. But elephants and sea serpents—ach, +no! Such a yarn is crazy."</p> + +<p>"So crazy as a loon," laughed Schoverling, +and said good night.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /><p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_46" id="Page_46">[46]</a></span></p> +<h2>CHAPTER IV</h2> + +<h3>MAKING READY</h3> + + +<p>"Mombasa!"</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>Charlie and Jack had seen considerable of the +cosmopolitan aspect of Port Said, although they<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_47" id="Page_47">[47]</a></span> +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.</p> + +<p>"I was reading the other day," said Charlie, +"that the Indians were swarming over here by +the shipload, and this certainly looks like it!"</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>"Mr. Schoverling?" he inquired. "I am Inspector +Harrington. The governor heard that +you and Doctor von Hofe came in on the <i>Mombasa</i>, +and he detailed me to look after you. He +was anxious to see you in person, as our embassador<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_48" id="Page_48">[48]</a></span> +at Washington had written him, but he was +called up country yesterday."</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>"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?"</p> + +<p>"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?"</p> + +<p>"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?"</p> + +<p>"We'll take about twenty-five porters," answered +the explorer carelessly. At this the Englishman +sat up.</p> + +<p>"My word! Are you spoofin' me or what? +Twenty-five porters! Why, Roosevelt had two<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_49" id="Page_49">[49]</a></span> +hundred, to say nothing of askaris, saises, tent +boys, and the rest!"</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>"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?"</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>"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<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_50" id="Page_50">[50]</a></span> +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."</p> + +<p>Harrington pulled out his notebook and jotted +down the requirements methodically. Then he +rose and shook hands all around.</p> + +<p>"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!"</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>It had been found that a certain supply of provisions<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_51" id="Page_51">[51]</a></span> +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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_52" id="Page_52">[52]</a></span> +in Africa for years. They salaamed at the verandah +steps.</p> + +<p>"First your cook and general manager," +smiled the inspector. "Gholab Singh!"</p> + +<p>A strapping Gurkha stepped out and saluted. +Charlie liked his manner at once.</p> + +<p>"Gholab Singh," said Schoverling promptly, +"are you willing to serve me faithfully and follow +wherever I lead?"</p> + +<p>"I am, sahib," returned the other in a quiet, +confident voice.</p> + +<p>"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?"</p> + +<p>"It is well, sahib."</p> + +<p>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<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_53" id="Page_53">[53]</a></span> +safari under Gholab Singh, and to return with +the skins as obtained.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>"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?"<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_54" id="Page_54">[54]</a></span></p> + +<div class="figright" style="width: 253px;"> +<img src="images/gs02.jpg" width="253" height="400" alt="Everything else was forgotten in the novel method of riding." title="Everything else was forgotten in the novel method of riding." /> +<span class="caption">Everything else was forgotten in the novel method of riding.</span> +</div> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>Toward evening they retired into their special<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_55" id="Page_55">[55]</a></span> +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.</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>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<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_56" id="Page_56">[56]</a></span> +subaltern, Lieutenant Smithers, together with the +Boer merchant, Piet Andrus. The latter offered +them the hospitality of his trading store, which +they gratefully accepted.</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>"Bully for you!" cried Charlie in delight, +while the others laughed heartily.</p> + +<p>"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?"<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_57" id="Page_57">[57]</a></span></p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>"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?"</p> + +<p>"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."<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_58" id="Page_58">[58]</a></span></p> + +<p>"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."</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /><p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_59" id="Page_59">[59]</a></span></p> +<h2>CHAPTER V</h2> + +<h3>THE FIRST HUNT</h3> + + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>"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<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_60" id="Page_60">[60]</a></span> +Kenia, anyway. Just get the idea that we're in +Canada, going by wagon from Athabasca to Fort +McMurray."</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_61" id="Page_61">[61]</a></span> +head of the march, the Sikh riding with them and +the other gun-bearers on each side of the wagons.</p> + +<p>"Isn't this glorious?" declared Charlie as he +rode at Jack's side. "I thought it would be as +hot as blazes!"</p> + +<p>"Oh, we'll need our blankets at night, I guess,—hello! +There's an antelope! What kind is +he, General?"</p> + +<p>Charlie unslung his glasses hastily to gaze at +the quiet figure on a ridge four hundred yards +away, but the explorer answered quickly.</p> + +<p>"Grant's gazelle, Jack. The most beautiful of +all antelopes. He must be an old buck, to judge +from his long horns."</p> + +<p>"When are we going to hunt a little?" asked +Charlie. "I'm itching to get at the guns."</p> + +<p>"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?"</p> + +<p>"I am very happy," declared von Hofe, who<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_62" id="Page_62">[62]</a></span> +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."</p> + +<p>"Very well. Guru!"</p> + +<p>"Yes, sahib?" The Sikh drew up and saluted.</p> + +<p>"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?"</p> + +<p>"I do, sahib. We will arrive to-morrow morning +at ten of the clock."</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_63" id="Page_63">[63]</a></span> +Guru, Amir Ali spurred up his horse and departed +at a steady gallop to the right.</p> + +<p>"He will beat up something," replied the Sikh +to their looks of surprise. "Here game is not +very thick."</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>"You first, Chuck," exclaimed Jack quietly.</p> + +<p>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."</p> + +<p>"Good shot, Charlie," declared the explorer. +"Now one for you, Jack, and we'll have enough +for this time."</p> + +<p>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,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_64" id="Page_64">[64]</a></span> +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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>"What's the trouble, General?" exclaimed +Charlie. Schoverling unslung his rifle.</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>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.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_65" id="Page_65">[65]</a></span></p> + +<p>"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.</p> + +<p>"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?"</p> + +<p>The other's hand fell from his rifle-butt.</p> + +<p>"Of course, Chuck. He won't attack us, I suppose?"</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>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.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_66" id="Page_66">[66]</a></span></p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>"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?"</p> + +<p>"Looks like it," rejoined the Cree. "Look at +those ostriches! Isn't that a ranch, up there +among those buttes?"</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>"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<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_67" id="Page_67">[67]</a></span> +thousand acres back near the hills and try irrigation."</p> + +<p>"It is too dry," nodded the doctor wisely. +"Some day they will irrigate all this. Then the +animals will be gone, all gone."</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>"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?"<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_68" id="Page_68">[68]</a></span></p> + +<p>"True enough," sighed the explorer. "But +the hunter must give place to the settler, Jack."</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_69" id="Page_69">[69]</a></span> +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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>"I wonder if they are really a branch of the +Zulus?" asked Jack while Botha was talking with +the headman.</p> + +<p>"Hardly," said Schoverling. "But no doubt +they are distantly connected. Perhaps they are +some of the Zulus driven north by the great king<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_70" id="Page_70">[70]</a></span> +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."</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /><p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_71" id="Page_71">[71]</a></span></p> +<h2>CHAPTER VI</h2> + +<h3>MOUNT KENIA</h3> + + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>"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?"</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>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<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_72" id="Page_72">[72]</a></span> +yielded ready obedience to the semi-uniformed +figure of Gholab Singh. That afternoon the real +work of the two boys began.</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>"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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>"Pretty rotten," exclaimed Charlie disgustedly. +"Say, they move like a streak!"<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_73" id="Page_73">[73]</a></span></p> + +<p>"You bet. Well, there's lots more where they +came from."</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>"We've roused him up, all right," exclaimed<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_74" id="Page_74">[74]</a></span> +Charlie hastily, as he drew bead. "I'll give him +a chance to turn off."