Rifles in hand, the floating party kept a good watch on either shore.
As they reached a bend, round which the other raft had disappeared, they were suddenly startled by hearing a loud trumpeting noise.
At first they thought it was a company of soldiers they were approaching, but a moment's study told them that such a thing was utterly out of the question.
"I know what caused that noise," said Joe, who had been listening attentively. "It was made by a herd of elephants; I have heard them before."
"Gracious! you don't say so!" exclaimed the professor, with a look of alarm on his face. "You don't think there is any danger of their swimming out and attacking us, do you?"
"You can't tell what might happen, old man," spoke up Jack Howard, in a serious tone. "You'd better have your rifle ready."
As if to verify his words, a violent crashing was heard in the underbrush that lined the shore at that point, and the next moment a herd of eight elephants suddenly appeared and entered the water.
"If we don't want them to bother us, the best thing for us to do is to remain perfectly quiet," said Van.
"That is it," returned Joe.
The huge animals had evidently come to the river for the purpose of taking a bath, for they merely waded off a few feet and then proceeded to enjoy themselves after their own fashion.