Joe, holding a movie camera, was ready to film any encounter that they might have. Bob, as usual, carried his rifle.
But when, fifteen minutes later, they saw no traces of the rhino, the explorers were ready to give up the chase. For even in that short time they had gone farther than Bob said the animal had been.
Just when they were at the point of retracing their footsteps, Joe burst through a mass of foliage and at once called the others.
“Look what I’ve found,” he said proudly. “A water hole where wild animals come to drink. See the tracks on the ground?”
“Jove!” exclaimed Mr. Holton. “That’s exactly what it is. Looks like about every animal imaginable comes to this place. Here are monkeys’ footprints. And over here are leopard tracks. Wild pigs and buffaloes have been here, too.”
Joe regarded the naturalists quizzically for a moment.
“Are we in any special hurry to go on?” he asked.
“Not especially,” returned Mr. Holton. “Why do you ask?”
“I’d like to take movies of the animals when they come here tonight to drink,” went on Joe. “Why can’t we make camp near here?”