CHAPTER VI
Through Unknown Forests
"That a car--an automobile?" asked Bob, holding back his laughter.
"You don't mean to say that thing will take us fourteen miles!" criedJoe, no less moved than his chum.
The naturalists smiled. They had apparently not expected this.
"It's about the best we can do here," confessed Mr. Lewis. "Of coursethere are better automobiles, but none of them seems to be for hire.You see, this drive-yourself idea doesn't appear to be very popularhere. I suppose it's because there is so much danger of being attackedby bands of nomads who would think nothing of robbing the occupantsand stealing the car. But this car, although not beautiful to look at,has a good motor and good tires, and that's about all we could expect.Remember, we're not in America now."
The object of their remarks was indeed not anything to be especiallyproud of. A well-known American make, it had undoubtedly been ofgreat service in its time, and was still capable of covering manymore miles. It had no top, and nothing to show that one had beenpresent, but the seats were in fair condition, and a well-shinedwindshield promised to keep away the formidable dust of the desert.
"Well, I suppose we could do much worse," sighed Joe, taking his placein the back seat.
After a few more remarks with the keeper of the garage, theadventurers started the motor and pulled out into the street, Mr.Lewis at the wheel. The chug of the engine was almost deafening, but,as Bob remarked, they would probably get used to it.
"Ought to be some new springs," said Joe, with a wink at his chum.
"And there could be new upholstering," added Bob. "Of course it needsnew----"
"All right, boys," smiled Mr. Holton, cutting off their capricioussuggestions. "If you don't like it, you know what you can do."
"I guess we'd better shut up," grinned Bob. "We may get thrown out onour ear."
Mr. Lewis had studied the map of Algiers and had no difficulty infinding his way out of the city and to Maison Carree, which mightalmost be called a suburb of the metropolis. From here they wentalmost straight south and soon came to a narrow river, which wasspanned by a small bridge.
"Scarcely any curves from here on," said Mr. Lewis, as he increasedthe speed of the car.
The road remained good, and in a short time they reached Arba, theirdestination. Here for the first time they caught a glimpse of a camelcaravan, for they are never seen as far as Algiers. It was composed ofabout ten dromedaries, with only three riders. Strapped on the brutes'backs were packs containing probably dates and other products of thedesert.
Bob and Joe took in the scene with intense interest, for soon theywould be fitted out in a like manner for the long desert journey. Theyouths were particularly anxious to observe the manner in which thebrutes are ridden. They had heard that to straddle a camel and be ableto bounce freely along was an art that came only of long practice.Whether this was true they did not know but resolved to find outsooner or later from Fekmah.
"I'll bet it's harder than it looks, though," remarked Joe.
A little later they saw other caravans of donkeys, the usual beast ofburden used near the coast.
"The Arab, unlike other natives, never carries his load," explainedMr. Holton. "I guess he thinks it lowers himself too much."
They drove on into the town and had more trouble finding good streetsthan in Algiers.
Luckily it was Wednesday, and the market was in full swing. Traderswere swarming everywhere, buying and selling the queer native goodsand foodstuffs.
"Suppose we park the car where we can and look about a bit," suggestedJoe. "It's no special hurry to begin the hunt, is it?"
The others were more than willing, and as soon as possible theautomobile--if it could be called that--was stopped at a convenientcorner.
"Sure feels good to get out and stretch," smiled Bob, taking advantageof the opportunity to relax his cramped legs.
They left the car and made for the business center of the town, intentupon spending a half-hour or so in watching the busy scene ofinterest.
It was soon discovered that except for the large market there waslittle of interest to be seen. In many respects the town resembledAlgiers, although on a much smaller scale and not nearly as modern.The streets were narrow and, in many cases, curving, and the houseswere far from attractive. But the hustle and bustle of the nativesclearly indicated that Arba was of considerable importancecommercially.
This was especially noted in the city market, where every articleimaginable was for sale. Bakers, vegetable dealers, butchers,shoemakers, wine venders, and many others did their best to convincethe buyer of the worth of their products.
"And over there in that tent is a physician," pointed out Mr. Lewis."How good he would be considered in the United States is hard to say,but the Arabs seem to have confidence in him. Look at the patientsgoing in."
"For my part, I'd rather trust nature to cure my illness," smiled Bob,as he noted the rather blank expression of the native physician.
The explorers spent nearly a half-hour in the city, taking in thevarious sights so strange and interesting to a visitor from a far-awayland. At last Mr. Holton moved that they go back to the car and gettheir rifles and begin the hunt, and the others were in favor of doingso.
Their lunch, cartridges, binoculars, and other hunting necessitieswere packed in lightweight ruck sacks, which required but a minute tostrap on their backs.
The car was to be left where it was, as probably no better parkingplace could be found.
"Guess we're ready," said Mr. Lewis, picking up his rifle.
It required but a short walk to reach the edge of the town, and oneglance revealed that the country here was wild and uncultivated.Mountains were but a short distance away, and some of the peaks wererather impressive.
"Those forests look like there might be anything in them," observedJoe, directing his glance at the towering wooded slopes.
"We'll see in a short time," said his father, fumbling his rifle.
The foothills over which they were passing were, for the most part,bare and devoid of heavy vegetation. But a little later they came to aregion that gradually sloped upward, and less than an hour's travelingbrought them to the base of a high, sloping mountain, which wascovered with a dense forest.
With renewed efforts they began the task of climbing, keeping a sharplookout for any wild animals that might dart out in front of them.
"About all the wild animals to be found here are rabbits, jackals,hyenas, panthers, and a very few lions," said Mr. Holton, as theytrudged up the hill.
Luckily there were no sharp cliffs to be scaled. Instead, the way wasgradual, unbroken.
"I'd like to get a glimpse of one of those queer creatures that havebeen reported to exist in these woods," remarked Mr. Holton with asmile.
"What's that?" asked Joe.
"Another Arabian myth, most likely. At any rate I know of nobody whohas ever been fortunate enough to see one. It is supposed to be aboutthe size of a badger and is a very peculiar combination of six or morewell-known animals. The face, eyes, tail, abdomen, and other bodyregions are supposed to be taken from other creatures; and all thedetails are very accurate and convincing, to hear the Arab tell it.Again arises the question of where such queer conceptions get into hishead."
As they hiked on, Bob and Joe began to get behind their elders. Therewas much to be seen in the way of odd plants and colorful flowers, andtheir attention was continually diverted from one thing to another.
"I suppose when we get as seasoned in the art of exploring as our dadswe'll not notice such minorities," said Bob. "But right now----"
He stopped suddenly as he caught sight of something that made hisblood turn cold.
Not five feet away was a huge wild boar, showing its terrible tuskssavagely as it prepared to rush at the youths.