ATMr. Lewis’s words, Bob and Joe stood mouth agape. They stared at the naturalist for several seconds in sheer surprise. Then they were overcome with joy.
“You’re not kidding, are you?” cried Bob, finally managing to utter the words.
“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 specimens from Africa, and if we could get them it would be perfectly all right. They’re going to fix everything up for us.”
“Man alive!” cried Joe. “It’ll be a wonderful opportunity. Of course,” he went on, “there’s a chance that Bob and I may go with you, isn’t there?”
“Let’s not discuss that matter just now,” Mr. Holton said. “Of course, you know there are othersbesides Ben and I who have a say. But we’ll give it a thought, boys.”
“And now we’re off for the museum,” announced Joe’s father.
“Aren’t you going to stay for the circus performance?” asked Bob in some surprise.
“Really we haven’t the time, Son,” answered Mr. Holton. “With this African mission on our hands we’ll have to do some hustling. We just came down here to take a look at this big gorilla. Well, we’ll see you later, boys. Be good.”
With this the naturalists took their leave, while their sons glanced at each other.
“A trip to Africa!” cried Bob joyfully. He picked his chum up and danced around with him in happiness.
“Better cut this stuff out,” advised Joe. “As soon as you calm down a little you’ll lose some of that excess strength—and then maybe you’ll let me drop.”
Bob released his chum and stopped his dance of joy, as he noticed that people were beginning to trickle into the tent. But his face retained its look of exultation.
The boys still had some time before the performance was to start and amused themselves by looking about the grounds.
Later, in the main tent, the chums enjoyed the show immensely. Perhaps, however, as Bob said, they could have enjoyed it still more had they not been so absorbed in the coming expedition to Africa.
“We’ll just have to go with you,” pleaded Joe when the two had gone to the museum to join their fathers. “Why, you know it wouldn’t be complete without us.”
“Perhaps not,” came from Mr. Lewis, “although we hadn’t thought of it in that light.”
“You know we can take care of ourselves,” Bob defended himself and his friend. “And we’re both good shots. Remember the time when we potted off those gazelles on the Sahara?”
“Sure thing,” said Mr. Holton, nodding. “And you’ve brought us many other valuable specimens, too. But to tell the truth, boys, we’re not anxious for you to go with us this time. You see, we have orders to shoot some very dangerous game. Lions, rhinos, buffaloes, and the like.”
“Better and better!” exclaimed Bob, his eyes brightening still more. “Just where do you intend to explore?”
“In the middle of the Congo Basin,” returned his father. “Our ship will take us to Mombasa. From there we’ll take a train——”
“Train?” interrupted Joe, greatly puzzled. “Do they have trains in the heart of Africa?”
“Not exactly in the heart of Africa,” Mr. Holton answered. “But there is a railroad running from Mombasa to Lake Victoria. As I was saying, we’ll board a train and go as far as it will carry us. Then we’ll have to organize a safari.”
“Exactly what is that?” inquired Bob. “I’ve often heard the term, but never was quite clear about its meaning.”
“Safari means practically the same as expedition,” Mr. Lewis explained. “It is an Arabic term that is used quite frequently in Africa. A safari is composed of the explorers, the native police, bearers, and the like. It may vary from just a few people to several hundred. In our case, however, we won’t need a large number of carriers. If we do need more, we can engage them in the jungle to carry our specimens back to the coast. The money that they charge is only a very meager amount.”
“Just what animals do you want especially to bag?” asked Bob. “Of course, you want lions, don’t you?”
“Lions, yes,” returned his father. “And other dangerous game. But we also want to investigate reports of several strange animals that are at presentgenerally unknown. Whether we’ll find them we have yet to see—if nothing with sharp teeth stops us,” he added with a smile.
“Nothing will,” said Bob conclusively. “But just what is the most dangerous game of Africa?”
The naturalists glanced at each other.
“Better not ask that question, or you’ll start a heated debate,” laughed Mr. Lewis. “Howard and I are very much in disagreement about it.”
“Why?” persisted Bob.
“You father is inclined to place the rhino as the most dangerous, while I would say the buffalo comes first. But to settle the argument, both are bad enough when they’re after you.”
“But what about the lion?” demanded Joe. “Isn’t he dangerous?”
“Very much so,” answered Mr. Holton. “However, he isn’t considered anything like the two animals that Ben mentioned. That doesn’t mean, though, that it’s advisable to go out and pick a quarrel with the king of beasts,” he added whimsically.
“Let me get a map of Africa, boys,” said Joe’s father, rising. “Then we can see exactly where we intend to explore.”
He went over to a bookcase in a corner of theoffice, returning a moment later with a large cloth map of the Dark Continent.
But at that moment the telephone rang, and Mr. Holton stepped over to answer it.
A few seconds later he uttered a cry of surprise. His brow wrinkled, and his face took on a look of dismay.
“Why, it can’t be!” he cried excitedly. “Stolen! Gone!”
At the scientist’s ominous words Mr. Lewis looked up in wonder. The boys too listened intently. They were growing impatient when Mr. Holton again spoke.
“Stay where you are,” he directed the person at the other end of the line. “We’ll meet you at once.”
With these words he hung up and turned to the others.
“Those specimens that we bought from Thompson in Chicago—they’ve been stolen!” he explained in a worried voice.
“What!” cried Mr. Lewis angrily. “Do you mean that?”
“Every word of it,” was the response. “We must go at once. If we get there in time we may be able to find the culprit.”
The naturalists grabbed their hats and dashed out of the office and through the building to theoutside. Bob and Joe followed them, although without knowing where they were going.
All got in Mr. Holton’s car, which was parked near the museum.
“Now we must hurry,” Bob’s father said, starting the engine. “The robbery took place but a short time ago, and there is a chance that we can overtake the thief.”
“Weren’t the specimens covered by insurance?” inquired Joe.
Mr. Lewis shook his head.
