The Forest of Mystery

As the others crowded around him, Bob held up a small business card. It had apparently been dropped near the museum's truck, perhaps by the thief himself. On it was printed the...

Afternoon did not come any too soon for Bob and Joe. By one o'clock the youths had their cameras and rifles in readiness and were eagerly awaiting word from their fathers to beg...

The leavetaking was painful to all, for it was as hard for the four explorers to go as it was for those staying at home to give them up. But finally, with last warm farewells, t...

Joe danced around in wild delight, throwing his hat high into the air and catching it as it came down. He stood on his head, turned a somersault on the grass, and performed othe...

"It's a horrible shame, that's what it is," came from Cecil Purl Stone, who also was at the rail. "Here I am in perfect readiness to look upon Mombasa, and this had to happen. I...

"It happened this way," explained Bob. "Joe and I got a Chinaman out of an automobile he turned over. He asked us to come and see him tonight at nine, and we told him we'd be th...

The two chums dashed across the street and around the corner, hoping that nothing tragic had taken place. They passed several people who were hurrying to investigate the strange...

"Not a bit," said Mr. Lewis. "In fact, as soon as we put the proposed expedition before the museum heads, they were captivated by the idea. Said they greatly desired new specime...

They found that the city was situated on an island several thousand acres in extent. There was a channel that divided it from the mainland, spanned by a causeway. In the old sec...

Far into the distance, as far as the eye could see, stretched the boundless water of Lake Victoria, resembling nothing so much as a vast ocean. Even at the far-away horizon ther...

"There should be a certificate of title somewhere," said Joe Lewis, as he peered inside the parked automobile. "Or if there isn't, maybe there's a letter or something else that...

Much as Bob and Joe expected, Cecil Purl Stone did not put in his appearance the remainder of that day. Nor did he appear in the cabin the next. In fact, it was two days later t...

"I believe you're right, Son," observed Mr. Holton, his eyes scanning the landscape. "This is certainly the wide stream that George Seabury said we'd see. Then too, Thompson, th...

"Above all, we must try to keep together," warned Mr. Holton, speaking to the natives as well as the whites. "It might spell tragedy if any of us should get lost from the rest."

Joe stared at the stream in terrible fascination, half expecting to see many other of the repulsive reptiles make an appearance. But if any more were there, they failed to come...

Using his knowledge of marksmanship, the youth killed all of the hyenas by sending bullets through the eye to the brain. The stupid animals had not made the slightest move to fl...

"I tell you we can get that elephant some way," he went on. "As for finding the safari, well--I don't believe a few minutes' delay would make much difference. And I feel sure we...

Already the shrill whistle of the locomotive was shattering the silence. But even the loud warning was futile. The elephant remained where it was, not as much as moving an ear.

Again the boys found themselves "stumped," and again they were forced to drop the matter regarding the expedition to the Dark Continent. They could only hope for the best, remar...

"Exactly," Joe's father said. "We'll build a _boma_--that's a thorn enclosure--and hide behind it. Then when the lion comes to devour this carcass we'll pot him off. Howard and...

"There's been a mistake," he said, keeping his face straight with difficulty, "a terrible mistake. It seems that Bob here mistook you for the thief, He was the one that knocked...

Not ten feet away, at the point where the trail branched, was a huge mound of earth that must have been at least thirty feet high. It was conical in shape, gradually tapering up...

With the passing moments, the padding noise grew louder. Bob raised his rifle to fire. If any wild beast was intent upon charging camp, he would be ready to give it a royal welc...

Joe's mind was in a whirl. He thought of jumping up and firing point-blank at the oncoming leopard, but then he suddenly remembered that he had not been able to discharge the re...

"Let's hope you're right, Son," came from his father. "Howard and I would like to discover some totally unknown animals. But," he added significantly, "we'll have to watch our s...

"We're not certain how that 'we' will work out," chuckled Mr. Holton. "But we're almost sure of one thing: Ben [Mr. Lewis] and I are going. How many more will make up the expedi...

There, running rapidly but quietly toward the door, was a tall, slim Oriental, a plait of black hair reaching halfway down his back. It was evident that he knew he had been disc...

While all waited silently, the sound of moving footsteps could be heard. A little later two huge elephants broke through the foliage and made for the water hole. They drank grea...

"No," returned Bob. He did not think it wise to add that George Seabury had been injured by a rhino. "He couldn't come with us, but we promised to be on watch for you."

But his hand never reached it. With a powerful blow, Bob sent the man crashing to the ground so hard that he was put in a daze. Then, raising the revolver, the youth fired three...