CHAPTER VI
The Business Card
At Mr. Lewis's words, Bob and Joe stood mouth agape. They stared atthe naturalist for several seconds in sheer surprise. Then they wereovercome with joy.
"You're not kidding, are you?" cried Bob, finally managing to utterthe words.
"Not a bit," said Mr. Lewis. "In fact, as soon as we put the proposedexpedition before the museum heads, they were captivated by the idea.Said they greatly desired new specimens from Africa, and if we couldget them it would be perfectly all right. They're going to fixeverything 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'tthere?"
"Let's not discuss that matter just now," Mr. Holton said. "Of course,you know there are others besides Ben and I who have a say. But we'llgive 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 insome surprise.
"Really we haven't the time, Son," answered Mr. Holton. "With thisAfrican mission on our hands we'll have to do some hustling. We justcame down here to take a look at this big gorilla. Well, we'll see youlater, boys. Be good."
With this the naturalists took their leave, while their sons glancedat each other.
"A trip to Africa!" cried Bob joyfully. He picked his chum up anddanced around with him in happiness.
"Better cut this stuff out," advised Joe. "As soon as you calm down alittle you'll lose some of that excess strength--and then maybe you'lllet me drop."
Bob released his chum and stopped his dance of joy, as he noticed thatpeople were beginning to trickle into the tent. But his face retainedits look of exultation.
The boys still had some time before the performance was to start andamused 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 morehad 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 tothe museum to join their fathers. "Why, you know it wouldn't becomplete without us."
"Perhaps not," came from Mr. Lewis, "although we hadn't thought of itin that light."
"You know we can take care of ourselves," Bob defended himself and hisfriend. "And we're both good shots. Remember the time when we pottedoff those gazelles on the Sahara?"
"Sure thing," said Mr. Holton, nodding. "And you've brought us manyother valuable specimens, too. But to tell the truth, boys, we're notanxious for you to go with us this time. You see, we have orders toshoot some very dangerous game. Lions, rhinos, buffaloes, and thelike."
"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 shipwill take us to Mombasa. From there we'll take a train----"
"Train?" interrupted Joe, greatly puzzled. "Do they have trains in theheart of Africa?"
"Not exactly in the heart of Africa," Mr. Holton answered. "But thereis 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 haveto organize a safari."
"Exactly what is that?" inquired Bob. "I've often heard the term, butnever was quite clear about its meaning."
"Safari means practically the same as expedition," Mr. Lewisexplained. "It is an Arabic term that is used quite frequently inAfrica. A safari is composed of the explorers, the native police,bearers, and the like. It may vary from just a few people to severalhundred. In our case, however, we won't need a large number ofcarriers. If we do need more, we can engage them in the jungle tocarry our specimens back to the coast. The money that they charge isonly a very meager amount."
"Just what animals do you want especially to bag?" asked Bob. "Ofcourse, you want lions, don't you?"
"Lions, yes," returned his father. "And other dangerous game. But wealso want to investigate reports of several strange animals that areat present generally unknown. Whether we'll find them we have yet tosee--if nothing with sharp teeth stops us," he added with a smile.
"Nothing will," said Bob conclusively. "But just what is the mostdangerous 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 aboutit."
"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 consideredanything 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 kingof beasts," he added whimsically.
"Let me get a map of Africa, boys," said Joe's father, rising. "Thenwe can see exactly where we intend to explore."
He went over to a bookcase in a corner of the office, returning amoment later with a large cloth map of the Dark Continent.
But at that moment the telephone rang, and Mr. Holton stepped over toanswer 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. Theboys 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 theline. "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 beenstolen!" 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 getthere in time we may be able to find the culprit."
The naturalists grabbed their hats and dashed out of the office andthrough the building to the outside. 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. "Therobbery took place but a short time ago, and there is a chance that wecan 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 whereinsurance could not replace the loss. Such rare birds and animals asthose can be procured only with great patience and labor under a hotsun. You fellows know what a job it is to stalk wild animals. And itisn'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 wassoon caught in the midst of heavy traffic. Although Mr. Holton greatlydesired 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 therobbery itself that Joe and I haven't thought to inquire where thespecimens were when they were stolen."
"In a railroad freight yard," returned his father. "The museum sentone of its trucks after them as soon as they arrived. I don't have thedetails about the happening, but the box of specimens must have beenstolen while the truck driver was not around. Apparently the robberwas familiar with the contents of the box. Perhaps he had carefullyplanned 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 withdetermination. "We'll catch him somehow."
"Let's hope you're right," Mr. Holton said gravely as he pushed theaccelerator still nearer to the floorboard
.
After what seemed like hours they pulled up at their destination--arailroad freight yard.
Inside the main building they found the truck driver awaiting them, onhis face a look of deep anxiety. His features relaxed a little as hecaught sight of the two naturalists.
Mr. Lewis at once demanded an account of what had happened and urgedthe man to relate every detail.
The driver explained that he had loaded the box of specimens on thetruck and, not doubting that they would be safe, had gone into thefreight office for a brief stay. When he returned to the truck, hefound, to his astonishment, that the box was gone. It was only thenthat he fully realized what had happened.
"If I'd only seen the guy that took them we might catch him," hefinished.
The scientists were greatly vexed at the driver for not taking bettercare of such valuable goods, but they managed to keep their temper.
They walked out to the truck to discover, if possible, the thief'smeans of escape.
"He probably had another automobile waiting to take those specimens,"remarked Joe. "Maybe we can find its tracks. The ground here is softafter the recent rain."
A careful survey of the roadway was not in vain, for soon they sawwide 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 theothers.
"Look!" he cried excitedly. "I've found something. Let's see what itis."