“But even if they were,” the naturalist said, “this is a case where insurance could not replace the loss. Such rare birds and animals as those can be procured only with great patience and labor under a hot sun. You fellows know what a job it is to stalk wild animals. And it isn’t likely that we’ll find others like them in Africa.”
With a roar and a rush the automobile shot out into the street and was soon caught in the midst of heavy traffic. Although Mr. Holton greatly desired to travel at a rapid pace, he found it impossible to do so.
“Where are we going?” asked Bob. “We’ve been so interested in the robbery itself that Joe and I haven’t thought to inquire where the specimens were when they were stolen.”
“In a railroad freight yard,” returned his father. “The museum sent one of its trucks after them as soon as they arrived. I don’t have the details about the happening, but the box of specimens must have been stolen while the truck driver was not around. Apparently the robber was familiar with the contents of the box. Perhaps he had carefully planned the theft in advance. Heard us talking about the specimens, maybe.”
“Well, he won’t get away with it if we can help it,” said Bob with determination. “We’ll catch him somehow.”
“Let’s hope you’re right,” Mr. Holton said gravely as he pushed the accelerator still nearer to the floorboard.
After what seemed like hours they pulled up at their destination—a railroad freight yard.
Inside the main building they found the truck driver awaiting them, on his face a look of deep anxiety. His features relaxed a little as he caught sight of the two naturalists.
Mr. Lewis at once demanded an account of what had happened and urged the man to relate every detail.
The driver explained that he had loaded the box of specimens on the truck and, not doubting that they would be safe, had gone into the freightoffice for a brief stay. When he returned to the truck, he found, to his astonishment, that the box was gone. It was only then that he fully realized what had happened.
“If I’d only seen the guy that took them we might catch him,” he finished.
The scientists were greatly vexed at the driver for not taking better care of such valuable goods, but they managed to keep their temper.
They walked out to the truck to discover, if possible, the thief’s means of escape.
“He probably had another automobile waiting to take those specimens,” remarked Joe. “Maybe we can find its tracks. The ground here is soft after the recent rain.”
A careful survey of the roadway was not in vain, for soon they saw wide tracks of automobile tires which possessed a very odd tread.
“Here’s a clue, anyway,” said Mr. Holton. “Every little thing counts, you know.”
Bob had gone a piece toward the street. Now he came running toward the others.
“Look!” he cried excitedly. “I’ve found something. Let’s see what it is.”
ASthe 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 name Thomas Jordan.
“Thomas Jordan!” exclaimed Mr. Lewis, reaching for the card. “Why, he’s a wealthy sportsman. Practically everybody has heard of him. Of course it couldn’t have been he that stole those specimens.”
Bob’s father agreed with him.
“Scarcely anybody is more respected,” he said.
“You say he’s a sportsman, huh?” said Joe thoughtfully. “What does he do?”
“A lawyer by profession,” Mr. Lewis returned. “But in addition he heads a private museum, merely as a hobby, I guess. Has a very wide collection of fauna from all parts of the world. Hecharges a small admission fee. Makes a lot of money at it.”
“Where does he get his specimens?” inquired Joe.
Mr. Lewis looked puzzled for a moment.
“Why, from different sources,” the naturalist replied. “Goes after some occasionally, buys some—”
“Buys some, does he?” Joe still spoke in a very thoughtful voice. “Then might it not be possible that he will buy those that were stolen—get them from the thief, I mean?”
“By George!” exclaimed Mr. Holton, his eyes brightening. “You may be right, Joe. Strange that none of the rest of us thought of that now. Yes, it’s quite possible for such a thing to happen. Perhaps the thief has already made arrangements with this Mr. Jordan to sell him the specimens.”
“I suggest that we hunt up Jordan immediately,” came from Mr. Lewis. “But I refuse to think that he had a part in the robbery.”
“I don’t think so either,” put in Bob. “From what I’ve heard, he’s considered one of the leading citizens. But it’s possible that the thief could disguise himself as a dealer in wild animals and easily sell them to Jordan.”
“Chances are that is what will happen, if wedo not interfere,” Mr. Lewis said. “So I believe we should look up this fellow at once.”
Bob’s father, having instructed the truck driver to return to the museum, led the way to his car. He desired to lose no time in calling on Mr. Jordan, who must be informed of the theft in time to prevent the sale of the stolen specimens.
The object of their remarks lived in a very fashionable residential section, which was at the very edge of the city. His private museum was located but a few squares from his home.
“If we can’t find him one place, perhaps we can another,” said Bob. “That is, if he hasn’t left the city.”
“In that case we’ll have as good a chance to see him first as the thief,” laughed Joe.
Some time later the four pulled up in front of a spacious home in an exclusive residential district. They left the car and moved up to the house.
A butler took the card Mr. Lewis handed him, standing aside a moment later for them to go in. Then, after taking their hats, he disappeared into another room.
The visitors had not long to wait. They had barely taken the chairs offered them when a tall erect man walked up to them.
“You are Mr. Jordan?” asked Joe’s father, rising.
“Yes.”
The naturalist introduced himself and his friends and then lost no time in getting to the point. He told of the theft in the freight yard, then of finding the attorney’s card.
“Naturally we resolved to hunt you up,” he said. “It is entirely possible that this thief has been to see you about buying specimens from him. Of course, you probably did not in the least suspect him. Or, if this is not the case, he got your card from some other source.”
Mr. Jordan was silent for several moments, as if in deep thought. Finally he turned to the others.
“I think I know the very man who stole them,” he announced.
“Good!” cried Joe impulsively.
“A very well-dressed chap,” the lawyer resumed, staring hard at the floor. “He came here about a month ago and said he dealt in all descriptions of specimens. But there was something about him that aroused my suspicions at once. Perhaps it was the way he acted. At any rate, I didn’t trust him. Appeared to be one of these, ah, slick, well-dressed rascals that you see so much of. I told him I desired nothing at present but rare specimens fromAfrica. He wore a blank look for a minute; then suddenly he gave a start and turned to me with a queer smile. ‘I’ll find you something,’ he said. ‘I think I know where I can get exactly what you want.’ I gave him one of my cards.”
