“Really we haven’t the time, Son,” answered Mr. Holton. “With this African mission on our hands we’ll have to do some hustling. We just came down here to take a look at this big gorilla. Well, we’ll see you later, boys. Be good.”
With this the naturalists took their leave, while their sons glanced at each other.
“A trip to Africa!” cried Bob joyfully. He picked his chum up and danced around with him in happiness.
“Better cut this stuff out,” advised Joe. “As soon as you calm down a little you’ll lose some of that excess strength—and then maybe you’ll let me drop.”
Bob released his chum and stopped his dance of joy, as he noticed that people were beginning to trickle into the tent. But his face retained its look of exultation.
The boys still had some time before the performance was to start and amused themselves by looking about the grounds.
Later, in the main tent, the chums enjoyed the show immensely. Perhaps, however, as Bob said, they could have enjoyed it still more had they not been so absorbed in the coming expedition to Africa.
“We’ll just have to go with you,” pleaded Joe when the two had gone to the museum to join their fathers. “Why, you know it wouldn’t be complete without us.”
“Perhaps not,” came from Mr. Lewis, “although we hadn’t thought of it in that light.”