The Forest of Mystery

  CHAPTER XVIII

  The Terrible Crocodile

  Joe stared at the stream in terrible fascination, half expecting tosee many other of the repulsive reptiles make an appearance. But ifany more were there, they failed to come in sight.

  "One's enough, though," mused Joe.

  Mr. Holton motioned for Noko to lead the way. True, it promised to bea trying experience, crossing that slippery log, but the sooner overthe better.

  A rope was handed to each of the whites, who grasped it thankfully.The natives, however, had little need for this aid, accustomed as theywere to jungle life. Even with the heavy packs, they went easilyacross to the other side.

  Mr. Lewis and Mr. Holton also stepped across without difficulty. Bob,the next to try it, demonstrated his skill by not making a singlemisstep. Joe, who was last, gripped the rope a little more tightlythan had the others, for he had never considered himself good atbalancing.

  "Take it slowly," cautioned his father, looking on anxiously from theother side. "Don't look at the water. It might make you dizzy."

  Joe was more than halfway across when a terrific splashing sound madehim glance around impulsively. Then his expression changed, and hesuddenly grew pale.

  His foot was slipping--slowly, to be sure, but slipping!

  Suddenly the youth gave a wild cry of fear and then went plunging intothe muddy water!

  There were anxious shouts from the opposite shore as Mr. Lewis and Mr.Holton pulled desperately on the rope. Bob and Noko also lent theirefforts, and together the four drew Joe slowly but surely toward thebank.

  "Hurry!" cried Joe frantically. "The crocodile!"

  The huge reptile hesitated a moment as it gazed intently at the brokenwaters. Then, as though suddenly grasping what was taking place, itswung into action and swam toward Joe.

  The latter was some fifty feet away, and, aided by the stout rope wasswimming rapidly. But the crocodile also was moving at no slow gait!

  "Quick!" shouted Mr. Lewis, pulling with all his strength. "In lessthan a minute it will be too late."

  He placed his section of the rope in the hands of a bearer and graspedhis rifle. A second later he pulled the trigger.

  _Bang!_

  The sound of the gun was followed by a terrific threshing about as thecrocodile gasped out its last breath. Then the motion ceased, and thegreat saurian disappeared into the dark water.

  "Thank goodness!" breathed Bob.

  By now Joe had reached the shore and was scrambling up the steep bank.He was a sorry-looking sight as he faced the others.

  "Thought I was a goner," he said, with a ghost of a smile. "But thatrifle shot did the trick, all right."

  "It certainly did," said Mr. Holton. "Ben never fired a more accurateshot. Strange, but it never occurred to me to use a rifle. I was onlythinking of pulling harder on the rope."

  "I wasn't sure that I could hit the crocodile," Mr. Lewis put in. "Iimagine I wasn't any too steady after the terrific strain. But throughluck, I guess, that bullet penetrated the brain."

  Joe was watersoaked to the skin, and mud was caking on his clothes.

  "Better put on something dry," advised Mr. Holton, and Noko,understanding, nodded.

  "Get heap sick," the native said, using the English he had picked up."Um fever here. Soon come night. Then be heap cold."

  "I guess you're right," Joe admitted. "Then too, it doesn't feel verypleasant with these wet clothes on."

  It did not take him long to change, and he was soon ready to continuethe journey.

  Noko urged that they make unusually good time from now until dark soas to get to a certain clearing before nightfall. Of course, theycould have stopped and made camp at many places, but the native didnot wish to do so.

  As the guide had hoped, they reached the place he had in mind just asdarkness was beginning to enshroud them.

  During the next few minutes all worked hurriedly, so as to completemaking camp before the blackness would handicap them. For night in thetropics comes quickly, there being little or no twilight.

  The tents were fastened securely to the stakes, the provisionsunpacked, and a roaring fire was built.

  "Now for what's coming," grinned Bob, smacking his lips. "And am Ihungry!"

  Before long a tempting odor filled the air, one that was entirely newto the youths. Just what food was being prepared they could not evenguess.

  The taste was excellent, however, as they found a little later.

  "Trust the natives to pick out what's good," remarked Mr. Lewis, whenthe meal was over. "They know of many edible wild herbs, roots, andberries that we whites have never tasted."

  Darkness had overtaken them, a darkness that was filled with mystery.From afar came some terrifying scream, uttered perhaps by a wildanimal in its death struggle. Soon there came another that was evenmore blood curdling.

  "Listen!" hissed Mr. Holton, straining his ears to make out thedistant cry more distinctly.

  "What is it?" inquired Joe.

  "A lion," was the answer. "He seems to be coming closer."

  "Gee. Maybe we can get a shot at his lordship," grinned Bob, pickingup his rifle.

  But if the lion was near the camp he failed to cause a disturbance.Perhaps the brute had sensed that someone had invaded his domain, buthad also sensed that it would be dangerous to interfere.

  "What's that over there?" demanded Bob, making out something justbeyond the fire.

  "Why--it looks like two red lights," observed Joe. "And they seem tobe coming closer."

  The naturalists' eyes followed those of their sons. Then Mr. Holtonreached for his rifle.

  "Keep quiet," he whispered, taking careful aim at the red "lights."

  Then he fired, the report being followed by a terrible screeching andwailing noise. With one last groan, the animal, whatever it wascollapsed.

  "Hurray!" yelled Joe. "Got him, Mr. Holton. But what was it?"

  The victim proved to be a huge lemur, an animal that looked like across between a monkey and a cat. It was about three feet long and hadan unusually long tail.

  "But, say, Dad," came from Bob, "where did that bullet strike? Itdidn't smash his face."

  "That's part of the trick of shooting," laughed Mr. Lewis. "Howard sawits eyes in the darkness, and so aimed below at the body."

  The animal was carefully skinned and the skin placed in preservative.Then, this task being over, they sat idly around the fire and chattedmerrily.

  At frequent intervals they could hear cries of wild animals, includingthe trumpeting of elephants and the mournful groan of hyenas. Oncethey heard a horrid growl that Mr. Lewis said was made by a leopard.

  Despite the clamor of the African night, Bob and Joe slept soundly andawoke the next morning greatly refreshed.

  "Drink deeply of this cool air," said Mr. Lewis, stopping for a momentat the boys' tent. "Along towards noon, as you already know, the sunwill be far too hot for comfort."

  The natives were astir, attending to the many tasks that went withbreaking camp. Breakfast was at once followed by pulling up thestakes, folding the tents, and loading the provisions and otherarticles in their proper places on the backs of the bearers.

  Soon the expedition was again penetrating deep into the dense jungle.Although the traveling was necessarily slow, every hour saw them alittle nearer the unknown Forest of Mystery.

  Along towards noon Noko called a halt. It was wholly unwise tocontinue in the terrific noonday heat of Africa. They stopped at alittle open space which was devoid of vegetation except for tallgrass.

  Everyone rested in the shade of a huge tree, whose branches extendedout over a wide area.

  Bob and Joe, however, soon tired of remaining so long in one position,and finally decided to explore the country in the immediate vicinityof the safari.

  "We won't be gone long," remarked Bob, speaking to the naturalists."Just want to look around a little."

  "Be careful, boys," warned his father. "Always be prepared fordangers."

  There
was a narrow trail that wound toward a little elevation not faraway. Along this the youths walked, keeping their eyes open foranything unusual.

  "I wouldn't mind meeting something dangerous," grinned Joe, grippinghis rifle the tighter. "Somehow I want action."

  "Didn't you get enough of that yesterday when you fell in thatstream?" asked Bob.

  "It was enough for yesterday," returned Joe. "But this is today."

  Suddenly the chums caught sight of something that filled them withwonder.