"They would appreciate the effort," said Harry, "though they might not admire the taste. Anyway, I'll warrant they'll be dressed a good deal more after civilized fashion than after that of South Africa. But as to our get-up, they didn't seem to take any offense at it when they called upon us, and it certainly wasn't of the kind suited to a fashionable parlor."
After a good many arguments it was settled that we would get ourselves up in the best of our outfits, including the checked shirts that had come into use on the day of our luncheon. We had already had our best suits sponged down and made fairly presentable, and on these we hung our fate.
When we were saddling up next morning, preparing to start, Harry suggested that we take our rifles along, and perhaps do a little stroke of hunting on the way. I opposed this, and then we had another brief discussion, which ended in a compromise: we did not take any of the heavy weapons, but only our lighter pieces, Jack and I carrying our smallest rifles and Harry equipping himself with a shot-gun. We were thus kept out of the temptation of chasing any big game that might fall in our way, but would be able to cope with game-birds and small animals.
In our ride across the country toward our destination we had proof of the correctness of the adage, "What odd things we see when we haven't got a gun!" Off to the south we could make out a troop of giraffes; to the north, at the edge of the forest already described, half a dozen elephants were in sight, and offering a splendid chance to the hunter properly equipped for them. When within about two miles of the amazonian hunters we descried a herd of buffaloes, and also, half a mile away from them, a herd of elands—a dozen at least. What splendid sport there was within our reach! But our weapons were not adapted to it.
Jack remarked that the game "would keep," and we might have a chance for some fun the next day.
Harry suggested that we send back to our camp for our heavy rifles, and then invite the ladies to take a run with us after luncheon, cutting that meal a little short to suit the circumstances.
Jack replied that we might be treading on dangerous ground to do so. By making the suggestion we might force them to do something much to their dislike; declining to do so, they would show the white feather as hunters; and they might not be at all desirous of letting us see their skill, or the lack of it.
"That's so," said Harry; "I didn't think of that feature of it. Guess we'll say nothing about it, nor about the game that we saw on our way."
"Oh, as to that," said Jack, "there's no harm in mentioning the game in a careless sort of way, just as though it were an every-day affair with us; and we can add that there will be a good chance for sport to-morrow. Then, if they choose to propose a joint hunt, you bet we'll accept the suggestion and lay our plans accordingly."
We had a use for our small arms, though not in the way we had expected. The sun was hot, and we rode in under a little clump of trees to rest awhile in their shade. We dismounted, and were about to throw ourselves on the ground when Jack espied an enormous snake directly above us, and darting his head as if he resented the intrusion we had made upon his domain.