</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>"Good shot, old man," cried Jack, as the other +wiped the sweat from his face. That had been an +anxious moment.</p> + +<p>"Had to hit him in the eye," returned Charlie. +"Didn't see where else to shoot, after I missed +his shoulder."</p> + +<p>But he had not missed the shoulder. His first +shot had been a mortal one, and his second had<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_75" id="Page_75">[75]</a></span> +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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>At seven in the morning the oxen were inspanned +and they went forward until noon. On<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_76" id="Page_76">[76]</a></span> +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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>"Why so?" inquired Charlie, "Are they such +good hunters?"<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_77" id="Page_77">[77]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Never mind," laughed the explorer. "You +wait and you'll see something."</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>"Now, Doctor, just what stuff do you want to +take along?"</p> + +<p>"My sketching kit," replied the German, all +action on the instant. "My small camera I have +in my pocket. Beyond this, nothing."</p> + +<p>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<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_78" id="Page_78">[78]</a></span> +have to do without pigs, the Gurkhas being Mohammedans +and refusing to allow pigs in the camp +for fear of defilement.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>"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?"</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>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.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_79" id="Page_79">[79]</a></span> +But they were not fated to leave the camp +for that day at least.</p> + +<p>"Hey, Jack! General!" shouted Charlie. +"Tumble out lively—something's busted!"</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>"Rhino, sahib! Rhino coming through the +bushes from the river!"</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>"Female," stated the General quietly. "Going +to tear things up, too. Ready, boys?"</p> + +<p>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<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_80" id="Page_80">[80]</a></span> +ran down to the horses and loosed them as the +rhinoceros charged.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>Jack's bullet broke the rhino's off-shoulder;<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_81" id="Page_81">[81]</a></span> +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.</p> + +<p>"Good!" came the calm voice of von Hofe +from behind them. "Now led us see how the +man hurd iss."</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>"Wouldn't have been," admitted Charlie, "if<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_82" id="Page_82">[82]</a></span> +she hadn't lifted her head. Jumping Sandhills! +How that fellow did go up!"</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>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.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /><p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_83" id="Page_83">[83]</a></span></p> +<h2>CHAPTER VII</h2> + +<h3>ELEPHANT</h3> + + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_84" id="Page_84">[84]</a></span> +the party plowed its devious way until long past +noon.</p> + +<p>Suddenly one of the guides held up a warning +hand and slipped ahead. In a few moments he +returned in great excitement.</p> + +<p>"Elephant!" he whispered. "Him close! +Come!"</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p><ins title="Transcriber's Note: original reads 'Charley'">Charlie</ins> 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.</p> + +<p>The others broke into quiet laughter at his +amazed expression, while the guides pulled him +out hurriedly and silently. Then he saw that he<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_85" id="Page_85">[85]</a></span> +had tumbled into an elephant pit—a long, deep +trench, narrowing at the <ins title="Transcriber's Note: original reads 'botton'">bottom</ins>.</p> + +<p>"I told you you'd see something," whispered +the explorer, as Charlie recovered himself, somewhat +disgusted. "Now let's get busy on the +trail."</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>"How many, do you think?" asked Schoverling +cautiously. Jack had been studying the signs +intently, and answered without hesitation.</p> + +<p>"About eight females, three little fellows, and +a big chap."</p> + +<p>"Just what the guides say," grinned the explorer +delightedly. "Pretty good, eh, Doctor? +We were lucky in finding them so near camp."</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>Dr. von Hofe had been sketching busily for<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_86" id="Page_86">[86]</a></span> +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.</p> + +<p>"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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>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<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_87" id="Page_87">[87]</a></span> +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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>"Makes you feel queer," murmured Jack in +Charlie's ear, "to hear 'em and not be able to +get a crack."</p> + +<p>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<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_88" id="Page_88">[88]</a></span> +off the trail to one side, followed by the Indians. +The doctor had remained some distance behind, +to sketch a strange flower.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>"Give the two cows both barrels. I'll bag the +calves."</p> + +<p>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<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_89" id="Page_89">[89]</a></span> +at the eye of the cow on the right, and all three +pulled trigger together.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_90" id="Page_90">[90]</a></span></p> + +<p>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. <ins title="Transcriber's Note: original reads 'Charley'">Charlie</ins> +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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>"Jumping sandhills! I'm satisfied!"</p> + +<p><ins title="Transcriber's Note: original reads 'Charley'">Charlie</ins> 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.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_91" id="Page_91">[91]</a></span> +The explorer, his deep bronze flushed with red, +smiled and mopped his face.</p> + +<p>"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!"</p> + +<p>"I guess we all owe you a vote of thanks, General," +smiled Jack weakly. <ins title="Transcriber's Note: original reads 'Charley'">Charlie</ins> nodded.</p> + +<p>"You bet! Jack and I both missed his eye—what +dandy shots those were!"</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>"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!"</p> + +<p>And with a roar of anger he rushed at one of +the Masai who had triumphantly thrust his long<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_92" id="Page_92">[92]</a></span> +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.</p> + +<p>"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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_93" id="Page_93">[93]</a></span> +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.</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>"The Sikh knows all about it," replied von +Hofe. "Yes, he will see that they are careful. +Let us go back and rest."</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_94" id="Page_94">[94]</a></span> +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.</p> + +<p>"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.</p> + +<p>"I don't care," returned Charlie. "I got all +I wanted of elephant hunting, and that's flat, General. +My knees are shaking yet."</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>"You'll get work enough before you're +through," said the explorer grimly. And as it +turned out, Jack did.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /><p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_95" id="Page_95">[95]</a></span></p> +<h2>CHAPTER VIII</h2> + +<h3>A RECONNAISSANCE</h3> + + +<p>"Well, General, what's doing next?"</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>"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?"</p> + +<p>"Ten days," returned the German, whose cases +were all piled in readiness before an open space.</p> + +<p>"Need us here?"</p> + +<p>"No. Get out and keep those boys from +bothering me."</p> + +<p>"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."<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_96" id="Page_96">[96]</a></span></p> + +<p>"I'm willing," announced Charlie, and Jack +nodded unconcernedly.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_97" id="Page_97">[97]</a></span> +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.</p> + +<p>"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.</p> + +<p>"Can't see the sense o' fetching them traps," +grunted Jack. "Better leave 'em behind when +we start. What good are they?"</p> + +<p>"I don't know, Jack. Can't tell what we'll +strike, though."</p> + +<p>"Where does this caravan route go to?" asked +<ins title="Transcriber's Note: original reads 'Charley'">Charlie</ins>. "This looks as if it was deserted."</p> + +<p>"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."<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_98" id="Page_98">[98]</a></span></p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>"Melons, you mean," laughed Jack. "I dug +into one. There was some squash, though, in the +back fields. How far we going, General?"</p> + +<p>Schoverling consulted his pocket-map and compass +before replying.</p> + +<p>"We ought to be near the station of the commissioner +of the district now. If we don't strike<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_99" id="Page_99">[99]</a></span> +it by night we may as well go back. I've found +out what we came for."</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>"Hello!" laughed Schoverling as he shook +hands. "This is the commissioner—Captain +Yonge?"</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>"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<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_100" id="Page_100">[100]</a></span> +told about nabbing those ju-ju murderers last +year, single-handed. No wonder he got a D. S. O. +for it!"</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>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."</p> + +<p>"Did you ever hear of a Lake Quilqua?" +asked <ins title="Transcriber's Note: original reads 'Charley'">Charlie</ins>.