“Another mystery to add to our already long list,” commented Mr. Lewis. “It seems that there is no end to them.”
“Perhaps,” suggested Mr. Holton suddenly, “natives got that skin. They could have been watching the boys place it there. And they could have covered up the thorn enclosure just as it was.”
“Possibly,” came from Mr. Lewis. “But now let’s get back to camp. We’ll have some busy days before us.”
Noko and the other natives gave Bob and Joe a royal welcome on seeing them alive and well. For none knew better than the blacks the dangers of a tropical hurricane.
The two naturalists had already collected a large number of specimens. During the days that followed they added more, many of which were unknown.
Bob and Joe did their share of collecting, bringing down not a few curious wild creatures. They also spent their time in taking motion pictures of the wild country about them.
On one occasion they left camp on an all-day trip, taking two of the bearers with them. They hoped to photograph unusual scenes and perhaps solve some of the mysteries that so bewildered them.
They were following a strictly compassed course, so as to take no chance of becoming lost from the others. Their previous experience had taught them to have even more respect for the great African forest.
When the sun was overhead, they sat in the shade of a great raffia palm, to escape the heat and partake of lunch.
Joe gazed off rather absently through the trees. Suddenly his jaw dropped.