They had the desired effect. The savages turned on their heels and dashed off, leaving their downed companion behind. Before long he too had disappeared.
“Well, you certainly made quick work of them,” laughed Mr. Seabury, who had been impressed by the rapidity of Bob’s action. “Couldn’t see them for the dust.”
“They were glad enough to get out of it,” grinned Joe. “Old Bob would have cleaned up on the whole bloomin’ bunch.”
Everyone had to laugh, now that the danger was over. Even Noko joined in.
“Um strong fella,” he said, feeling Bob’s arms. “You make um leave ver’ quick.”
The naturalists examined the elephant skin and were delighted with it. For they knew that it was one of the rarest of the rare.
“Here’s hoping we shoot another pigmy white elephant,” said Joe, “and a lot more new specimen’s besides.”
During the weeks that followed they did shoot another of the strange elephants, and in addition brought down a large number of other wild creatures. The latter were carefully skinned and labeled by the naturalists.
Bob and Joe found themselves constantly occupied in working at some interesting task, such as photographing the mysterious forest. They exposed several thousand feet of motion-picture film.