</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>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<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_101" id="Page_101">[101]</a></span> +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.</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_102" id="Page_102">[102]</a></span></p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>"Want to go along?" smiled the explorer. +"Judging from their primitive digging implements, +they're going to make an elephant pit."</p> + +<p>"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.</p> + +<p>"Guess they think we'll bring 'em good luck," +grinned Jack. "Got your camera, Chuck?"</p> + +<p>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<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_103" id="Page_103">[103]</a></span> +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.</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>"How do they watch them all?" asked Charlie. +"They must have an awful time keeping track +of their trap-line!"</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>"He must be pretty ripe by the time they get +to him," returned Jack disgustedly.</p> + +<p>"They don't care for that. These Ndorobo are<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_104" id="Page_104">[104]</a></span> +little better than carrion feeders anyway, and once +an elephant is caught a whole village is stocked in +meat for a long time."</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_105" id="Page_105">[105]</a></span></p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>"All right, Charlie," said Schoverling, quietly.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_106" id="Page_106">[106]</a></span> +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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>They remounted and rode on, but their halts +had delayed them, and it was nearly dark when<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_107" id="Page_107">[107]</a></span> +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.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /><p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_108" id="Page_108">[108]</a></span></p> +<h2>CHAPTER IX</h2> + +<h3>INTO THE UNKNOWN</h3> + + +<p>"Well, Doctor," announced Schoverling the +next morning, "How near through are you? +The sooner we get off the better."</p> + +<p>"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?"</p> + +<p>"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?"</p> + +<p>Von Hofe nodded, and fell to work. The sections<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_109" id="Page_109">[109]</a></span> +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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>"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.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_110" id="Page_110">[110]</a></span></p> + +<p>"He's done more hustling to-day than on all the +rest of the trip put together."</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>"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<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_111" id="Page_111">[111]</a></span> +Singh's little stove, and the traps. The whole +business won't make a quarter-load for one +wagon."</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>"I'll give you all the work you can handle," +prophesied Jack, to his chum. "You just wait!"</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_112" id="Page_112">[112]</a></span> +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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>"There's an outbreak fifty miles to the west," +he said, his men appearing from their own building.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_113" id="Page_113">[113]</a></span> +"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!"</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>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<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_114" id="Page_114">[114]</a></span> +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.</p> + +<p>"We ought to find a deer-run along this river," +declared Jack. Schoverling smiled.</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>"I am something going to shoot," he said, paying +no attention to their jests. "Is it allowed to +smoke?"</p> + +<p>"Not much," chuckled Jack. "You just sit +tight and wait. What you going to shoot?"<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_115" id="Page_115">[115]</a></span></p> + +<p>"I want a good oryx head," declared the scientist. +"But I will shoot him myself."</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_116" id="Page_116">[116]</a></span> +oryx bounded high and fell dead; it was found +that both bullets had gone through the heart.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_117" id="Page_117">[117]</a></span></p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_118" id="Page_118">[118]</a></span> +Then, one night, he gave voice to his +thoughts.</p> + +<div class="figleft" style="width: 253px;"> +<img src="images/gs03.jpg" width="253" height="400" alt="For the man, just as he relapsed into unconsciousness, murmured four words: "Help—me debbil man!"" title="For the man, just as he relapsed into unconsciousness, murmured four words: "Help—me debbil man!"" /> +<span class="caption">For the man, just as he relapsed into unconsciousness, murmured four words: "Help—me debbil man!"</span> +</div> + +<p>"Are you sure, Schoverling, that there is anything +beyond this? It to me seems not much like +elephant country."</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>"It's a drift," exclaimed Charlie, examining +the slender line of trees as they pushed their +horses on.</p> + +<p>"What's that under those big mimosas?" +called Jack. "Looks like a native hut."</p> + +<p>"Right you are, Jack!" cried the explorer. +"Come on Guru!"<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_119" id="Page_119">[119]</a></span></p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>"The poor devil's all in," exclaimed Schoverling. +"Careful, boys! He may have the plague."</p> + +<p>"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.</p> + +<p>For the man, just as he relapsed into unconsciousness, +murmured four words.</p> + +<p>"Help—me debbil man!"</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /><p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_120" id="Page_120">[120]</a></span></p> +<h2>CHAPTER X</h2> + +<h3>MOWBRAY'S END</h3> + + +<p>"He iss starved," exclaimed von Hofe. "See +what iss in the hut. I will care for him."</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>"There's a man in here!" cried Charlie as +they stood in the doorway.</p> + +<p>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.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_121" id="Page_121">[121]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Good heavens!" His voice rang with a note +that struck Charlie's heart. "It is Mowbray—dead!"</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>"No use, mine friends. He iss dead—was ist +das? A letter?"</p> + +<p>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<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_122" id="Page_122">[122]</a></span> +off to restrain the oxen from plunging into the +stream.</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>"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.</p> + +<p>"'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—'</p> + +<p>"That's the first of it," said the explorer. At<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_123" id="Page_123">[123]</a></span> +this moment Gholab approached and saluted respectfully, +his bearded face immobile. "Well, +what is it?"</p> + +<p>"Does the sahib wish to outspan here?"</p> + +<p>"Yes. Outspan and pitch camp for to-day. +And, Gholab, have two graves dug at the top of +this little rise."</p> + +<p>The Gurkha saluted and wheeled. Charlie +caught an excited look from Jack, and then gave +his attention to the General once more.</p> + +<p>"'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.'</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>The explorer swept his eye down the two dirty, +torn papers, and then read slowly:</p> + +<p>"'To Selim ben Amoud or Louis Schoverling. +Whoever finds, take to them.</p> + +<p>"'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.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_124" id="Page_124">[124]</a></span></p> + +<p>"'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.'"</p> + +<p>"What!" cried Charlie. "Is that there, General? +Is it—"</p> + +<p>"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.</p> + +<p>"'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.</p> + +<p>"'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<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_125" id="Page_125">[125]</a></span> +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.</p> + +<p>"'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.</p> + +<p>"'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.</p> + +<p>"'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.</p> + +<p>"'Don't remember much of what happened next. +Z. says we rode bareback. Held me in his arms<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_126" id="Page_126">[126]</a></span> +all the way. Five days. No water or grub. +Camel died with river only hundred yards away, +poor brute. That's all.'"</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>"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:</p> + +<p>"'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.'"</p> + +<p>Schoverling's voice died away, and they knew +he had reached the end. Without another word<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_127" id="Page_127">[127]</a></span> +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.</p> + +<p>"He ampudaded hiss own hand—ach!" said +the big German huskily, at last.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>"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.</p> + +<p>"Yess. We shall do as he ordered."</p> + +<p>"Do you mean that we are going to Lake Quilqua?" +exclaimed Jack eagerly.</p> + +<p>"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."<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_128" id="Page_128">[128]</a></span> +His voice shook a little. "If we'd only arrived +a day or two sooner!"</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>"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!"</p> + +<p>"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.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_129" id="Page_129">[129]</a></span></p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>"One thing is sure," said Charlie as the explorer +paused. "That is, that our march will lie +just about due north."</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>"I guess you've doped it out," said Charlie. +"How long will we stay here, General?"</p> + +<p>"Two days. That will give the horses and cattle<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_130" id="Page_130">[130]</a></span> +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."</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>"Me go! Him men go, very fierce. No 'fraid."