The explorers spent nearly a half-hour in the city, taking in the various sights so strange and interesting to a visitor from a far-away land. At last Mr. Holton moved that they go back to the car and get their rifles and begin the hunt, and the others were in favor of doing so.
Their lunch, cartridges, binoculars, and other hunting necessities were packed in lightweight ruck sacks, which required but a minute to strap on their backs.
The car was to be left where it was, as probably no better parking place could be found.
“Guess we’re ready,” said Mr. Lewis, picking up his rifle.
It required but a short walk to reach the edge of the town, and one glance revealed that the country here was wild and uncultivated. Mountains were but a short distance away, and some of the peaks were rather impressive.
“Those forests look like there might be anything in them,” observed Joe, directing his glance at the towering wooded slopes.
“We’ll see in a short time,” said his father, fumbling his rifle.
The foothills over which they were passing were, for the most part, bare and devoid of heavy vegetation. But a little later they came to a region that gradually sloped upward, and less than an hour’s traveling brought them to the base of a high, sloping mountain, which was covered with a dense forest.
With renewed efforts they began the task of climbing, keeping a sharp lookout for any wild animals that might dart out in front of them.
“About all the wild animals to be found here are rabbits, jackals, hyenas, panthers, and a very few lions,” said Mr. Holton, as they trudged up the hill.