CHAPTER XI
An Amusing Acquaintance
"How was that for timing it to a dot?" laughed Bob, after the expressdriver had left.
"Couldn't have been better," said Joe. "Boy! Am I glad that stuff gothere!"
Bob placed the big box in the Holton car, and then all made ready forthe drive to the railroad station.
They reached their destination with fifteen minutes to spare and atonce set about having the baggage sent up to the tracks.
The leavetaking was painful to all, for it was as hard for the fourexplorers to go as it was for those staying at home to give them up.But finally, with last warm farewells, the youths and their fathersleft for the tracks.
"Bring me a lion cub!" called Tommy, Bob's small brother, shouting tomake himself heard.
"I might surprise you, Tom, old man," Bob shouted back, laughing inspite of himself at his brother's remark.
With one last wave, the youths and their fathers headed for thetracks, where the Baltimore express was waiting. Red-capped portersbrought their baggage up in the rear and placed it on the train. Thenthe adventurers themselves boarded.
Before long, with a clanging of bells the express puffed out of thestation and steamed in the direction of Baltimore. At last the longjourney had begun.
For some time both Bob and Joe were silent, watching the country as itwhizzed past them. Then, almost before knowing it, they pulled intoBaltimore.
Mr. Lewis hailed a taxi, and they were whirled through the busystreets to the docks, where, at some point, their steamer, the_Zanzibar_, was anchored.
"What do you think of her, boys?"
It was Mr. Holton's voice as a little later the four explorers foundthemselves peering ahead at the ship on which they were to embark.
"I hardly know," returned Bob, who was somewhat disappointed at sightof the vessel. "Suppose you answer that question, Dad, Mr. Lewis."
"I'm afraid we're a bit stung," muttered his father, gazing at the_Zanzibar_.
The steamer was far from modern in appearance; its sides werebeginning to look rusty, and the cabin was badly lacking in paint.About two hundred feet long, it looked as though it had seen manyyears' service.
"Will that take us all the way to Africa?" demanded Joe, who wasalmost 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'thave cost any more, would it?"
"This happened to be the only one sailing soon," was the answer fromMr. Lewis. "I took for granted that it would be satisfactory."
They went up the gangplank, having resolved to make the best of a badmatter.
"Anyway," said Bob, "it's far better than not going at all."
The vessel was not to lift anchor until late that afternoon, and sothe youths had some time to walk about the docks.
"Whatever you do, get back here in time," warned Mr. Lewis, as thechums left down the gangplank. "It would be a terrible thing to beleft behind."
"We'll be there," returned Bob.
He and Joe spent some time in looking around. They saw many strangeand interesting people and things at the waterfront, and would haveliked to stay longer. But at one o'clock they decided to take nochances and boarded the _Zanzibar_, although it was still severalhours before sailing time.
The youths were shown to their stateroom, which went somewhat beyondtheir expectations, it being large and well appointed.
"Maybe this old boat doesn't look very well on the outside, but she'sO.K. inside," remarked Bob, as he left with his chum for the outerdeck. "Couldn't ask for much better."
On deck the two found their fathers eagerly waiting for the ship tomove out to sea. The men were becoming more restless with everypassing minute.
Then at last the longed-for moment came. A cry of "All ashore!" Achugging of tugs. A mad scramble of visitors down the gangplank. Then,with a clanging of bells and a groaning of hawsers, the _Zanzibar_began to move away from the dock.
"We're off!" exclaimed Joe Lewis, waving mechanically at the crowd ofpeople who were there to see the steamer leave.
Slowly the vessel threaded her way through the heavy water traffic.It steamed out through the Patapsco River and then at last turned intoChesapeake Bay.
Bob and Joe remained on deck with their fathers for some time, notingeverything worthwhile that was visible about them. Finally Bob turnedto his friend.
"Suppose we go below," he suggested. "I'd like to take a look at theship."
The boys spent the remainder of the day in exploring the _Zanzibar_and were greatly interested in everything they saw. But they knew atonce that the ship had been in service for many years.
The ocean voyage was not novel to them, but, nevertheless, theyenjoyed it immensely. The days passed pleasantly enough, the chumsseeking amusement by swimming in the ship's pool, playing various deckgames, and reading in the library.