</p> + +<p>Satisfied that he had understood, Schoverling +dismissed him, and turned to the boys.</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>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<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_131" id="Page_131">[131]</a></span> +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 <ins title="Transcriber's Note: original reads 'Ghobal'">Gholab</ins> Singh, Mohammedan like the other +Gurkhas, delivered a short prayer from the Koran +over the Arab, and the graves were filled in.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>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<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_132" id="Page_132">[132]</a></span> +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.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /><p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_133" id="Page_133">[133]</a></span></p> +<h2>CHAPTER XI</h2> + +<h3>THE DESERT TREK</h3> + + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>"I have a notion," was all he would reply to +the questions of the boys.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>"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.</p> + +<p>"Seems weird," replied Jack, "to think o' +Mowbray coming across here on a camel only to<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_134" id="Page_134">[134]</a></span> +die, an' us going back on the same trail. Wonder +how that camel died in five days?"</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_135" id="Page_135">[135]</a></span> +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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>At three they inspanned and went on again until +seven, when another two hours' rest and the evening<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_136" id="Page_136">[136]</a></span> +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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>"I <ins title="Transcriber's Note: original reads 'though'">thought</ins> camels were the only beasts who +could live on air?" said Charlie in surprise. +"Do you mean that giraffes absolutely require +no water?"</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>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<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_137" id="Page_137">[137]</a></span> +of the boys in that terrible march by their powers +of endurance and unfailing good humor.</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>"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!"</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_138" id="Page_138">[138]</a></span> +suffered no loss. They were used to such +treks, and the unremitting care of the boys kept +them in good shape.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>"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<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_139" id="Page_139">[139]</a></span> +a few swallows, and us too! I s'pose we'll cut +out the cattle?"</p> + +<p>"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!"</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>"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 <i>we come +first!</i>"</p> + +<p>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<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_140" id="Page_140">[140]</a></span> +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.</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>"Long range, I s'pose?" queried Jack, getting +out his heavy gun. The Indians were armed with +the lighter ones.</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>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<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_141" id="Page_141">[141]</a></span> +herd took alarm and broke into their lumbering, +awkward-looking gallop, the six rifles rang out.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>"Where is it?" exclaimed the explorer. +"Surely we can't have lost it?"</p> + +<p>But, even with their powerful glasses, no sign +could they see of the little safari. In all directions<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_142" id="Page_142">[142]</a></span> +the plain stretched out dry, white, dusty, +with no moving speck to break the monotony. The +general cased his glasses in disgust.</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>"Here," cried Jack, pointing to the dusty plain, +"there's no wind, so we can follow the tracks. +It's a cinch."</p> + +<p>"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.</p> + +<p>"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!"</p> + +<p>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,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_143" id="Page_143">[143]</a></span> +which the natives drank greedily. The +boys were disgusted, and sought refuge at the +head of the column again.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>"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.</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>"Why so?" queried the doctor, as the two +boys began unslinging the casks.</p> + +<p>"Because when this soil is wet it's mighty<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_144" id="Page_144">[144]</a></span> +greasy, and makes hard going for the ox-team. +However, it's well worth it."</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /><p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_145" id="Page_145">[145]</a></span></p> +<h2>CHAPTER XII</h2> + +<h3>A DESERTED LAND</h3> + + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_146" id="Page_146">[146]</a></span></p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>"We'll strike it in the trees," declared the +General. "That seems like a good rolling game +country stretching out in front."</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>"I'm mighty glad our cattle pulled through +safe," said Schoverling. "We'll need them on +the back trail."</p> + +<p>"Yes," put in von Hofe, "they will have to +draw the elephant skin and the ivory."</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>"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<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_147" id="Page_147">[147]</a></span> +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."</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_148" id="Page_148">[148]</a></span> +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.</p> + +<p>"That looks mighty queer," declared Charlie. +"Seems like they don't get hunted much up +here."</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>"I tell you," cried Charlie. "If we strike another +drift, it's a good guess that it comes from +a lake, isn't it?"</p> + +<p>"Yes," rumbled von Hofe, smiling. "That +is right, my boy. We will follow the next river +to which we come."</p> + +<p>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<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_149" id="Page_149">[149]</a></span> +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.</p> + +<p>"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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>"That shows what we can expect, in this no-man's<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_150" id="Page_150">[150]</a></span> +country," he said. "We'll have worse +than that later on, I'm afraid."</p> + +<p>And his words were to prove true, though not +exactly as he had intended, before two days more +had passed.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_151" id="Page_151">[151]</a></span> +yells, was slashing away without effect, and +even as they looked his arms were bound about +and fell useless.</p> + +<p>"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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_152" id="Page_152">[152]</a></span> +paid to the injuries. Measured carefully, the +python proved to be thirty feet in length.</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>"The Masai behaved splendidly," exclaimed +Charlie admiringly. "Where are you going?" +he asked as the General arose.</p> + +<p>"Show you in a minute. Guru!"</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>"Oh, that's what you wanted them for, eh?" +cried Jack. Schoverling smiled.</p> + +<p>"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<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_153" id="Page_153">[153]</a></span> +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."</p> + +<p>"It is good," nodded von Hofe gravely. "I +think it will be of much use. I will go too."</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>"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.</p> + +<p>"Any fool jackal would smell 'em," he declared +emphatically. "Why, you can see them +glint in the moonlight!"</p> + +<p>"No matter," smiled the explorer. "We +don't want to catch anything in them—they're +only there to keep us from being surprised."</p> + +<p>That very night the traps proved their value, +for while Jack was on guard he was roused by<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_154" id="Page_154">[154]</a></span> +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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>The country was open enough for the wagon to +proceed without hindrance at a little way from<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_155" id="Page_155">[155]</a></span> +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.</p> + +<p>"Deserted, of course," exclaimed the General +when they drew near.</p> + +<p>"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!"</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>"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—"<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_156" id="Page_156">[156]</a></span></p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>"General!" called out Jack, fifty yards away.</p> + +<p>"Come over here, all of you."</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>"There's your giant bull," he said triumphantly. +"This is no place for us, I guess."</p> + +<p>"I should say not!" cried Schoverling. +"What a brute that fellow must be! Ever see +as big a track, Doctor?"</p> + +<p>"Never," and the German wagged his great +beard, with a dubious glance around. "Come, let +us go on. Ach, what a country is this!"</p> + +<p>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<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_157" id="Page_157">[157]</a></span> +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.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /><p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_158" id="Page_158">[158]</a></span></p> +<h2>CHAPTER XIII</h2> + +<h3>A DESPERATE BATTLE</h3> + + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>"I should say you can," laughed Charlie. +"You sure nipped that big snake in the right +place, Doctor! I never saw any better shooting."</p> + +<p>"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!"<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_159" id="Page_159">[159]</a></span></p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>"Knock him over," suggested Schoverling +lazily. "But we'll have to cut him up and cook +him ourselves."