“Perhaps that’s the very man we’re looking for,” said Bob. “Possible, anyway. Has he called you yet?”
“No. But if we think correctly, he may very soon now. Of course, though, he might wait till after the news of the robbery gets in the papers and has died down a bit.”
Mr. Holton shook his head.
“I’m of the opinion that he will sell those specimens before the news gets in the papers,” the naturalist said. “Perhaps he will pick today to do it. The sooner he gets them off his hands, the better chance he’ll have to get away without being found out.”
“Suppose you give me a description of them—the specimens, I mean,” Mr. Jordan suggested. “Then, if the thief comes, I’ll know at once and have him arrested.”
“That will be fine.” Mr. Lewis tore out a sheet of paper from his notebook and wrote down the names of each animal included in the collection. He handed the paper to the attorney.
“I shall be glad to do this for you,” the latter said. “If the thief comes, I’ll slip away somehow to a telephone.”
“We don’t know how to thank you enough,” Mr. Holton said gratefully. “In doing this you will be performing an invaluable service for the museum——”
He stopped abruptly as he noticed the butler entering the room.
“Mr. Henry Overton to see you,” the servant announced, as the attorney arose.
Mr. Jordan took the card the butler handed him. He pondered for several minutes before speaking. Finally he turned his gaze upon the naturalists and their sons.
“Gentlemen,” he said with a smile, “I think the time is at hand. The thief, I believe, is here now.”
There were looks of surprise and astonishment on the faces of the visitors.
“Suppose we four hide in an adjoining room while you talk to this man,” suggested Bob Holton. “Then we can hear what’s being said.”
“You’re fairly sure the caller is the man we were talking about?” asked Mr. Lewis, hesitating a moment before following Bob’s move.
“No, not sure,” Mr. Jordan responded. “Buthe is a collector of wild animals. And that seems suspicious enough, doesn’t it?
“Tell you what,” he continued. “Suppose you four do as suggested—hide in this room and listen in on us. If it happens that the man is someone else, no harm will have been done.”
The naturalists and their sons needed no urging. They hurried into the next room and hid near the entrance. There was a curtain separating them from the reception room, and all crouched near to peep through.
Their hearts were in their mouths when a minute later a stranger was admitted.
“Doesn’t look much like a crook,” whispered Joe, as he noticed that the man was dressed handsomely.
“Look at his eyes, though,” returned Bob, also keeping his voice very low.
The four listeners strained every nerve to catch what was being said in the next room. They were delighted beyond expression when they found that they could make out every word of the conversation.
“I was here a good while ago,” the stranger was saying. “No doubt you remember me. You told me to let you know as soon as I found some rare specimens from Africa.”
“And you’ve found some?” asked Mr. Jordan rather impatiently.
“Ah, yes. You will be delighted when I tell you what they are. The rarest of the rare. Mounted beautifully by one of my expert taxidermists.”
He opened a small black satchel which he had carried. After a few seconds of nervous fumbling he removed a small leather notebook.
“Here,” he said, handing the book to Mr. Jordan. “The complete list of specimens is here. Each is described carefully. All told, there are five of the most unusual wild creatures imaginable.”
“Only five!” whispered Mr. Holton, appearing suddenly angered. “Why, there were ten in the box that was stolen.”
Almost at once the attorney broached the same matter.
“Five are all you have for sale?” he asked casually. “Why, that is only a small handful, so to speak.”
“Well, ah—” the stranger hesitated before speaking—“I might be able to secure more for you.”
Mr. Jordan looked up suddenly.
“Is that so?” he asked quietly. “It’s rather surprising that you can have them so readily. Ofcourse”—he laughed to relieve the tension—“you don’t go after them yourself, do you?”
The alleged buyer and seller of specimens faltered for a brief period, but at last looked up.
“These I was able to secure from a collector friend, who went on an expedition merely for the pleasure it afforded him, and not for the advancement of science.”
“Oh, yeah?” whispered Bob to his friends who were hiding like himself. “He got ’em from his ‘collector friend’ like I got ’em off a hot-dog stand.”
“No wise-cracking,” grinned Joe. “You might get me to laughing.”
The next few moments of conversation convinced the youths’ fathers that the man in the adjoining room was the thief. A few descriptions of the specimens, which Mr. Jordan purposely read aloud, were sufficient to convict the stranger in the minds of Mr. Holton and Mr. Lewis.
From then, the conversation appeared uninteresting, although Bob and Joe, as well as the naturalists, were anxious to see how the attorney would dispose of the stranger.
“And,” continued Mr. Jordan, “what are you asking for these five specimens?”
“The small sum of a hundred dollars,” was the reply.
Mr. Jordan gasped in astonishment. Only a hundred dollars for what should be worth a great deal more than that!
Meanwhile, in the next room, Joe had decided on a plan of action.
“Now that we are convinced that this man is the thief, we are free to do almost anything,” he began, speaking in a very low whisper.
The others looked at him inquiringly.
“My scheme is this,” Joe continued, “I’ll go out——”
“If you’re doing anything, I’m in it with you,” interrupted Bob.
“All right, then. We’ll go out to this man’s car. It’s probably parked in front——”
“Perhaps he came on a street car,” suggested Mr. Holton.
“In that case, my plan won’t work,” Joe said. “But if his car is out there, we’ll look inside it and see if we can find anything that will tell us where he lives. Then we’ll come back. What do you say?”
“Suits me,” returned Bob at once. “We’ll find something if there’s anything to be found.”
“And while you fellows are gone,” began Mr. Holton, “we’ll find some way to get Jordan inhere to have him detain the thief as long as possible. But you be careful. There may be someone else in the car.”
