CHAPTER XXII
A Pitiful Sight
With the passing moments, the padding noise grew louder. Bob raisedhis rifle to fire. If any wild beast was intent upon charging camp, hewould be ready to give it a royal welcome, the youth thought.
Then he caught sight of what resembled two luminous beads. They wereslowly moving closer to the camp.
As Bob watched, he saw that a huge hyena was making its way toward thetwo lion skins. The beast probably intended to grab the trophies inits powerful jaws and flee.
"Here goes," Bob murmured, and taking careful aim at the hyena hefired.
At once the brute stiffened out and then lay still. The bullet haddone its work well, entering the brain.
Mr. Lewis and Mr. Holton came running out, followed by Noko andseveral others. They looked inquiringly at Bob.
"What happened?" asked Joe, who had also been aroused.
"Nothing much," laughed Bob. "I shot a hyena, that was all. It wasgoing after those lion skins."
"Hmm. Good work, Son." Mr. Holton stooped over to examine the body ofthe hyena.
"Thought you were asleep, you rascal," chuckled Mr. Lewis.
"Somehow I couldn't keep from thinking about shooting those lions,"said Bob. "I had a notion to get up and walk around a little, butfinally decided to stay where I was. Then I heard the hyena."
The youths and their fathers again retired, after the latter hadinstructed the guard to keep a close watch for any other nightmarauders.
But nothing further disturbed the peace, and they awoke the nextmorning ready for anything the day might bring.
Breakfast over, the safari again took up its long journey.
As the explorers penetrated deeper into the African wilds they saw newand marvelous sights: strange rocky formations; tall, flowering trees;unusual animals. It seemed to Bob and Joe that every minute was a bitmore exciting than the one preceding it. One day they left a longstretch of jungle behind and found themselves on a wide level plain.
"Look over there and tell me what you see," said Joe to his chum.
"Why--it's a herd of elephants!" gasped Bob. "Look, Mr. Lewis, Dad!"
"Wonderful sight, isn't it?" Mr. Holton gazed in interest.
The naturalists decided to make camp on the plain, so as to get ashort rest before again entering the jungle. Then, when the hotafternoon sun would become less oppressive, they would plunge ontoward the Forest of Mystery.
"While you're resting here, suppose Joe and I explore around alittle," said Bob, picking up his rifle.
"We-ll--all right, boys," returned Mr. Holton, with a look at Joe'sfather. "But don't take any chances. And don't wander too far fromcamp."
Glad of the chance to be on their own, the chums walked over the plaintoward the herd of distant animals.
"Maybe we can plug an elephant," grinned Joe, "purring" the moviecamera.
"Maybe," came from the other. "But then maybe not. It would bedangerous to tackle that herd single-handed. Suppose they'd chargeus. Then where would we be?"
"Probably on our faces in the dirt," Joe said. "Orperhaps"--grinning--"flying through the air."
"Doesn't sound very nice, does it?" asked Bob. "No, we'd better becontent to watch those elephants from a safe distance."
"Shucks!" Joe frowned. "I want pictures of them. How am I going to getthem without getting close?"
"All right. Have it your own way. But I'm not going to take anychances."
Cautiously the boys stalked through the high grass toward the elephantherd. Luckily the wind was blowing in their faces, so that theelephants did not catch the human scent. And as these huge brutes havecomparatively short eyesight, the chums were able to move very close.
"How's this?" asked Bob.
"Up a little farther," urged Joe, holding the camera ready.
They were within twenty yards of the huge lumbering beasts and werenaturally looking on with great interest.
There was a thick growth of tall bushes a little to one side. Joesuggested that they plunge into this so as to be able to get nearer tothe elephants.
Then they heard a loud crashing noise, the sound of a heavy bodyplunging through the brush. It was coming from around a bend in anarrow trail.
"What's that?" Bob stopped and listened.
"More than I know. Maybe some wild animal. Sounds---- Look out, Bob! abig elephant!"
There was terror in Joe's voice. He looked to his chum to use hisrifle.
A second later the huge head of a charging elephant appeared, itstrunk thrown into the air, its eyes glaring. It must have been overten feet high, for it towered far above the two youths.
Acting on the instant, Bob and Joe darted quickly to one side, theironly thought being safety from grave danger.
Bob threw his rifle to his shoulder and fired.
"You got him!" cried Joe. "But it doesn't seem to stop him."
"Hide's too tough," his chum said.
The charging beast could not turn as quickly as did the youths. Itwent plunging on through the bushes. Apparently it had no intention ofseeking out its enemies, for it continued through the heavy growth anddisappeared behind a low spreading tree.
Bob and Joe were in a state of high excitement after their thrillingencounter. Perspiration was dripping from their bodies; their breathwas coming in short gasps.
"Too bad I was too scared to take movies of that charge," moaned Joe."They'd sure have been interesting."
"You ought to be glad you're here," said Bob. "Let's get back to thesafari."
The chums had not gone far on the plain when they met their fathersand Noko, who had set out to secure a better view of the distant herdof elephants.
"We heard a rifle shot," said Mr. Lewis. "What was the meaning of it?"
The youths looked at each other. They had been a bit foolish in movingso close to the elephants, especially since neither carried a riflelarge enough to be effective against such large brutes.
"An elephant charged us," said Bob at last.
"He did? Tell us about it." Mr. Holton's interest was aroused at once.
Aided by his friend, Bob related the encounter as accurately as hecould.
When he had finished, the naturalists looked grave.
"You shouldn't take chances like that, boys," Mr. Holton said. "Luckcan't hold out forever, you know."
They trekked back to camp, where they remained for a few hours longer.Then, thoroughly refreshed, they resumed the march.
Farther on, the youths caught sight of a large group of giraffes whichtowered above the small, stunted trees about them. Other, moregraceful, animals could be seen.
The explorers emerged from a dense growth of bushes when they suddenlysaw something that moved them to pity.
Standing unsteadily, its legs trembling, its eyes glazed, was a largeeland, which was evidently at the point of death. The poor animalremained on its feet only with the greatest of difficulty.
But something else caused the explorers to be still more touched.Three vultures were circling around the stricken animal, waiting forit to fall.
"Look over there," murmured Bob, pointing to something at the edge ofthe bushes.
A trio of hyenas was also waiting silently for the eland to die. Theynever took their eyes from the animal, although they made no move toaction.
"There's work here," said Mr. Lewis, raising his rifle. "We must putthat poor animal out of its misery."
"And I'm going to plug those doggone hyenas," muttered Bob.