</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>"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.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_160" id="Page_160">[160]</a></span> +"Maybe it's a rhino, Chuck. He wouldn't bother +us—hello! What's up?"</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>"Jumpin' sandhills!" began Charlie in wonder. +"What on earth—"</p> + +<p>"Get up here!" roared the General at them. +"Boys! Quick!"</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>"Ach, himmel! Vot a sight!" broke from the +doctor.</p> + +<p>There, bending down the tough reeds like grass, +a mighty herd of buffalo was coming slowly forward,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_161" id="Page_161">[161]</a></span> +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!</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>"Think they'll dare to charge us?" murmured +Charlie, a little pale.</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>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<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_162" id="Page_162">[162]</a></span> +them onward. Two or three went on to one side, +but the others began the ascent of the little hill +without hesitation.</p> + +<p>"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.</p> + +<p>"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.</p> + +<p>"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.</p> + +<p>"All right, boys," said Schoverling quietly.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_163" id="Page_163">[163]</a></span> +"Don't fire at the head, remember, unless you +are sure of the eye. We've got to stop them at +once."</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>"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.</p> + +<p>"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<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_164" id="Page_164">[164]</a></span> +pawing hoofs testified to their rage, and the bodies +of the slain were trampled into a bloody mass as +the herd swept on.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_165" id="Page_165">[165]</a></span> +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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>A yell of delight from Guru drew Charlie back +to the front. Here it was evident that the buffalo<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_166" id="Page_166">[166]</a></span> +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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>"Better see to the Masai," said Charlie faintly.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>"I've had about enough of this country," +grunted Charlie, rising shakily as his weakness +passed. "Feel better?"<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_167" id="Page_167">[167]</a></span></p> + +<p>"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!"</p> + +<p>"You bet. Let's see how bad the men were +hurt."</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>"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!"</p> + +<p>Smiling broadly, the bearded Indians obeyed, +after which the boys shook hands also.</p> + +<p>"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!"</p> + +<p>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<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_168" id="Page_168">[168]</a></span> +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.</p> + +<p>"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!"</p> + +<p>"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—"</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>Nothing disturbed them that night. They slept +in their blankets under the shelter of the giant<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_169" id="Page_169">[169]</a></span> +tree, but as they rolled up—von Hofe being on +guard for the first three hours—Jack whispered +to Charlie.</p> + +<p>"If we struck a herd of them fellows while we +were down on low ground—good-bye!"</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>"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—"</p> + +<p>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.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /><p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_170" id="Page_170">[170]</a></span></p> +<h2>CHAPTER XIV</h2> + +<h3>THE LAKE OF MYSTERY</h3> + + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>"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.</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>"Not much," laughed Schoverling. "If we'd +been gone yesterday we'd have had to settle down +here for life. Well, let's inspan."<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_171" id="Page_171">[171]</a></span></p> + +<p>"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.</p> + +<p>"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—"</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>"That fellow Selim," put in the interested doctor, +"was a man of brains, my friends. He would<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_172" id="Page_172">[172]</a></span> +not send his camels and partner where he did not +know. There is too much game beside this river, +also. I like it not."</p> + +<p>"Very well," said Schoverling. "Then we will +simply cut around those hills ahead and march by +compass. No lack o' water here, fortunately."</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>"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<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_173" id="Page_173">[173]</a></span> +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."</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>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<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_174" id="Page_174">[174]</a></span> +resolved to talk things over with Jack at the first +opportunity. Von Hofe, meanwhile, had been +thinking along more practical lines.</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>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<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_175" id="Page_175">[175]</a></span> +long hereabouts, and the fate of Mowbray's +expedition was vivid in their minds still.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>"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?"</p> + +<p>"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."<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_176" id="Page_176">[176]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Never you mind about me," retorted Charlie. +"I never woke up the whole camp by letting go +an elephant gun at a jackal."</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>"Say, General, what about that ivory cache of +Mowbray's? Think we can lug it off with us?"</p> + +<p>The explorer remained silent for a moment, the +boys watching him eagerly.</p> + +<p>"Look here, you chaps," he said at last, "there +were two words in that letter I didn't read. Mowbray +said 'ivory—<i>and dust!</i>' 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<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_177" id="Page_177">[177]</a></span> +strike the island before we strike the elephant, +we'll camp on it for safety and clear out the +cache."</p> + +<p>"Hurray!" exclaimed Charlie. "Bully for +him! Say, we'll—"</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>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!"</p> + +<p>"Still, in a way it belongs to him—" began +<ins title="Transcriber's Note: original reads 'Charley'">Charlie</ins>, but the explorer grunted.</p> + +<p>"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,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_178" id="Page_178">[178]</a></span> +we're counting our chickens a long while before +the incubator's opened. When we get there +it's time enough."</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>"There's the lake! Dead ahead!"</p> + +<p>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<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_179" id="Page_179">[179]</a></span> +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.</p> + +<p>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 <i>Mombasa</i>.</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>"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<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_180" id="Page_180">[180]</a></span> +hundred feet. In fact, hills seemed to be all +around them, save to the south.</p> + +<p>"Shouldn't wonder if this was one of the craters +of an old volcano," declared the General.</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>"There are tattered old tents, all right," exclaimed +Charlie in huge excitement. "But animals +and the weather have covered things up +pretty well."</p> + +<p>Arriving on the spot, they leaped from their +saddles and kicked away vines.</p> + +<p>"Here's a gun-butt," shouted Jack, holding up +a moulded fragment of wood. "And here's the +rest of it—an elephant gun."<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_181" id="Page_181">[181]</a></span></p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>"Jumping sandhills, I forgot!" cried Charlie +suddenly. "Say, General, we've beat the Arabs +back, that's a cinch!"</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /><p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_182" id="Page_182">[182]</a></span></p> +<h2>CHAPTER XV</h2> + +<h3>"UNDER THE LEFT GATE-POST"</h3> + + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>"Hold on," cried Charlie as they remounted. +"Something's wrong!"</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>"All is well, sahib," saluted Gholab Singh, +beaming. Von Hofe grinned through his beard.</p> + +<p>"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."<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_183" id="Page_183">[183]</a></span></p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>"Ach, he must be wonderful! Let us push on, +please!"</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_184" id="Page_184">[184]</a></span> +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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>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.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_185" id="Page_185">[185]</a></span></p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>"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.</p> + +<p>"We'd better keep out o' there," said Schoverling.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_186" id="Page_186">[186]</a></span> +"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."</p> + +<p>"Why can't we take a look around inside?" +queried Jack, somewhat puzzled. "There's no +sign of any animals around."