“You bet.”
As the touring car slackened speed Bob sent forth a long, warning blast of the horn.
Tom laughed.
“Gee, Bob, what was the sense of doing that?” he cried. “We haven’t passed many drays and trucks, or——”
Blake, listening indifferently, would have continued to do so but for the loud, startled exclamation which brought Tom’s sentence to an abrupt close.
He looked up quickly, then, with a gasp of astonishment, he fell forward, bringing up against the seat in front with a violent bump.
The motor car had scarcely swept around the bend when the acetylene glare picked out from the darkness the forms of three huge elephants advancing directly in their path. Almost stupefied with amazement, the boys, at the same instant, saw two men walking close beside them. Not far behind, the light shone upon a huge, red wagon.
Before the warning cries which came from the men ceased Bob Somers had thrown out the clutch and applied the brakes, bringing the machine to a halt almost within its own length.
A shrill trumpet call sounded. The elephant in advance, showing evidence of the greatest alarm, suddenly broke away from its keeper and attempted to turn back.
Then followed a scene which made the nerves of the chauffeur and his companions tingle with excitement. A huge pachyderm, wheeling his body around, effectually blocked the other’s progress. Almost immediately the third elephant got into action, while every movement made by the men, in their efforts to pacify the animals, only added to their fear and confusion.