CHAPTER XXIII
DICK MEETS AN OLD ENEMY
One afternoon Dick found himself alone near the edge of a tinylake situated on the southern border of the jungle through whichthe party had passed. The others had gone up the lake shore,leaving him to see what he could catch for supper.
He had just hooked a magnificent fish of a reddish-brown color,when, on looking up, he espied an elderly man gazing at himintently from a knoll of water-grass a short distance away.
"Richard Rover, is it--ahem--possible?" came slowly from theman's thin lips. "Surely I must be dreaming!"
"Josiah Crabtree!" ejaculated Dick, so surprised that he let thefish fall into the water again. "How on earth did you get outhere?"
"I presume I might--er--ask that same question," returned theformer teacher of Putnam Hall. "Did you follow me to Africa?"
"Do you imagine I would be fool enough to do that, Mr. Crabtree?No, the Stanhopes and I were content to let you go--so long asyou minded your own business in the future."
"Do not grow saucy, boy; I will not stand it."
"I am not saucy, as you see fit to term it, Josiah Crabtree. Youknow as well as I do that you ought to be in prison this minutefor plotting the abduction of Dora."
"I know nothing of the kind, and will not waste words on you. Butif you did not follow me why are you here?"
"I am here on business, and not ashamed to own it."
"Indeed. And you--did you come in search of your missingfather?"
"I did."
"You once said he was missing. It is a long journey for one soyoung."
"It's a queer place for you to come to."
"I am with an exploring party from Yale College. We are studyingthe fauna and flora of central Africa--at least, they are doingso under my guidance."
"They must be learning a heap--under you."
"Do you mean to say I am not capable of teaching them!" criedJosiah Crabtree, wrathfully.
"Well, if I was in their place I would want somebody else besidesthe man who was discharged by Captain Putnam and who failed to getthe appointment he wanted at Columbia College because he could notstand the examination."
"Boy! Boy! You know nothing of my ability!" fumed Crabtree,coming closer and shaking, his fist in Dick's face.
"Well, I know something of your lack of ability."
"You are doing your best to insult me!"
"Such an old fraud as you cannot be insulted, Josiah Crabtree. Iread your real character the first time I met you, and you havenever done anything since which has caused me to alter my opinionof you. You have a small smattering of learning and you can puton a very wise look when occasion requires. But that is all thereis to it, except that behind it all you are a thorough-pacedscoundrel and only lack a certain courage to do some daring bit ofrascality."
This statement of plain truths fairly set Josiah Crabtree toboiling with rage. He shook his fist in Dick's face again. "Don'tdare to talk that way, Rover; don't dare--or--I'll--I'll--"
"What will you do?"
"Never mind; I'll show you when the proper time comes."
"I told you once before that I was not afraid of you--and I amnot afraid of you now."
"You did not come to Africa alone, did you?"
"To be sure I did not. I have a large party with me."
"In this vicinity?"
"Yes, within calling distance. I tell you that--and it's thetruth--so that you won't try any underhand game on me."
"You--you--" Josiah Crabtree broke off and suddenly grewnervous. "See here, Rover, let us be friends," he said abruptly."Let us drop the past and be friends-at least, so long as we areso far away from home and in the country of the enemy."
This sudden change in manner astonished Dick. Was Crabtreeserious? Certainly the man's manner would indicate as much.
"Well, I'm willing to let past matters, drop--just for thepresent," he answered, hardly knowing what to say. "I wish to payall my attention to finding my father."
"Exactly, Richard--and--er--you--who is with you? Anybody Iknow?"
"Sam and Dick and Alexander Pop."
"Is it possible! And that black, how is it he came along?"
"He joined us by accident. But what of your party?"
"They are a set of rich young students from Yale in their senioryear who engaged me to bring them hither for studyand--er--recreation. And that puts me in mind. You willnot--ahem--say anything about the past to them, will you?"