</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>"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<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_187" id="Page_187">[187]</a></span> +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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>"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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>"But yes," he retorted to their jokes as they +surrounded him, "I too have the treasure-hunt<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_188" id="Page_188">[188]</a></span> +fever got! Yet is there one question which puzzles +me, my friends!"</p> + +<p>"What's that?" laughed Charlie.</p> + +<p>"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!"</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>"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<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_189" id="Page_189">[189]</a></span> +for it. If he found it, the earth would still be +pretty loose where he dug."</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>"Good!" shouted Schoverling. "We're behind +the times on thoughts, Doctor! Gholab, inspan +the cattle over by those posts."</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>"That's a pretty good sign that the earth is +unmoved," declared Schoverling cheerfully. +"Now for the other one."</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>"More logs down here," he cried. "We'll +have to throw out the dirt after all."</p> + +<p>Instantly Jack was at his side, with two of the<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_190" id="Page_190">[190]</a></span> +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.</p> + +<p>"Catch hold, up there!"</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>"Those aren't logs, Chuck! They're tusks—wrapped +up for carriage!"</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>"Reg'lar cave down here," came the muffled +voice of Jack. "All ready?"</p> + +<p>"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.</p> + +<p>"That's all, General. Hurray!"<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_191" id="Page_191">[191]</a></span></p> + +<p>"All!" echoed Schoverling. "Sure there's +nothing else? Here, let me get down there."</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>"Thirty-two," announced the big German excitedly. +"They vas all goot, but none fery large, +too. Ach, vat a pile of ifory!"</p> + +<p>"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?"</p> + +<p>"One o' these would be plenty to build," returned +Jack. "Let's have a look at the ivory, +Chuck."</p> + +<p>He pulled out his knife and ripped off the covering<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_192" id="Page_192">[192]</a></span> +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.</p> + +<div class="figright" style="width: 256px;"> +<img src="images/gs04.jpg" width="256" height="400" alt="One slash of the knife, and out trickled a little stream of yellow grains into the brown fist of the explorer." title="One slash of the knife, and out trickled a little stream of yellow grains into the brown fist of the explorer." /> +<span class="caption">One slash of the knife, and out trickled a little stream of yellow grains into the brown fist of the explorer.</span> +</div> + +<p>"What's this?"</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>"Gold!"</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>"We're acting like a lot of fools. Here, boys,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_193" id="Page_193">[193]</a></span> +rip open the rest of those tusks and see if there +are more sacks."</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>"Will the sahib come over here?"</p> + +<p>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.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /><p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_194" id="Page_194">[194]</a></span></p> +<h2>CHAPTER XVI</h2> + +<h3>SELIM SHOWS HIS TEETH</h3> + + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>With a rush and a shout the party ran to where +they could get a good look at the mainland, Charlie<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_195" id="Page_195">[195]</a></span> +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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>"We are not going to fight, Schoverling?"</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>With a troubled look, the doctor watched them.</p> + +<p>"You don't mean that they'd fight for it, General?" +asked Charlie, pausing. "Are you joking +or do you mean it?"</p> + +<p>"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!"<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_196" id="Page_196">[196]</a></span></p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>"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?"</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>"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—"</p> + +<p>"You are crazy as a loon, yes!" roared the big<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_197" id="Page_197">[197]</a></span> +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!"</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>"If there's any chance to get out of it, General," +said Charlie, "I suppose you won't go +huntin' for trouble?"</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>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<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_198" id="Page_198">[198]</a></span> +made out the figure of Selim ben Amoud, in white +burnous.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>"<i>Naharak said</i>, Selim!"</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>"<i>Naharak said</i>, effendi! So it is my friend Mr. +Schoverling, eh? What a delightful surprise to +meet you here!"</p> + +<p>"I guess it's a surprise all right, Selim," responded +the explorer. "But the delight is all on +your side. Are you out trading?"</p> + +<p>"If you would come across and visit us," returned<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_199" id="Page_199">[199]</a></span> +the Arab evasively, "we would be very, +very pleased to receive you."</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>"Think he'll come, Gen'ral?"</p> + +<p>"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!"</p> + +<p>"Ready, sahib."</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>"Yes, sahib."</p> + +<p>"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.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_200" id="Page_200">[200]</a></span></p> + +<p>"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!"</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_201" id="Page_201">[201]</a></span> +slipped off, Charlie dividing his attention between +the man and the ugly, thick-lipped camel.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>"So," smiled Selim, though his black eyes narrowed, +"you found the wonderful lake of Quilqua, +after all! Did you have any guides?"</p> + +<p>"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.</p> + +<p>"All right, Selim," declared the explorer. +"There is no salt on it. Take away the biscuits, +Gholab."</p> + +<p>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<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_202" id="Page_202">[202]</a></span> +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.</p> + +<p>"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?"</p> + +<p>The Arab's face changed, his lids narrowing +and his cruel smile thinning down. He met the +gaze of the American squarely.</p> + +<p>"Do you know of anything else I might have +come after?"</p> + +<p>"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.</p> + +<p>"Yes," he admitted, "it might." He lit the +cigar calmly. At the same moment Guru came<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_203" id="Page_203">[203]</a></span> +into sight, evidently having received some instructions +beforehand that Charlie had missed. He advanced +toward the party and saluted.</p> + +<p>"Well?" said Schoverling.</p> + +<p>"Report, sahib. Two of the Arabs have gone +up north by the shore."</p> + +<p>"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?"</p> + +<p>"Yes, sahib," said the quick-witted Sikh impassively. +"Ten near the ford under Amir, and my +ten somewhat to the south."</p> + +<p>"You may go." Guru saluted and wheeled. +Charlie, watching Selim's clear-cut face during +this amazing dialogue, saw it change expression +slightly.</p> + +<p>"You have quite a force, Schoverling," remarked +the Arab calmly. "Then, I suppose that +you have found the gold-dust and the ivory?"</p> + +<p>"Under that canvas," and the explorer pointed. +"The game's up, Selim ben Amoud. We got here<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_204" id="Page_204">[204]</a></span> +first, that's all. If your men had not deserted +Mowbray he would have cleaned up the stuff. As +it is, we have it."</p> + +<p>"Yes, you have it," repeated Selim slowly. +"But, my friend, you shall not have it long."</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>"If it comes to that," and Selim's teeth glinted, +"you cannot cross under <i>our</i> fire, my friend. I +learned of the cache and of this lake, and equipped +the first expedition. By right, that treasure is +mine."</p> + +<p>"But I found it," returned the explorer brutally. +"And by might it is mine."</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>"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<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_205" id="Page_205">[205]</a></span> +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!"</p> + +<p>Charlie, at least, caught it and stared aghast at +the cruel smile of the Arab.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /><p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_206" id="Page_206">[206]</a></span></p> +<h2>CHAPTER XVII</h2> + +<h3>FRESH SPOOR</h3> + + +<p>"That's a good bluff, Selim," rejoined Schoverling +coolly, "but it won't go down with me. +You might as well give in."</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>"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.</p> + +<p>"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,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_207" id="Page_207">[207]</a></span> +Selim, we'll raise you the limit; but there's +no sense to it. <i>I</i> say, let's each of us divvy up the +loot an' dig out for home."</p> + +<p>That Schoverling had not considered any division +of the cache was evident, and he considered +Jack's speech silently. Selim, however, smiled +again.</p> + +<p>"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 <ins title="Transcriber's Note: original reads 'should'">shoud</ins> not share +it and be gone."</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>"It iss goot," said the doctor anxiously. "We +haf come for elephant, please."</p> + +<p>"All right," and the American's face cleared +as he held out his hand to the Arab. "We'll split +even, Selim!"<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_208" id="Page_208">[208]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Hurray!" shouted Charlie in delight. +"Bully for you, General! Good work, Jack!"</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>"That suits us," exclaimed the explorer, +springing to his feet. "Come along and we'll +have a look at the stuff."</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>"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."