As silently as they could, Bob and Joe made their way out of the room and in a roundabout manner found the front door. One glance across the spacious lawn told them that a roadster was parked at the curb. A more careful look convinced them that no one was in the car.
“Now’s our chance,” said Joe, leading the way out to the street. “Of course, this automobile might belong to someone else, but the chances are that it is owned—or at least run—by the man in the house.”
With a cautious look over their shoulders, the chums walked up to the parked car.
“THEREshould 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 has his name and address on it.”
“Here’s a driver’s license,” announced Bob, who had reached into the pocket of the door. “Issued to Harry Walker, and the address is rural route. Let’s see the description. Height, five feet-eight; weight, one hundred-forty; eyes, brown; hair, black; age, fifty-one.”
“That’s the thief, all right,” said Joe conclusively. “It fits him to a T.”
“But the name,” argued Bob. “How do you figurethatout? The fellow we think is the thief gave his name as Henry Overton, while this driver’s license has the name Harry Walker.”
“Maybe that was only an alias, or false name,”suggested Joe. “He could easily have changed that. But what do we do now, Bob?”
“More than I know. What do you suggest?”
“Suppose we go back in Jordan’s house and see our dads. We’ll have to hurry, though, or this thief will beat us to it.”
“To what?”
“As I was saying,” resumed Joe, “we’ll go back and get our dads, and the four of us can go out to this thief’s house and be there when he gets there.”
“Then what?”
“Easy enough. We’ll arrest him and make him get the stolen specimens.”
“But can we do it?” demanded Bob. “Will we be allowed to?”
“Sure. We’ve got the goods on him, haven’t we? We know that the specimens that Mr. Jordan read off are the stolen ones, don’t we?”
“All right. Lead the way.”
As quickly as they could, Bob and Joe went back in the house through a rear entrance. Then quietly they found the room in which Mr. Holton and Mr. Lewis were hiding.
The boys found their fathers waiting anxiously. The frown on their faces gave way to a smile as they caught sight of their sons.
“What did you find?” inquired Joe’s father.
Bob told of their desire to drive to the thief’s residence before the man could himself do so.
“I’m willing,” said Mr. Lewis, who was more than anxious to recover the stolen specimens. “While on our way we’ll stop at a police station and pick up an officer. I’d sort of hate to carry out your plan without doing that.”
Before leaving the house, Mr. Holton instructed the butler to inform Mr. Jordan of where they had gone. Then, with his son and friends, he hurried out to his car.
Mr. Lewis knew exactly where to find the residence of the thief, or at least the address that was on the driver’s license.
“It is several miles from here, but we’ll probably have a good start ahead of the thief,” Joe’s father said, as the automobile was driven out into a main traffic artery.
Before the four left the city limits, they stopped at a police station and secured the services of an officer. Now, with the protection of the law, they felt safe to continue the venture.
A half hour’s ride over a narrow country road brought them to a large house set back in a wide lawn.
“This must be the place,” observed Mr. Holton, bringing the car to a standstill. “I wonder if anyone is at home?”
“Better not leave the machine here,” warned the policeman. “If the guy we’re after should see it, he probably would not show up for us to catch him. Drive it farther toward the house, out of sight of the road.”
“Glad you reminded me,” Mr. Holton said, and drove still farther on.
All stepped out and made their way over the wide lawn. As a precaution against possible danger, the officer kept a ready hand on his revolver.
“You can’t tell who might be there to bump us off,” he said, his eyes on the house. “There could be several more outlaws waiting there.”
They reached the dwelling safely, however, and then knocked on the heavy door.
But either no one was there, or else they refused to admit the strangers, for the door did not open.
“No use keeping this up longer,” said the policeman. “We’d better hide around the side of the house and wait for the fellow we’re after. Feel sure he’ll come here?”
“We don’t know,” returned Bob. “This may not even be where he lives. He might have stolen thecar he had from someone who does live here.”
They took places beside the house, at a point where they could command a good view of the road and driveway. How long it would be before the thief would show up, if at all, they had not the slightest idea. They hoped, however, it would not be long, for darkness was not far off.
Hardly five minutes had passed when Bob caught the arm of the policeman, who was nearest him.
“Listen!” the youth hissed. “There’s a car coming. Hear it?”
Sure enough, the faint sound of an approaching automobile was breaking the evening silence. Whether the vehicle was that of the thief, the hiding forms did not know. Their hopes were high, though, as the purring became louder.
Those hopes were not shattered, for a minute later the same car that had been parked in front of Mr. Jordan’s estate turned in the driveway.
“Look!” breathed Joe. “It’s the man we’re after, all right. He’s stopping. Sees our car and wonders why it’s here, I guess.”
At word from the policeman, the four stepped out and advanced toward the man. As they went nearer, the officer displayed his revolver.
“You’re under arrest,” he said. “Throw up yourhands and tell us where you put those stolen goods.”
The man raised his arms and moved toward them. But he refused to further comply with the command.
“You are wrong—entirely wrong in your thinking,” he said in a crafty voice, a faint smile coming over his face. “You have made a terrible mistake and picked out one who is innocent. I know nothing about any stolen goods.”
“None of your monkey business,” snapped the policeman, advancing toward the man. “We’ve proof of your guilt and want the stuff you stole. Now, get it and get it fast, or I’ll be tempted to pass a .45 through your ribs!”
“But I say,” persisted the alleged thief, raising his voice to a high-pitched drawl, “I know nothing about what you are talking.”
Bob advanced toward him.
“What about those specimens you offered to sell to Mr. Jordan?” the youth demanded, never taking his eyes from the fellow. “Just where did you get them? It didn’t happen that you stole them out of a museum truck, did it?”
“Why, you——I’ll knock you over that fence!”
He moved toward Bob, but soon decided not to carry out his threat.
The policeman became even more impatient.
“Did you hear what I said?” he snapped, prodding the man with his revolver. “We want that stuff you stole, and we want it right now. You’d better talk!”
