“I’m afraid of hostile natives,” his chum put in. “It wouldn’t be funny to be captured and carried off into some unknown village.”
The rain had stopped completely now, but darkness was beginning to close over them. The friends dreaded the coming of night in that wild country. Alone and unable to build a fire, they would be at the mercy of savage jungle beasts.
“Suppose we stop here for the night,” suggested Joe. “I’m all in after fighting that hurricane.”
At a little elevation the youths sat down on a rotting tree trunk, glad of the chance to rest. They knew there was no use continuing the search for the safari, for the night was not far off.
Bob had a few matches in a waterproofed case, but he knew it would be useless to attempt to light a fire.
“Guess we’ll have to stick it out without anything to eat tonight,” he told his chum. “Then maybe tomorrow we’ll find our dads and the others.”
Secretly the youths feared that for them tomorrow might not come. For they were alone in the great African jungle and would be easy prey for lions and other dangerous beasts. But both had their revolvers strapped to their sides, and, although not nearly as powerful as rifles, they might spell the difference between life and death.
Soon the short-lived twilight came, followed shortly by darkness. Then the moon rose, and it was possible to see fairly well.
“I’ll take the first watch,” remarked Joe, an hour later. “You turn in and sleep for three hours or so. Then you can stand guard.”
Bob asked that he be given the first watch, but Joe would not listen. Grudgingly Bob agreed to do as suggested and was soon fast asleep.