As they went farther the explorers saw other kinds of game. Bright-colored birds fluttered past; towering giraffes could often be seen; hartebeests and other varieties of antelopes appeared everywhere. Once a troop of impalla, upon hearing the locomotive whistle, ran gracefully at right angles from the train.
“The world’s greatest menagerie,” murmured Mr. Lewis, speaking with decision. “The British certainly have done a great good here. There is nothing like this protectorate anywhere.”
Half an hour later the train stopped at a small but attractive station. Here the explorers got off to stretch their legs and look around.
Bob and Joe happened to be near the locomotive when a voice made them turn about. Looking up, they saw the engineer motioning to them.
“How would you like to see the wild beasts better?” he asked the youths.
“Why—what do you mean?” inquired Joe wonderingly. “See them better? How?”
“Easy enough,” laughed the engineer. He climbed down from the locomotive. “See that? It’s a seat on the cowcatcher. If you like, you and your dads, or whoever that was with you, can perch yourselves there. It’s every bit as safe as in the car.”
“Say!” burst out Bob, delighted at such an opportunity. “That’s just what we’ll do. There’s plenty of room for all four of us, and no danger of falling off. Thanks for telling us.”
The boys found their fathers on the opposite side of the train.