Much to the surprise of all, the man no longer denied his guilt. Instead, he motioned them to follow him up to the house. Whether he had been frightened by the officer’s terse command, or intended to resort to some means of escape, they did not know.
He produced a large bunch of keys and opened the heavy door, at the same time beckoning for his unwelcome visitors to follow.
“I’ll take those keys!” The policeman held out a hand.
The accused man hesitated a moment, then handed them over.
“What you want is in the basement,” he said, as he led the way through the large room. “I will get it for you, never fear.”
When almost at the rear of the house, he stopped and opened a narrow door. Then, switching on a light, he went down a steep flight of stairs, the others at his heels.
They were in the basement, threading their waybetween rows of boxes, when something unexpected happened. The light suddenly went off, leaving them in total darkness. The eyes of the pursuers, unaccustomed to the blackness, could make out nothing around them. It had happened so quickly that there was a short period of fumbling about.
Bob Holton felt a form brush past him rapidly, as if in wild haste.
The youth’s fist shot out and caught the form squarely with such force that he fell at once with a groan.
“I got him!” Bob cried. “Now to switch on the light.”
During the next few minutes there was a wild scramble in an attempt to find the concealed switch. At last, when it became apparent that it could not be found, Joe bent his efforts on finding the stairway, at the head of which Joe knew there was a switch.
A thrill of hope passed through him as he felt his foot touch the top step. Now there would be light, the youth thought.
Meanwhile, the others were still vainly searching for the concealed switch.
“I give it up,” sighed Mr. Holton, straighteningout hopelessly. “Our only chance now is to find the switch at the head of the stairs.”
The words were barely out of his mouth when suddenly the light came on.
Bob uttered a wild cry of surprise.
“For the love of Pete!” he exclaimed. “I’ve knocked out the policeman!”
ATBob’s words of surprise, Joe burst out laughing. Mr. Holton could not help joining him, although he tried to restrain himself.
“That was about the craziest thing you ever did, Son,” Mr. Holton said, as soon as he could get his breath. “I’m afraid friend policeman will never forgive you.”
Bob grinned.
“I——Wait. He’s coming to.” The youth bent over the prone man.
“W-w-what happened, boy?” he demanded, sitting up and rubbing his jaw. “World come to an end?”
His friends laughed still harder.
“You—you tell—him, Dad,” pleaded Bob, as soon as he could manage to utter the words.
Mr. Holton sobered himself as best he could.
“There’s been a mistake,” he said, keeping hisface straight with difficulty, “a terrible mistake. It seems that Bob here mistook you for the thief, He was the one that knocked you out.”
The officer stared for a moment at Mr. Holton. Then his gaze fell on Bob, who was wondering just what would be the outcome of his misdeed.
“I’m sorry,” the youth apologized. “When I felt you rushing past me so wildly I thought sure you were the thief running away. I should have made sure, though.”
The policeman continued to gaze at Bob.
“Well, all I can say, boy,” he began at last, still rubbing his chin, “is that you whip up a wallop of a punch. You’re the first bird that’s ever put Pat Callahan cold, and that’s something. I ain’t no runt, you know.”
“I hope you’ll forgive me, sir,” Bob said. “I’m terribly sorry.”
“Forget it.” The officer gained his feet. “We’d better be thinking about that thief,” he went on, looking about the basement, “though I suppose he’s miles away from here by now.”
Joe ran hurriedly up the basement steps and dashed on through the house. He reached the front door in but a few seconds, and then looked out over the lawn.
Then he uttered a cry of anger, as he caughtsight of the thief running madly toward his automobile.
“Stop!” Joe commanded, running in that direction.
Exerting himself to the utmost, the boy pursued the fleeing man. He was but a short distance away when the latter jumped into his car and started the engine, a moment later shooting away toward the road.
Joe made an unsuccessful attempt to mount the running board, but failed. Then, criticizing himself for not arriving at the scene sooner, he watched the car turn up the road.
Impulsively, he jumped into Mr. Holton’s sedan, but found that the key was not there.
“We’re licked,” he moaned. “No use going after him. His car could run circles around Mr. Holton’s, anyway.”
He waited a little while for his father and friends to appear, but when they did not, he again went into the house.
“Joe! See anything of the fellow we’re after?” The speaker was Bob, who had appeared at the top of the basement stairs.
“Yeah, but it didn’t do me any good,” the other youth answered, and then told of his pursuing the escaped man.
“So he got away, did he?” said the policeman. “Well, we’ll fix him. There’s a telephone in that front room there. I’ll call up headquarters and tell them to stop him.”
“Maybe the wires have been cut,” suggested Mr. Lewis.
Somewhat to their surprise, the telephone was in working order.
After calling the police station and giving a complete description of the fleeing man and the car he was driving, the officer moved that they make a thorough search of the house in the hopes of finding the stolen specimens there.
“We men will look in the basement,” said the officer. “You younger fellows can search the upper floor. If you find anything, let us know right away.”
“Leave it to us,” chuckled Joe, as he led the way up the stairway. “If that stuff is up there, we’ll find it.”
“Maybe he took it with him in the car when he left,” said Bob. “He was a long time in leaving, you know.”
The chums searched the upper floor thoroughly but could find no trace of the stolen specimens. They went back over the rooms once more, but could again find nothing.
“I’m afraid we’ll have to admit defeat,” Mr.Holton said, when the chums had made their way downstairs. “We’ve looked all over the place, but it’s no use. One thing seems apparent: the thief took the specimens with him when he escaped.”
The situation was indeed most disappointing. They had come to this isolated house confident that they could recover the box of stolen specimens. Then, when they were about to find them and arrest the thief, the tables were unexpectedly turned. It was most disheartening, to the naturalists especially.
Although they had searched every section of the house, they resolved to look once more, even though it had become necessary to switch on electric lights. They also looked through several outbuildings.
An hour later, however, it became evident that nothing was to be found. Tired and downhearted, the five left the house and got in Mr. Holton’s car, ready to admit defeat.
