The work of building the raft out of felled logs bound together with tough vines and creepers went on apace, and by the middle of afternoon everything was in readiness for the attempt. All three of the boys were expert swimmers and volunteered to make the crossing with the rope. But Mr. Hampton would not give his consent.
“As to your ability to swim several times the distance, there can be no question,” he said. “But one can never tell when crocodiles will appear in these African rivers. Wimba tells me there are several men amongst our bearers who have a reputation for fighting crocodiles. I’ll see whether either or both want to swim across.”
The two men mentioned by Wimba readily consented to make the crossing, being eager to receive the extra pay for the hazard promised by Mr. Hampton. And with knives clutched between their teeth, they plunged into the river, the rope paying out behind them. However, although through his glasses, Jack, who was maintaining a lookout, could discern three of the long sinister beasts sunning themselves on a sandy shelf along the opposite shore but considerably below the point at which the swimmers planned to land, yet none appeared in midstream to attack the two Kikuyus. And the latter swimming strongly, presently were seen to clamber out of the water. Then they disappeared into the luxuriant undergrowth, to reappear a few minutes later shouting that the rope had been made fast to a tree.
“First, Dad,” cried Jack. “You wouldn’t let us swim the river, so now you must let us be first to cross on the raft.”
Mr. Hampton smiled indulgently. “You’re as big as I, Jack,” he said, “but you’re only a kid still, aren’t you? All right. Let it be as you say. You three and six of the bearers can make the first crossing with the major portion of our stores. Then send the raft back, and Niellsen and I will cross over with our photographic equipment and whatever supplies you haven’t taken. Then Wimba can follow with the rest of the bearers.”
“But, Mr. Hampton,” Frank objected, “do you believe we ought to put all our supplies, or even the major portion, in one load? What if the raft upsets?”
“You’re right, Frank,” said the older man, approvingly. “We would be out of luck in a case like that. No, we’ll split our provisions, and send over only half at a time.”
“The same idea can be applied to our radio equipment, too,” said Jack. “We’ll take several of the portable receiving sets with us, as well as that emergency sending set. You can bring the one we’ve been using, when you come, together with the remaining portable receivers.”
The good sense of both these suggestions being readily apparent, they were adopted and, carrying half the provisions and half the radio equipment, the three boys with six bearers sent out to negotiate the crossing.
Long poles had been cut and with these half the number on the raft essayed to pole, while the balance pulled on the rope stretching now from bank to bank and tied about trees at either end.