<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_209" id="Page_209">[209]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Well," suggested Charlie, "you might swap +your share of the ivory for some of our gold-dust. +That would make it easier to carry."</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>The Arab ran the soft gold-dust through his +fingers for a moment.</p> + +<p>"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?"</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>"I think that is nearly correct," smiled Selim, +nodding. "It is, I believe, slightly an under-estimate,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_210" id="Page_210">[210]</a></span> +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?"</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>"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<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_211" id="Page_211">[211]</a></span> +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."</p> + +<p>"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.</p> + +<p>"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. +"<i>Abqa'la kheir!</i>"</p> + +<p>"<i>Abqa'la kheir</i>," 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.</p> + +<p>"That means 'until the next time,'" laughed +Schoverling. "Well, I'm glad that we got out +of that as we did."</p> + +<p>"So am I," declared von Hofe, smiling broadly. +"See, they are going."<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_212" id="Page_212">[212]</a></span></p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>"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.</p> + +<p>"Probably going to circle around the hills and +strike for the north," commented Charlie.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>The injured Masai were slowly recovering from<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_213" id="Page_213">[213]</a></span> +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.</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>"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?"</p> + +<p>"Who wouldn't?" returned Jack. "Made me<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_214" id="Page_214">[214]</a></span> +tired to hear 'em sit there and argue back and +forth, making threats and so on. No sense in it."</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>"Then I feel very sorry for that buffalo," +smiled von Hofe. "We shall all go out this morning, +no?"</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>"Pouf!" grunted the German. "It is my +party, and I shall go."</p> + +<p>"We might as well go on foot," declared the +American. "Now, boys, we can put a little tracking<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_215" id="Page_215">[215]</a></span> +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."</p> + +<p>"How about the bull you killed back at +Kenia?" objected Charlie. "You put a bullet +in each eye, an' laid him out cold."</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_216" id="Page_216">[216]</a></span> +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.</p> + +<p>"Scared out," said the explorer grimly, "if +that rogue was around."</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>The two boys left the party, followed by Akram +and Amir Ali, their gun-bearers. But although<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_217" id="Page_217">[217]</a></span> +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.</p> + +<p>"Jack," exclaimed Charlie quietly, stopping, +"come over here."</p> + +<p>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!</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /><p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_218" id="Page_218">[218]</a></span></p> +<h2>CHAPTER XVIII</h2> + +<h3>LOST!</h3> + + +<p>Charlie looked around. The bamboos were +all about them, and without retracing their steps +they could not summon the others. Jack gripped +his arm.</p> + +<p>"Look here, Chuck! Let's cut away from the +General an' get after that rogue ourselves!"</p> + +<p>"Got to obey orders," and Charlie negatived +it with a shake of the head. "That spoor is too +fresh to suit me, Jack."</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>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.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_219" id="Page_219">[219]</a></span></p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>"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.</p> + +<p>"Hello, what's this?" cried Jack. A new +trail merged into that which they followed, and<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_220" id="Page_220">[220]</a></span> +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."</p> + +<p>The Indian watched them stolidly, gun ready, +while they examined the broken bamboos and +twigs, as well as the hoof-prints.</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>"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!"</p> + +<p>"Twelve feet up," said Amir Ali with a delighted +display of teeth, as he reached in vain +toward the scarred bark.</p> + +<p>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<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_221" id="Page_221">[221]</a></span> +thinned out, and in a little glade they came upon +fresher tracks.</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>"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!"</p> + +<p>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,<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 0.5em;">and others the boys did not know, while the</span><br /> +country was well broken up by little rises. But +that was not what caused the boys to leap forward.</p> + +<p>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<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_222" id="Page_222">[222]</a></span> +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!</p> + +<p>"Jumping sandhills!" cried Charlie, realizing +the truth. "He must have caught up that +buffalo and <i>flung</i> him! Then he went over and +kneeled all over him."</p> + +<p>"Right you are," exclaimed Jack. "Ugh, +what a mess! Let's go on."</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>"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."<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_223" id="Page_223">[223]</a></span></p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>"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!"</p> + +<p>"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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>"You keep your eye peeled," cried Jack, at +his chum's shoulder. "He's liable to be waitin' +there."<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_224" id="Page_224">[224]</a></span></p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>"There he is! See them bushes wave, Chuck? +Better send in a bullet!"</p> + +<p>"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?"</p> + +<p>"They can follow our tracks," cried Jack over<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_225" id="Page_225">[225]</a></span> +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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>"Rhino!" ejaculated Charlie in disgust. +"We're a dandy pair, we are!"</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>"We're a nice bunch of idiots," said Jack +angrily, unconsciously including the innocent +Amir in the epithet. "We just saw something<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_226" id="Page_226">[226]</a></span> +big and gray moving around, and took it for +granted he was an elephant. We should have +stuck to the trail, Chuck."</p> + +<p>"Well," returned Charlie, "we're here. +Next question is, where are we?"</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>"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.</p> + +<p>For a moment the two stared at each other. +Then Jack broke into a laugh.</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>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<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_227" id="Page_227">[227]</a></span> +the compass, the instruments were of little +use to them.</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>"Be a heap more likely to bring <i>him</i> down on +us," grunted Jack. "We've got to find the +bunch before the General gets sore, Chuck."</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>"We'll hear the General shooting pretty +soon," said Charlie disgustedly. "What's that<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_228" id="Page_228">[228]</a></span> +over in those trees? Looks like an old native +village."</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>"Ain't so eager," grinned Charlie. "What's +the matter? Nerve failed you?"</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>Jack set about building a fire to send up a +smoke-signal, while Charlie wandered through +the desolate village. Suddenly he came upon<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_229" id="Page_229">[229]</a></span> +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.</p> + +<p>"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!"</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>"That'll get him," he chuckled as he threw out +the shells and reloaded. "Now for the fire."</p> + +<p>But as he turned away, a startled cry from +Amir Ali drew their attention.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /><p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_230" id="Page_230">[230]</a></span></p> +<h2>CHAPTER XIX</h2> + +<h3>THE ROGUE ELEPHANT</h3> + + +<p>"Sahibs! Sahibs! The elephant!"</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>"Jumping sandhills!" breathed Charlie. He +heard Jack give a startled gasp at his side.</p> + +<p>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<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_231" id="Page_231">[231]</a></span> +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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>"Shoot, sahibs!" implored the sweating Amir +Ali, not daring to infringe the rules himself.</p> + +<p>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<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_232" id="Page_232">[232]</a></span> +at once. The shock sent him over backward with +a groan.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_233" id="Page_233">[233]</a></span></p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>Charlie never remembered firing those two +shots. The next thing he knew, the rogue was +standing before him, then the great head went<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_234" id="Page_234">[234]</a></span> +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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>And, impossible though it seemed, the elephant<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_235" id="Page_235">[235]</a></span> +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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_236" id="Page_236">[236]</a></span> +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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>"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.