The policeman took his leave at the police station, and then the others drove on home.
“The last we’ll see of those valuable specimens, perhaps,” moaned Mr. Lewis, as he brought the automobile up in front of the houses.
“Don’t be too sure of that,” spoke up Bob, assuming an air of optimism. “Like that officersaid, with radio and all the latest inventions, police can trail anyone nowadays.”
“That’s right,” agreed Mr. Holton. “I certainly hope he’s caught.”
“And that they do it before we leave for Africa,” added Mr. Lewis.
“Africa!” repeated Bob longingly. The coming expedition to the Dark Continent had been absent from his mind all the afternoon and evening. “You will take Joe and me with you, won’t you? Please say that we can go. We’ll do all we can for the expedition and won’t cause any trouble.”
“There’s no danger of your doing that,” Mr. Holton said at once. “In fact, there have been times when Ben and I were glad you were near. But the hazard of it all, boys!”
“You know, Howard,” began Mr. Lewis, “I’ve been thinking this thing over, and I believe the trip to Africa would do the boys a world of good.”
“Hurrah!” cried Joe impulsively.
“They are plenty old enough to look out for themselves,” Mr. Lewis resumed. “And we’ll have to credit them with a lot of initiative. Personally, I am in favor of letting them go with us.”
Joe looked at his father hopefully, although in some surprise.
Bob seized upon the opportunity at once.
“That’s the way to talk, Mr. Lewis,” he said. “You see how we came out on that expedition into the Andes Mountains. Were successful in about everything. And the moving-picture house was well pleased with the pictures we took. There’ll be another opportunity to make money taking movies of Africa—if we can go.”
Mr. Lewis rose from his chair.
“Suppose we talk the matter over with their mothers,” he suggested. “And it won’t be easy to get their consent, either. But we can see what they think of it.”
Mr. Holton was very much undecided about the matter of allowing Bob and Joe to go, but he consented to do as Mr. Lewis suggested.
“Then,” he said, addressing the chums, “we can let you know later how things stand. All right?”
“Sure,” Joe answered. He felt that there was a big chance of things going in his favor. “But please don’t talk against it to our mothers.”
Mr. Holton smiled, and then, at a call from the Lewis residence, the little party disbanded.
“HIP-HIP-HOORAY!Zowie! Rah! Rah! Rah!”
“For crying out loud!” exclaimed Bob Holton. “What’s got into you, Joe?”
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 other feats.
“Wow!” cried Bob. “You’d have a circus daredevil green with envy. But why all this jumping around? You act like a wild man.”
“Wild man! Hurrah for wild men! And wild animals!”
“Keep it up, old boy,” sang Bob. “When you come back to your senses, maybe I can get something out of you.”
Joe continued his acrobatic stunts, which ended very abruptly as he came up against a tree that he did not know was so close.
“What’s the big idea?” he growled. “Having a tree right in my way. Wait till I go get an ax.”
Joe gained his feet and made a dash toward the house. But in one bound Bob brought him to the ground with a flying tackle that he had used so advantageously on the football field.
“Come clean!” roared Bob. “What’s the big idea, anyway? You’d better talk.”
“Not till I finish my stunt,” said Joe stoutly. “Not——Hey! Cut it out!”
Joe became choked with laughter as his chum’s hand pressed against his ribs. For Bob knew only too well that Joe was not a little ticklish.
“If I can’t get it out of you one way, I will another,” said Bob, never giving his chum an inch.
“Say! What are you ginks up to?”
On the instant Bob released his hold and wheeled about. Then a look of combined bewilderment and delight came on his face.
“Chubby Stevens!” he cried wildly, getting to his feet.
“It’s Chubby as sure as I’m born!” added Joe, displaying even more surprise. “Why, when did you get here?”
The new arrival was a short, exceedingly fat youth, with twinkling eyes and a pug nose. Boband Joe had made his acquaintance while in South America on their Andes expedition and had taken a great liking to him.
“Just happened to be in Washington and thought I’d drop around and see you bozos,” Chubby explained. “We came by airplane. Left Houston last night.”
“Boy! Am I glad to see you!” said Bob. “Of course, you’re going to stay awhile, aren’t you?”
“Only till tomorrow,” the fat little fellow said. “Dad came here to see the President, I guess,” he said with a chuckle. “Things ain’t goin’ to suit him in his business. He’s awful hard to please, Dad is. If the dough ain’t rollin’ in to suit him he thinks there ought to be something done about it.”
“Same old Chubby,” said Bob with a laugh. “Are you sure you’re telling the truth?”
“Well—the fact is, he didn’t make it clear just what he came for. Anyway, he came. And I went with him.”
“Ever been to Washington before?” inquired Joe.
“Nope. I got to within a half a mile of here once. But just as we were about to hit the city limits, Dad turned off on another road.”
Bob and Joe laughed.
“Well, then,” began the latter, “suppose wespend the day looking around. We can see the city and go to the museum and take a look at the specimens we brought back from the Andes. That is, unless you’d rather do something else.”
“I’d rather do that than anything,” Chubby said at once. “But—” he hesitated—“if you gazooks have anything else to do——”
“We won’t have anything to do for several days,” spoke up Joe.
“What are you goin’ to be up to then—after those several days are up?” demanded Chubby.
“Plenty,” returned Joe. “Ever hear of Africa?”
“Let me think.” The fat youth rubbed his chin thoughtfully. “The word sounds familiar,” he said at last. “What is it, a new kind of dog food?”
“Cut the comedy,” said Joe, suppressing a smile. “The thing is that Bob and I are going there.”
“To Africa? No kiddin’!”
“Not a bit,” returned Joe. “We’ll be leaving in a short time now.”
“Wait a minute,” snapped Bob. “How do you know you and I are going? They haven’t told us yet.”
“Oh, no? Well, just for your own benefit, Dad told me a little while ago that our mothers have given their consent. We can go on the expedition.”