One morning they were leaning on the rail, watching the rolling of thewaves, when a high-pitched voice roused them. Looking around, they sawa tall, very slim young man of perhaps twenty, with light wavy hairand 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 shapely white hand. "Reallymarvelous weather we're having, don't you think?"
"Why--yes," returned Bob, after a moment of hesitation. "Yes, theweather's swell so far. I sure hope we don't run into a tropicalstorm."
"A what?" The slender young man turned a shade paler. "Did you saystorm?"
"Yes," returned Bob, inwardly amused. "I heard the captain talkingthis morning. He seemed to think there's a chance of striking ahurricane."
"Goodness gracious!" cried the strange young man. "That would simplybe horrible. Could there not be something done about it?"
"Well--" Bob hesitated--"I don't know of anything. Just have to gothrough it, I suppose. But perhaps after all there won't anythinghappen. 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 andmyself are with our dads to collect specimens of animal life andphotograph 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 PurlStone is my name. A real pleasure to know you. I'm--traveling justfor the fun of it," he said with a foolish little laugh. "I doconsider travel as one of the most gorgeous ways of enlighteningoneself. It is--so very amusing," and he laughed again, this time evenmore girlishly.
"Yes, it is," said Joe, keeping back a smile. "But the fact is, Boband 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 carryfirearms!"
Bob and Joe smiled instinctively.
"Hunting is great sport," said the latter. "But we never kill anythingjust for the pleasure of killing it. We have a good reason whenever weshoot an animal."
"Ugh!" exclaimed Cecil with a shudder. "I never could bear the thoughtof a gun. Believe me, they certainly give me a creepy feeling. Once Iwent with Mamma to India. We intended to travel through a part of thecountry that was a little--dangerous, but when they told us we hadbetter carry firearms I revolted right then and there. The verythought of such a horrible thing made the cold chills creep down myback."
"But there isn't anything bad about a rifle," Joe told him. "That is,if you know how to use it. My friend and I may find our guns veryuseful when we get among such animals as gorillas."
"Gorillas! A beastly word. But don't inform me you are going to searchfor such terrible things!"
"Well, not exactly," answered Bob. "But if any come our way we'llprobably bring a few down for specimens. And we'll also be on thelookout for other dangerous game. Lions and leopards, for instance."
"G
racious!" Cecil Stone's mouth was wide open. "And you expect toreturn from that horrible country alive?"
"We hope to," returned Joe with a smile. "And you--what do you intendto do in Africa?"
Cecil Purl removed a bright blue comb from its case. He fixed his hairvery carefully before he again spoke.
"We wish to visit the cities," he told them, "and mingle with thesocially prominent people. It will be most enlightening, believe me.We hope to be invited very often to tea. Perhaps----"
"Cecil! Come with Mamma now. You must dress for dinnah."
"Fer gosh sakes" murmured Bob, under his breath.
A very tall, smiling woman was beckoning to the young man, who obeyedher without delay.
"Really, I'm most charmed to have met you chaps," he said, turning toleave. "I sincerely trust that we may meet again soon."
With this he walked lightly down the deck with the woman.
Bob and Joe watched the pair closely until they closed the cabin doorbehind them. Then the youths burst into laughter which lasted for wellover a minute.
"For the love of Mike!" cried Bob, as soon as he could get his breath."Talk about sissies. That fellow's at the very top of the list."
"'Mamma' sure has him under her thumb, all right," grinned Joe. "It'sa wonder she doesn't put dresses on him. But come on, Bob. It's abouttime for dinner to be served. Unless I miss my guess, Cecil won't lastvery long at the table. Boat's been rolling lately, you know."
The chums went to their stateroom to wash and comb. Then, accompaniedby their fathers, they went up to the dining saloon.
The food tasted good, both youths eating heartily. Evidently they werenow seasoned sailors, for neither felt the slightest signs ofseasickness.
But with someone else, seated near them at another table, it wasentirely a different matter. For Cecil Stone's face was beginning toturn a sickly yellow, and with each bite of food he was visiblybecoming more affected.
"Dear me!" the chums heard him say. "I really can't take another biteof that beastly salad."
"Perhaps you would feel bettah if you would go to your suite, Cecildarling. Appahantly you aren't feeling well today."
"There he goes," whispered Bob, his eyes following the tall, stoopingfigure. "He can't take it."