CHAPTER XXV

The Fury of the Storm

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 great draughts of the refreshing liquid, and then with their long trunks sluiced themselves thoroughly.

Bob and Joe watched interestedly. They had but one fear. What if the purring of the movie cameras could be heard by the huge brutes? Would they charge the little hidden group, or would they immediately take flight into the dark recesses of the jungle?

As the moments passed, the adventurers grew more hopeful. Thus far the elephants had not heard. Perhaps, after all, the noise was not loud enough.

"Listen!" hissed Bob, catching his chum's arm. "Something else is coming."

He had scarcely spoken when from another direction emerged a troop of wildebeests, followed by three zebras. Still more wild creatures showed up soon after, including an oryx, Thompson's gazelle, hartebeest, and numerous monkeys.

"Isn't that a wonderful sight?" whispered Mr. Holton, never taking his eyes from the scene.

"Best ever," came from Joe.

A little later they heard a series of strange grunts, and a huge wart hog moved in a slow, awkward gait toward the water hole.

"A drinking place is the best spot there is to see a number of different kinds of animals side by side," remarked Mr. Lewis, also speaking in a very low whisper.

"They don't seem to notice each other," observed Joe. "They just keep on drinking as though nothing else were there."

Again footsteps were heard, and with them the sound of a heavy body crashing through the underbrush. Then there suddenly appeared but a short distance away a monstrous buffalo, which was also intent upon satisfying its thirst.

"Be trouble now," said Bob.

"Wait and see," smiled his father.

Much to the boys' surprise the buffalo paid not the slightest attention to the other animals. It found a place at the pond and began drinking.

"That's a new one on me," whispered Bob, and Joe nodded. "Looks like there'd be trouble, with all those different kinds of creatures there at once."

"You see they have a common interest: to quench their thirst," explained Mr. Lewis. "In such a case peace reigns."

But ten minutes later the explorers--and very obviously the animals--heard something that was not so suggestive of peace. It was the deep, vibrating roar of a lion, which seemed to be coming nearer.

The effect was immediate. Uneasiness prevailed among the more harmless animals; some of them turned about and disappeared into the jungle depths, while others pricked up their ears and listened.

But there was no mistaking the distant roar. A lion was abroad stalking for prey.

As the minutes passed, Mr. Lewis and Mr. Holton held their rifles ready for instant action. At every second they feared that the lion would appear. Bob and Joe, although realizing that perhaps their lives were in danger, continuing to film the scene, delighted at the unusualness of the occasion.

Suddenly the explorers' eyes opened wide, for the thing that they beheld was exceedingly large and powerful.

A great maned lion moved slowly toward the water hole!

Their hearts in their mouths, Bob and Joe half expected to see the beast make toward their _boma_. But it did not.

Long before, the horde of animals that had been drinking had vanished, leaving the pond to take refuge from the king of beasts. The great lion seemed to sense that this had taken place. It uttered a tremendous roar of defiance, then bent its head to drink.

"Good chance for a shot," murmured Bob, barely making himself heard.

But the naturalists shook their heads.

"One animal is enough to shoot from a _boma_," whispered Mr. Lewis. "Somehow I feel that it doesn't give them a fair chance."

They watched the lion silently until the latter finally turned and left, making its way stealthily over the carpet of twigs and rotting vines. Then Mr. Holton suggested that they get back to camp.

"That ought to be about the most interesting scene we've filmed," remarked Joe the next morning, as with the others he prepared to leave.

"No doubt you'll get others when we penetrate deeper into this forest," said his father.

Late the next afternoon Noko cast uneasy glances up at the distant sky. There was a worried look on his face as he lead the safari farther into the unknown.

"Um big storm coming," he said with a frown.

"A storm?" breathed Bob. "Do you think it will be here today?"

Noko nodded, his face grave.

"Um storm him not wait," the tall African said. "Storm come much soon. Sky it getting dark."

Indeed, the signs were most threatening. The distant horizon was colored a sickly yellow, which seemed to shine ominously. Dark clouds were forming overhead and were joining slowly but surely.

"It certainly looks bad," murmured Mr. Lewis. "We must find shelter somewhere. Where do you suggest going, Noko?"

"We find um cave or um-um hollow," returned the head native. "That only way we get out from um storm."

A weird silence hovered about. Birds had ceased their calls; monkeys were no longer chattering in the trees. Not the slightest suggestion of a wind played through the leaves.

Under the leadership of Noko they searched about desperately for some place that would serve as a refuge from the approaching storm. But as time passed they were still moving through the forest as before.

Mr. Lewis suggested that they erect their tents, but the tall African shook his head vigorously. A storm as bad as this one promised to be, said Noko in the native language, would most certainly tear the frail tents loose almost at once. For, he reminded them, the new rainy season was not far off.

With every passing minute the clouds banked tighter. An odd twilight enveloped the adventurers, making the task of escaping even more difficult.

At one time Bob and Joe caught a glimpse of several monkeys huddled closely together under a gigantic leaf. The little creatures would under other circumstances have inspired a smile from the youths.

"Must hurry," urged Noko, increasing his pace still more. "Must find um cave um quick."

Then suddenly, with the fury of a battle, the tropical hurricane was upon them!