Bob stood for several minutes as though transfixed.Then, as though the full meaning of his chum’s words had been suddenly released, he jumped up with a shout of joy.
“Africa!” Bob cried. “Hurrah!”
“And still you wonder why I did all that jumping around a while ago,” grinned Joe.
“So that was it?” asked Bob. “Well, why didn’t you tell me?”
“So you’re going to Africa, are you?” came from Chubby Stevens. “Gonna start a circus?”
“Hardly,” returned Joe. “Dead animals are bad enough to bring back, let alone live ones. But right now, Chubby, come in the house. The lawn isn’t any place to visit.”
The remainder of that day Bob and Joe spent in entertaining their friend from Houston. The three visited the museum and had a long talk with Mr. Holton and Mr. Lewis, who at once took a liking to Chubby. Then, after viewing the many specimens of animal life that had recently been brought back from the Andes, the three drove around the city, noting the United States Capitol, the White House, Arlington National Cemetery, and many other notable attractions.
Very late that afternoon Bob and Joe let their friend out in front of the hotel in which he and his father were staying. Chubby explained that,as they were to start back to Houston before daylight the next morning, he could not remain longer with his friends.
“Watch yourselves while you’re in Africa,” he warned, as parting words. “Don’t get on the inside of a lion.”
“We’ll try not to,” laughed Bob, and then, with a final farewell, he sent the car homeward.
That evening Bob and Joe thanked their parents warmly for allowing them to prepare for the African expedition. They promised their mothers that they would be unusually careful and not take chances while in the jungle.
“And now,” began Bob the next morning, “we’ll have to do some hustling, because we leave Friday. This is Monday, you know.”
“And how I wish it were Friday now!” groaned Joe.
The youths were far from idle during the week. They found that there was much to be purchased in the way of outdoor equipment, for although they had been on several previous expeditions, never had necessity demanded so much as now. Much of the equipment, however, could be furnished by the two naturalists, who had a large collection of rifles, cartridges, outdoor clothing, tents, kits, and various other articles.
“Here’s something that might interest you, boys,” said Mr. Lewis one evening, as he caught the chums on the back lawn.
“What is it?” inquired Bob, noticing what the scientist held. “Looks like a kind of club.”
“Hardly that,” laughed Mr. Lewis, “though it might be used as a club. But the thing is, boys, that this is a flashlight without batteries.”
“A—a what?” demanded Joe in surprise. “Flashlight without batteries? What are you talking about, Dad?”
“I thought that would get you,” Mr. Lewis laughed. “But no joking, this is just what I said. You see, it contains a small generator. As you turn this crank, it makes electricity, and the bulb lights.”
“What a contraption!” said Bob. “But, say! Speaking of turning cranks, that reminds me. Joe and I haven’t notified the Neuman Motion Picture Corporation that we’re going to Africa. And they told us to let them know when we left for a little-known land. If we’re going to take movies of Africa, we’ll have to telegraph them at once and maybe go to Philadelphia to see them.”
“I’ve already sent them word,” said Joe. “Forgot to tell you about it. As soon as our mothers said we could go, I went down and telegraphed. Theysaid they’d send the cameras and film at once by express.”
“You did?” asked Bob in astonishment. “Good old Joe. Gotta hand it to you, all right.”
But despite what the Neuman Corporation had informed Joe, the motion-picture cameras and film had not arrived Thursday evening, as the youths and their fathers prepared to retire. On the morrow—Friday—they were to leave for Baltimore, whence they would embark on the steamerZanzibar.
“Doggone it, anyhow!” exclaimed Bob Holton, who was fairly fuming at the mouth. “What will we do? We haven’t time to go to Philadelphia now.”
“Looks like you fellows aren’t going to take movies of Africa,” remarked Mr. Holton, who also felt the youths’ bitter disappointment.
“But—but they would be better than any we’ve ever taken,” mourned Joe. “No,” he went on, “we’ll have to arrange it some way. It might be best for you men to go on and let Bob and me take another ship. We——”
“I’m afraid you couldn’t do that, boys,” said Mr. Lewis, shaking his head. “We’ve already made reservations for you, and those could not easily be broken. A contract is a contract, you know.”
“The only thing for you to do,” came from Bob’s father, “is to telegraph Neuman the first thing in the morning to send the cameras and film on to Africa if they haven’t sent them yet. Of course, if they have, your mothers can forward them on to Africa by another ship.”
That night Bob and Joe were far from hopeful. Since they had been engaged on their first expedition, to Brazil, to take moving pictures of the strange places and animals they saw, the chums had longed for a chance to photograph wild life in African jungles. Now, to be leaving for those mysterious jungles without taking motion pictures was unthinkable.
But despite these grave thoughts, the youths slept soundly and awoke the next morning in high spirits. After all, they were going to Africa. What if they could not go? That would really be something to cry over.
The four adventurers tore themselves with difficulty from the breakfast table and arranged their belongings together. The boys’ fathers drove the family cars around in front.
“Let’s get started at once,” urged Mr. Holton, looking at his watch. “The train leaves for Baltimore in little more than half an hour. That means we’ll have to hurry.”
The words were scarcely out of his mouth when an express truck drove up and stopped just behind the two cars. Out of it stepped the driver, who carried a large tightly sealed box.
“The motion-picture cameras!” cried Joe in extreme joy. “They’re here at last!”
“HOWwas that for timing it to a dot?” laughed Bob, after the express driver had left.
“Couldn’t have been better,” said Joe. “Boy! Am I glad that stuff got here!”
Bob placed the big box in the Holton car, and then all made ready for the drive to the railroad station.
They reached their destination with fifteen minutes to spare and at once set about having the baggage sent up to the tracks.
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, the youths and their fathers left for the tracks.
“Bring me a lion cub!” called Tommy, Bob’s small brother, shouting to make himself heard.
“I might surprise you, Tom, old man,” Bobshouted back, laughing in spite of himself at his brother’s remark.
