CHAPTER VII
Good News
"What is it?" cried Joe, as he noticed the look of anxiety on hischum's face.
For answer, Bob pointed to the wild boar, and as Joe glanced around heshrank back in consternation.
"Quick!" he cried. "It's going to charge!"
There was no time to lose. The animal, angered because cornered, wasgetting ready to stand its ground savagely. And the boys had heard ofthe wild boar's terrible ferocity.
Almost in unison the youths raised their rifles and took careful aim.The guns were of only twenty-two caliber, not any too powerful for theoccasion, but the chance had to be taken.
"Now," murmured Bob, holding his rifle in a steady position.
Bang! Bang! Two shots rang out, and each found the mark.
But the small bullets did not stop the beast's charge, and it came onwith horrible atrocity.
"Run!" cried Bob, his nerve completely gone. "Let's go up a tree!"
As the youths darted to one side, a shot rang out; another; and stillanother. A moment later the wild boar sank to the ground in a crumpledmass, gave a convulsive twitch, and then lay still.
Mr. Lewis and Mr. Holton came running up, on their faces a look ofapprehension.
"A narrow escape!" said Joe grimly. "It's a good thing you came acrosswith those high-speed bullets. They sure did the job, all right."
"We just happened to glance around in time," explained his father. "Wedidn't know you boys were so far behind. Why didn't you bring largerrifles?"
"Weren't expecting to meet such a creature as this," replied Bob. "Ihad an idea that this was a tame country, but I see I'm wrong," with aglance at the wild boar.
"You certainly are," smiled Mr. Holton, shaking his head. "And thisincident may be the beginning of a series of adventures with wildanimals. Where there's one of a thing there's likely to be another. Sostick close, boys. I'd hate to have to rely on those twenty-twosagain."
The wild boar was shattered by the bullets and was no good as aspecimen. The naturalists especially wanted one of these terriblebeasts and were put out to think that this one had been madeworthless by the rifles, but they were thankful that they had beenable to come to the rescue of their sons.
With one last look at the creature they resumed the hike, this timekeeping a closer lookout for any other formidable beast.
As they penetrated deeper into the forest, signs of life began toincrease in numbers. Small rodents darted out, only to be brought downby the guns of the naturalists; lizards of grotesque and ugly shapeswere all about; birds of many colors flew overhead, their plumageshowing brightly in the sunlight. It was a sight that the youths nevergrew tired of.
Suddenly a jackal ran out, and Mr. Holton lost no time in firing atit. It was carefully but quickly skinned and placed in the burlap bagfor the specimens.
"This forest certainly is untrodden," observed Mr. Lewis, unable todiscern the faintest traces of human tracks. "It has probably been along time since anyone broke into its fastness."
"Which is all the better for us," said Joe. "Animals here probablyhave never heard the sound of a gun before."
Along toward noon they picked out a small grassy area and got out thekit of lunch. The sandwiches were spread on a paper, and thermosbottles of cold lemonade were opened. To the tired adventurers itpromised to be a feast fit for a king.
"No meal in the most luxurious cafe tastes better than a bountifullunch in the heart of a forest," said Mr. Lewis.
Bob's father nodded.
"It has been said that no one but an explorer really knows what anappetite is," he remarked. "And in times when I'm working in themuseum at home and not doing any strenuous work I can fully realizethe truth of it."
They ate the lunch in quiet contentment, taking it easy on the softgrass. It seemed good to be out on the trail again, feasting on thewonders of nature. Bob and Joe were impressed by the stillness of thegreat forest.
"This is about the only kind of a woods you can get through," remarkedBob, his eyes on the numerous cork-oak trees. "A tropical jungle hasso much undergrowth and vines that it keeps you busy cutting them awaywith a machete."
An hour or two after the repast was spent in resting their tired limbsand chatting merrily. Then Mr. Lewis suggested that they continue thehunt.
"We won't have so very much time left," he said. "And we'd like to getseveral more specimens."
A little later they came to a narrow valley between two highmountains. A tiny spring trickled from beside a large rock, and theywelcomed the taste of the refreshing liquid. It was quite cold,showing that it probably came from an underground stream.
"Drink all you want," said Mr. Lewis. "It's likely the last waterwe'll see till we get back to Arba."
All the remainder of that afternoon the explorers trudged on, bringingdown several small animals and birds. None of them happened to bedangerous, however.
The hunters had described a wide circle that took them by sundownwithin a mile or two from Arba, and the accuracy of the naturalists'calculations was greatly appreciated, for they were very tired and didnot feel that they would care to have to hike a great distance to getto the automobile.
"Wonder if the old car's still there," mused Bob, as they came to thelimits of Arba.
"Don't know why it shouldn't be," returned his chum. "Nobody'd want itfor anything."
It required but a short time to reach the main part of the town. Thenthey turned off on the street where the car was parked.
"It's there!" cried Joe, making out its ancient shape in the distance.
The others shared in his enthusiasm. They had had an uneasy feelingabout its safety all day, despite the fact that the ignition had beenlocked.
In a short time the explorers were in the seats, and Joe, who hadasked to drive, began the task of starting the engine. It finallyresponded to the sluggish self-starter.
"Now let's hurry and get back to Algiers," urged Mr. Holton. "We don'twant to be out after dark, for there's no telling how good theselights are."
During the next half-hour Joe pulled the throttle as far down aspossible, and then complained because he could only do forty-five.However, it was not long before they saw the lights of Algiers in thedistance.
"Now to get something to eat," said Mr. Holton, sitting up in the seatin anticipation. "It will be good to see the old hotel again, won'tit?"
"Sure will," replied Bob. "I'll bet Dr. Kirshner expected us longbefore this."
"He's probably conversing with Fekmah," was the opinion expressed byMr. Lewis. "You know," he went on, "that Arab is a strange contrast tothese worthless fellows around here. It all goes to show what anyonecan do if he wants to."
"He's educated, too, isn't he?" inquired Joe.
"Yes, highly," the naturalist replied. "Was graduated from theUniversity of Algiers and received a degree. What he doesn't knowisn't worth knowing."
"Where is his home?" asked Bob. "He doesn't live in Algiers, does he?"
"No. He lives in Oran; that's about a hundred and twenty-five miles orso west of here. Quite a prosperous city, I guess."
"But," questioned Bob, thoroughly puzzled, "what is he doing here inAlgiers?"
"It all goes back to Dr. Kirshner's conversation with him on theship," Mr. Holton explained. "You see, Tom"--referring to thearchaeologist--"met him on the last day of the voyage and recognizedhim to be a very intellectual man. As soon as Fekmah found that hecould trust Kirshner, he confided this secret about the hidden riches.Well, then, when he found that we would accept his proposition andmake it one of the objects of the expedition to search for thistreasure, Fekmah put up at a hotel in Algiers in order to accompany usinto the Sahara. See?"
"Sure. I don't know now why I didn't before."
They were now among the lights of Algiers, and Joe headed straight forthe business section, where the car was to be returned to the garage.
They reached the place in a short time and left the automobile. Thenthey hurried around to their hotel.
When they came to their room, they found Dr. Kirshner and Fekmah inearnest conversation. When the two heard their friends in the hall,they arose, wreathed in smiles.
"We have good news for you," announced Dr. Kirshner joyously. "Thetrain is leaving for Wargla in the morning."