</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>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.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_237" id="Page_237">[237]</a></span></p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>"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.</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>"I understand, boys," smiled the bronzed explorer.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_238" id="Page_238">[238]</a></span> +"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?"</p> + +<p>"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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>"It iss no matter," he said. "I can it fix when<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_239" id="Page_239">[239]</a></span> +I set him up. Ach—vait, vait! My camera!"</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>"How long will we be here, Doctor?" asked +the explorer anxiously.</p> + +<p>"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<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_240" id="Page_240">[240]</a></span> +can let the paring go. With two days of drying +in the sun and one day to rub in the chemicals, we +will go."</p> + +<p>"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?"</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>"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<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_241" id="Page_241">[241]</a></span> +have gained the biggest share of the credit, but +you sure deserve it."</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>"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!"</p> + +<p>"Not him," chuckled Jack ungrammatically +but happily. "He'll put out his hand an' say, +'By Jove, allow me to congratulate you! Wonderful!'"</p> + +<p>Which, as it turned out, was exactly what he +did.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /><p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_242" id="Page_242">[242]</a></span></p> +<h2>CHAPTER XX</h2> + +<h3>THE BACK TRAIL</h3> + + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>"Little he minds that," laughed von Hofe, in +huge delight. "He is used to much worse. Schoverling, +what are the plans?"</p> + +<p>All gathered about the explorer with interest. +He drew forth the chart belonging to Selim, which +the Arab had omitted to take with him.</p> + +<p>"I have our compass-bearings from the other<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_243" id="Page_243">[243]</a></span> +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.</p> + +<p>"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?"</p> + +<p>"Yes, sahib."</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>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<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_244" id="Page_244">[244]</a></span> +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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_245" id="Page_245">[245]</a></span> +part of the day, and all promised favorably for +the last stages of the journey.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_246" id="Page_246">[246]</a></span> +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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>"Here," said Captain Yonge, holding out an +envelope, "is a cable that was forwarded by runner. +It came in two days since."</p> + +<p>Schoverling reached across the dinner-table and +tore it open. He scanned it, then broke into a +laugh and read it aloud:</p> + +<p> +"'<i>Louis Schoverling, care Captain Yonge, Commissioner District, B. S. A.:</i><br /> +</p> + +<p>"'Best wishes. Bags valued seventy pounds. +Got ahead of you there.</p> + +<div class='right'> +"'<span class="smcap">Selim ben Amoud</span>'"<br /> +</div> + +<p>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,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_247" id="Page_247">[247]</a></span> +but von Hofe overruled him. When they +had finished, the captain dissipated their doubts.</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>Letters and cables poured in on them, and the<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_248" id="Page_248">[248]</a></span> +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.</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>"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?"</p> + +<p>"I hope so," laughed Schoverling. "I thought +maybe you would have had enough of it."</p> + +<p>"Not much!" cried both boys together. Von +Hofe smiled.</p> + +<p>"Wait!" he said. "I have a surprise, some +day!"</p> + +<p>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<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_249" id="Page_249">[249]</a></span> +on that last day of his life; beneath, on the great +brass plate at the bottom, were these words:</p> + +<div class='center'> +<i>Elephas Africanus Peeli</i><br /> +<br /> +<span class="smcap">shot by charles collins and jack sawtooth.</span><br /> +<br /> +Mounted by Gross von Hofe, F. R. S.<br /></div> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /><p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_i" id="Page_i">[i]</a></span></p> + + +<div class='center'> +<table border="0" cellpadding="4" cellspacing="0" summary="The Boy Scouts of the Air"> +<tr><td align='left'><h2>The<br /> +Boy Scouts<br /> +of the Air Books</h2><div class='center'><i>By</i> GORDON STUART</div> + +<div class='unindent'>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.</div></td><td align='left'><img src="images/ad02.jpg" width="248" height="300" alt="The Boy Scouts of the Air" title="The Boy Scouts of the Air" /> +</td></tr> +</table></div> + + +<div class='center'><i>Five titles, +per volume, +60 cents</i></div> + + + +<div class='center'> +<table border="0" cellpadding="1" cellspacing="0" summary="The Boy Scouts of the Air books"> +<tr><td align='left'>THE BOY SCOUTS OF THE AIR AT EAGLE CAMP</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>THE BOY SCOUTS OF THE AIR AT GREENWOOD SCHOOL</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>THE BOY SCOUTS OF THE AIR IN INDIAN LAND</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>THE BOY SCOUTS OF THE AIR IN NORTHERN WILDS</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>THE BOY SCOUTS OF THE AIR ON FLATHEAD MOUNTAIN</td></tr> +</table></div> + +<div class='center'><br /> +<i>Splendid Illustrations by Norman P. Hall</i><br /> +—————————————————<br /> +Publishers The Reilly & Britton Co. Chicago</div> + + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 400px;"> +<img src="images/ad03.jpg" width="400" height="151" alt="The Famous Air Ship Boys" title="The Famous Air Ship Boys" /> +</div> + + +<div class='center'><br /> +<i>By</i> H. L. SAYLER<br /> +<br /> +<i>SEVEN TITLES</i></div> + + +<div class='center'> +<table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" summary="The Airship Boys Books"> +<tr><td align='left'><b>1. THE AIRSHIP BOYS Or, The Quest of the Aztec Treasure</b></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><b>2. THE AIRSHIP BOYS ADRIFT Or, Saved by an Aeroplane</b></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><b>3. THE AIRSHIP BOYS DUE NORTH Or, By Balloon to the Pole</b></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><b>4. THE AIRSHIP BOYS IN THE BARREN LANDS Or, The Secret of the White Eskimos</b></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><b>5. THE AIRSHIP BOYS IN FINANCE Or, The Flight of the Flying Cow</b></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><b>6. THE AIRSHIP BOYS' OCEAN FLYER Or, New York to London in Twelve Hours</b></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><b>7. THE AIRSHIP BOYS AS DETECTIVES Or, On Secret Service in Cloudland</b></td></tr> +</table></div> +<div class='unindent'>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.</div> + +<div class="blockquot"><i>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.</i></div> +<div class='center'><br /> +—————————————————<br /> +Publishers The Reilly & Britton Co. Chicago</div> + + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2>The Aeroplane Boys Series</h2> + +<h3><i>By</i> ASHTON LAMAR</h3> + +<p>"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.</p> + +<div class='center'>EIGHT TITLES</div> + + + +<div class='center'> +<table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" summary="The Aeroplane Boys Books"> +<tr><td align='left'><i>1. IN THE CLOUDS FOR UNCLE SAM</i></td></tr> +<tr><td align='center'><i>Or, Morey Marshall of the Signal Corps</i></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><br /><i>2. THE STOLEN AEROPLANE</i></td></tr> +<tr><td align='center'><i>Or, How Bud Wilson Made Good</i></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><br /><i>3. THE AEROPLANE EXPRESS</i></td></tr> +<tr><td align='center'><i>Or, The Boy Aeronaut's Grit</i></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><br /><i>4. THE BOY AERONAUTS' CLUB</i></td></tr> +<tr><td align='center'><i>Or, Flying for Fun</i></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><br /><i>5. A CRUISE IN THE SKY</i></td></tr> +<tr><td align='center'><i>Or, the Legend of the Great Pink Pearl</i></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><br /><i>6. BATTLING THE BIGHORN</i></td></tr> +<tr><td align='center'><i>Or, The Aeroplane in the Rockies</i></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><br /><i>7. WHEN SCOUT MEETS SCOUT</i></td></tr> +<tr><td align='center'><i>Or, The Aeroplane Spy</i></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><br /><i>8. ON THE EDGE OF THE ARCTIC</i></td></tr> +<tr><td align='center'><i>Or, An Aeroplane in Snowland</i></td></tr> +</table></div> + + +<div class='center'><br />——————————<br /> +<i>Fully illustrated. Colored frontispiece.<br /> +Cloth 12mo. 60 cents each.</i><br /> + + +—————————————————<br /> +Publishers The Reilly & Britton Co. Chicago</div> + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<div class='tnote'><h3>Transcriber's Notes:</h3> +<p>Obvious punctuation errors repaired.</p> + +<p>The remaining corrections made are indicated by dotted lines under the corrections. Scroll the mouse over the word and the original text will <ins title="Transcriber's Note: original reads 'apprear'">appear</ins>.</p></div> + + + + + + + + +<pre> + + + + + +End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of The Rogue Elephant, by Elliott Whitney + +*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE ROGUE ELEPHANT *** + +***** This file should be named 25450-h.htm or 25450-h.zip ***** +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: + http://www.gutenberg.org/2/5/4/5/25450/ + +Produced by Suzanne Shell, Emmy and the Online Distributed +Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net + + +Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions +will be renamed. + +Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no +one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation +(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without +permission and without paying copyright royalties. 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