With one last wave, the youths and their fathers headed for the tracks, where the Baltimore express was waiting. Red-capped porters brought their baggage up in the rear and placed it on the train. Then the adventurers themselves boarded.
Before long, with a clanging of bells the express puffed out of the station and steamed in the direction of Baltimore. At last the long journey had begun.
For some time both Bob and Joe were silent, watching the country as it whizzed past them. Then, almost before knowing it, they pulled into Baltimore.
Mr. Lewis hailed a taxi, and they were whirled through the busy streets to the docks, where, at some point, their steamer, theZanzibar, was anchored.
“What do you think of her, boys?”
It was Mr. Holton’s voice as a little later the four explorers found themselves peering ahead at the ship on which they were to embark.
“I hardly know,” returned Bob, who was somewhat disappointed at sight of the vessel. “Suppose you answer that question, Dad, Mr. Lewis.”
“I’m afraid we’re a bit stung,” muttered his father, gazing at theZanzibar.
The steamer was far from modern in appearance; its sides were beginning to look rusty, and the cabin was badly lacking in paint. About two hundred feet long, it looked as though it had seen many years’ service.
“Will that take us all the way to Africa?” demanded Joe, who was almost at the point of anger.
“We’ll probably get there,” returned his father. “But how!”
“Why didn’t you pick a better boat?” asked Bob. “The passage wouldn’t have cost any more, would it?”
“This happened to be the only one sailing soon,” was the answer from Mr. Lewis. “I took for granted that it would be satisfactory.”
They went up the gangplank, having resolved to make the best of a bad matter.
“Anyway,” said Bob, “it’s far better than not going at all.”
The vessel was not to lift anchor until late that afternoon, and so the youths had some time to walk about the docks.
“Whatever you do, get back here in time,” warned Mr. Lewis, as the chums left down the gangplank. “It would be a terrible thing to be left behind.”
“We’ll be there,” returned Bob.
He and Joe spent some time in looking around. They saw many strange and interesting people and things at the waterfront, and would have liked to stay longer. But at one o’clock they decided to take no chances and boarded theZanzibar, although it was still several hours before sailing time.
The youths were shown to their stateroom, which went somewhat beyond their expectations, it being large and well appointed.
“Maybe this old boat doesn’t look very well on the outside, but she’s O.K. inside,” remarked Bob, as he left with his chum for the outer deck. “Couldn’t ask for much better.”
On deck the two found their fathers eagerly waiting for the ship to move out to sea. The men were becoming more restless with every passing minute.
Then at last the longed-for moment came. A cry of “All ashore!” A chugging of tugs. A mad scramble of visitors down the gangplank. Then, with a clanging of bells and a groaning of hawsers, theZanzibarbegan to move away from the dock.
“We’re off!” exclaimed Joe Lewis, waving mechanically at the crowd of people who were there to see the steamer leave.
Slowly the vessel threaded her way through theheavy water traffic. It steamed out through the Patapsco River and then at last turned into Chesapeake Bay.
Bob and Joe remained on deck with their fathers for some time, noting everything worthwhile that was visible about them. Finally Bob turned to his friend.
“Suppose we go below,” he suggested. “I’d like to take a look at the ship.”
The boys spent the remainder of the day in exploring theZanzibarand were greatly interested in everything they saw. But they knew at once that the ship had been in service for many years.
The ocean voyage was not novel to them, but, nevertheless, they enjoyed it immensely. The days passed pleasantly enough, the chums seeking amusement by swimming in the ship’s pool, playing various deck games, and reading in the library.
One morning they were leaning on the rail, watching the rolling of the waves, when a high-pitched voice roused them. Looking around, they saw a tall, very slim young man of perhaps twenty, with light wavy hair and an unusually light complexion. His features were very delicate, and his voice very much resembled that of a lady.
“I say there,” he greeted, extending a shapelywhite hand. “Really marvelous weather we’re having, don’t you think?”
“Why—yes,” returned Bob, after a moment of hesitation. “Yes, the weather’s swell so far. I sure hope we don’t run into a tropical storm.”
“A what?” The slender young man turned a shade paler. “Did you say storm?”
“Yes,” returned Bob, inwardly amused. “I heard the captain talking this morning. He seemed to think there’s a chance of striking a hurricane.”
“Goodness gracious!” cried the strange young man. “That would simply be horrible. Could there not be something done about it?”
“Well—” Bob hesitated—“I don’t know of anything. Just have to go through it, I suppose. But perhaps after all there won’t anything happen. I’d like to to reach port under a clear sky.”
“And so would I, my dear chap. Are you seeking pleasure by traveling?”
“To a certain extent we are,” Bob answered him. “My chum here and myself are with our dads to collect specimens of animal life and photograph the country,” he explained. “Holton is my name—Bob Holton. This is Joe Lewis.”
“Most delighted to know you,” said the white-faced youth. “Cecil Purl Stone is my name. A realpleasure to know you. I’m—traveling just for the fun of it,” he said with a foolish little laugh. “I do consider travel as one of the most gorgeous ways of enlightening oneself. It is—so very amusing,” and he laughed again, this time even more girlishly.
“Yes, it is,” said Joe, keeping back a smile. “But the fact is, Bob and I won’t have much time for travel in the true sense of the word. We’ll be too busy hunting and photographing.”
“Hunting? Gracious sakes! Don’t tell me you are permitted to carry firearms!”
Bob and Joe smiled instinctively.
“Hunting is great sport,” said the latter. “But we never kill anything just for the pleasure of killing it. We have a good reason whenever we shoot an animal.”
“Ugh!” exclaimed Cecil with a shudder. “I never could bear the thought of a gun. Believe me, they certainly give me a creepy feeling. Once I went with Mamma to India. We intended to travel through a part of the country that was a little—dangerous, but when they told us we had better carry firearms I revolted right then and there. The very thought of such a horrible thing made the cold chills creep down my back.”