CHAPTER XXIV

Into the Forest of Mystery

"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, that naturalist we saw in San Francisco, mentioned it."

"That distant forest sure looks mysterious," remarked Joe, gazing ahead at the mass of towering trees. "How large is it?"

"A good many miles across," Mr. Lewis answered. "In fact, several score. And all heavy, untrodden wilderness."

"So much the better for us," smiled Bob. "But say. How are we going to cross this wide stream? Must be nearly a quarter of a mile to the other side."

"Hardly that," laughed his father. "But to answer your question: if the water isn't too deep, we'll ford it; but if this isn't possible, we'll have to build rafts."

Noko thought it advisable to cross before night and make camp on the other side.

The head native walked down to the bank and waded out into the water. Much as the explorers had expected, it was shallow, not reaching to the waist.

The whites donned their hip boots and, led by Noko, waded out into the stream. They were followed by the bearers and guards.

Although the water was sluggish and dirty, the going was good, and the adventurers reached the opposite bank in rapid time. There Bob and Joe and the naturalists removed their high boots and made ready to pitch the tents, as darkness was not far off.

"I can hardly wait to get into that Forest of Mystery," said Joe, stopping for a moment to glance toward the west. "Something tells me we'll see sights, all right."

"Perhaps," came from Bob. "But then, maybe not. It might not be much different from what we've already passed through."

As the darkness enshrouded them, several of the natives built huge fires which sent their warmth far afield. The cold of the African night was soon forgotten.

Before long the odor of delicious food made the chums smack their lips in anticipation.

"Tomorrow," remarked Mr. Holton during the meal, "we may see sights for sore eyes."

"And tomorrow can't come any too soon for me," put in Joe.

Nothing happened during the night. The next morning all were up early preparing to plunge into the little-known forest. They had their belongings packed in record time and were soon again on the march.

They covered the distance to the forest sooner than expected. All felt the blood tingle in their veins as they entered the dense leafy depths. For in the fastness of this unexplored place could be almost anything.

"Keep your guns in readiness," warned Mr. Lewis. "There's no telling when we may need them."

"Wish we'd see a gorilla--like that big one in the circus," mused Joe.

"Gorillas live only in certain places, chiefly in mountainous regions," explained Mr. Holton. "It is very unlikely that we'll run across any. But of course we can't be sure."

If the jungle had been dense before, it was almost impenetrable now. More than once the explorers received cuts and bruises from sharp thorns. Their high shoes protected them from most snakes, the dreaded mamba being one exception. So, although there were difficulties of the trail, the adventurers forgot them in their eagerness to explore.

Farther on they came to something that made them gasp in wonder.

Before them, in an open space, was a large hill of earth that must have been at least forty feet high. Very wide at the base, it tapered up like a cone.

"Don't tell us this is an ant hill," muttered Bob, as he and the others stopped to examine it.

"It is just that," smiled his father. "Whopper, isn't it?"

"Biggest yet," pronounced Joe. "And just think, it was built by countless little white ants."

As he stood looking at the hill, Joe noticed his chum going around to one side.

"What are you going to do?" Joe inquired.

Bob answered the question by climbing the side of the hill. Apparently he found the task easy, for he was soon halfway to the top. In a short time he had reached it and was looking down at his father and friends.

"Fine view," he smiled, gazing off into the depths of the forest. "That is, it would be if there weren't so many trees around. One good thing, though: I can see over the bushes and jungle growth."

"Anything worth while around here?" queried Joe.

Bob did not answer for a moment. Then suddenly his gaze remained fixed on something off in the distance.

"I believe--yes, that's what it is."

"What?" demanded his father impatiently. "I take it that you see something of interest."

"There's a big rhino away over there," the youth said, keeping his eyes glued to the distant object.

"A rhino? Where?" Mr. Lewis looked up suddenly.

"Down that narrow trail over there," was the answer. "It seems to be coming this way."

"Climb down from there, Son, and we'll investigate," said Mr. Holton, taking his rifle. "A rhinoceros hide is what we want above everything."

Led by the naturalists, the party followed the narrow trail that Bob had pointed out. It was well beaten, being probably long used by wild animals.

Joe, holding a movie camera, was ready to film any encounter that they might have. Bob, as usual, carried his rifle.

But when, fifteen minutes later, they saw no traces of the rhino, the explorers were ready to give up the chase. For even in that short time they had gone farther than Bob said the animal had been.

Just when they were at the point of retracing their footsteps, Joe burst through a mass of foliage and at once called the others.

"Look what I've found," he said proudly. "A water hole where wild animals come to drink. See the tracks on the ground?"

"Jove!" exclaimed Mr. Holton. "That's exactly what it is. Looks like about every animal imaginable comes to this place. Here are monkeys' footprints. And over here are leopard tracks. Wild pigs and buffaloes have been here, too."

Joe regarded the naturalists quizzically for a moment.

"Are we in any special hurry to go on?" he asked.

"Not especially," returned Mr. Holton. "Why do you ask?"

"I'd like to take movies of the animals when they come here tonight to drink," went on Joe. "Why can't we make camp near here?"

"Hmm!" Mr. Holton considered for a minute.

"Why not do it, Howard?" asked Joe's father. "After all, this is a wonderful opportunity for the boys to take movies. And while we're waiting here, you and I can look around for new specimens."

"I'm willing," Mr. Lewis said. "We can pitch our tents a few hundred yards from here so as not to be too near and frighten the animals."

Noko found a suitable camping spot quite a distance away. After the tents were erected he set out with Mr. Lewis to explore the surrounding country for wild life. Bob and Joe remained behind with Mr. Holton to "take it easy," as Joe remarked.

Late that afternoon Mr. Lewis and the native returned with several interesting specimens, among them being a peculiar bird that so far as the naturalists knew was unknown to the civilized world.

"Now's when our work comes in," remarked Bob, as he and Joe started down the path. "We're going to construct a thorn enclosure near that water hole. Then we can hide behind it and wait for animals to come tonight to drink. That way we can take moving pictures of them without their suspecting us."

"Good idea," said his father. "Need any help?"

Bob shook his head and with his chum walked to the water hole. There they built a _boma_, behind which they could hide. They made it look very natural, so that animals would not become suspicious.

After an early supper the naturalists and their sons went to the water hole to wait, leaving Noko behind with the safari.

Twilight came, and with it a brilliant moon. Darkness soon fell over the vast forest.

Their hearts beating rapidly, the two youths waited. They held the movie cameras ready for instant action.

"Hark!" said Mr. Lewis suddenly. "What's that noise?"

"I didn't hear anything," said Bob, straining his ears to listen.

Then suddenly they heard a most unearthly sound, unlike anything they had ever known. It was repeated again and again, always more blood-curdling. Then at last it died away in horrible moanings.

It was some time before anyone spoke, for all had been not a little frightened by the uncanny cries.

"Was that a wild animal?" demanded Joe, who had almost turned pale.

"I've never heard any wild animal that could make that kind of a noise," returned Mr. Holton, and Joe's father shook his head.

"It didn't sound like people, either," came from Joe. "Ugh! Gives me the shivers. Maybe it was a ghost."

Mr. Lewis tried to laugh.

"Use your reason, Son," he said. "There aren't any such things as ghosts."

For the time being another much different sound made the explorers forget the mysterious cries. It was a loud trumpeting that seemed to come from but a short distance away.

"Elephants," pronounced Mr. Holton. "They're coming this way."