OFF FOR THE FRONT
The enthusiastic boys reached New York long before the three weeks were
up, but the General--as they came to call him, like everyone else--was
not in evidence. He had left letters for them at the Explorers' Club,
however, and had arranged for them to get a room there until his
arrival.
At two minutes to twelve some days later he stepped out of the elevator
and entered the library, where Charlie and Jack were waiting in no
little dismay. The meeting was a joyful one all around.
"Me?" laughed the General, in answer to their rapid-fire questions. "Oh,
I've been in Washington, getting some letters to pave the way for us.
But where's von Hofe? He was to meet us at noon."
"Well, is he not here?" came a heavy voice from behind, and von Hofe
entered with a broad smile on his bearded face. "You did not say five
minutes before the hour, or one minute after the hour, so that I came
on the hour--ach! Let go mine hant! I am a man, not a wood or stone
image!"
Neither Charlie nor Jack had known, of course, who was behind the
expedition, for the General had omitted any mention of von Hofe in his
haste. But as it chanced, Charlie had been reading an article that
morning which described the wonderful work done by von Hofe, and his
contributions to science. So, when Schoverling introduced him, the
astonished Charlie let out his accustomed expression, as he shook hands.
"Jumping sandhills! Are you the chap I was reading about this
morning--the man who makes photos and sketches of animals before they're
shot an' then mounts 'em the same way? Was it you who swiped the skin of
a sacred white elephant out o' Siam, an'--"
"Ach, what liars these newspapers are!" But the steel-blue eyes twinkled
forth from beneath the bushy yellow-gray brows, and Charlie's heart
leaped as he realized that this great man must be going with them.
"You are not such foolish looking boys," decided the German, nodding his
head. "Herr Schoverling, they haf the look in the eyes, the look of the
dependable-upon men. I apologize. You are not crazy as a loon. Now we
haf much to talk over, and we are hungry, I hope?"
"We certainly are," smiled the General, leading the way toward a private
dining room which was reserved for them. Jack whispered delightedly in
his friend's ear as they followed, "You catch-um that beard?"
Charlie grinned at the Chinook expression and nodded.
"He's a peach, Jack! Say, we're goin' to have the time of our lives,
believe me!"
Luncheon was devoted to story-telling. Schoverling related tales of his
adventures when he had joined the H. B. C. in Canada as a boy, serving
his four years; the doctor jovially gave the story of certain adventures
in South Africa, and Jack chipped in with a relation of Indian legend
from the far north, relating to the mammoths which were said to be still
alive somewhere in the frozen regions. This last, which was backed up by
the explorer, interested von Hofe immensely; but at length the meal was
done with, the table cleared, and they were alone with their coffee.
Schoverling drew forth a huge map, which he spread out on the table. On
it was a route heavily marked in red ink, and he pointed to this as he
spoke.
"I got this map from a friend of mine, in Washington at present, who was
up there last year stealing ivory. It's not considered at all bad, boys,
among a certain class of hunters, to make a raid into the protected
regions and loot all the tusks they can get. Well, this is the latest
map of British East Africa, divested of all that is thrown in by chaps
who like to fill up blank spaces with names.
"Down here south and east of Lake Rudolph, you see, is the Northern Game
Preserve. It is more or less indefinite, extending up to the Abyssinian
border. This chap I'm speaking of went dead across it, as you can see.
Incidentally, he landed in Abyssinia, which is another story.
"Now, Dr. von Hofe and I have secured permits to get the beasts we are
after for scientific purposes. Coming back to the Uganda Railway, here
is Nairobi, you see. We'll go just where this friend of mine went--on to
Nakuro, then up to the Leikipia hills and through them into the Game
Preserve--"
"To Abyssinia?" cried Charlie, leaning forward "Are we going--"
"We are nod," interrupted von Hofe, his deep voice roaring through his
meerschaum smoke. "You will keep very still, if you please!"
Charlie was undecided whether to resent it or not, until he caught a
wink from Jack and his quick anger was dissipated instantly.
"No," smiled the General, "we need not fear to return through British
territory, for our permits are pretty general. Now let's get back to
this map. Here is Mt. Marsabit, straight north of Kenia. Midway between
the two we will branch off my friend's route and go over toward the
Lorian Swamp. That's unknown country, except to the ivory raiders, and
they keep their mouths shut; but that's where the elephants are.
"Does that suit you, Doctor? We could stick closer to civilization, of
course, but we wouldn't get the big bulls. Besides, I'd like to do a bit
of exploring in there. Some mighty queer yarns have come out of that
country lately."
The big Teuton emitted a dense cloud of smoke before answering.
"You are not to worry about suiting me, my friend. What I want is bulls,
such bulls as have never come to this country. Perhaps I will change my
mind and go to the North Pole for those mammoth. Ach, what a thing! To
bring a mammoth down, skin him, photograph him, mount him for the
Smithsonian! What more could a man want?"
"Bosh!" exclaimed the General. "That's all been exploded long ago. Now,
we're going to cut out the usual gang of porters and chiefs. I guess we
can get along from village to village well enough. Bring those traps and
moccasins, boys?"
"They're up in our rooms," answered Jack. "How about clothes?"
"All gone on board ship," smiled Schoverling. Charlie had already noted
his appreciative glance at their first meeting, and Jack was now feeling
quite at home in his new garments.
They were going from New York straight to Alexandria on a steamer of a
Greek line, which would give the boys a brief glimpse of Athens en
route. At Alexandria they would pick up an East Coast steamer to
Mombasa.
With this the discussion was closed, but Charlie and Jack put forth an
eager question as to their armament, which they had more than once
discussed in wild anticipation. The General smiled, comprehending their
eagerness.
"The doctor has absolutely refused to touch a gun from start to finish,
boys, so that puts it up to us. I had everything we would need. There is
a double-barrelled 500-405 Holland for each of us--which of course we
won't use on anything but elephants. Two of them are mine, and one was
loaned me for the trip. For ordinary use we will carry our 30-30s, and a
number twelve shotgun. Those, with a suit case each, make up all our
luggage. Any trunks, Doctor?"
"Trunks?" The blond German glared over his beard in surprise. "Would I
preserve elephant hide with air? No, but I have eleven cases of
chemicals, which you must take."
"Very well--that will make about twenty porters," commented the explorer
quietly. "I think we'll have a mighty interesting time if we carry out
my original program of living off the country. Anything more to settle?"
As nothing more seemed to present itself, the meeting was declared
adjourned. Von Hofe shook hands with the boys, put away his big pipe,
and retired to write some letters. As both Charlie and Jack had seen all
of New York that they cared about, Mr. Schoverling spent the afternoon
at the club with them, showing and explaining the cases full of savage
arms, relics and curios which had been contributed by the explorers and
scientists who formed the club. He introduced them to many of its famous
members, a few of whom they had already met while waiting for him. It
was an informal, cosy place, and during their stay the boys enjoyed
themselves immensely.
As the news spread about of the General's proposed trip, a number of men
who had been in Africa promptly carried all three off to the library and
there ensued a high discussion. Most of them flatly declared that living
on the land might be possible, but that moccasins and traps were absurd.
"But why?" laughed the General. "You fellows wear puttees and leather
breeches to keep dry, and safe from scratches or snakes. Moccasins are
equally as good, especially high ones like ours, and a whole lot more
comfortable. You chaps who go in for big game with all the comforts of
home don't know what real work is like!"
This good-natured taunt happened to hit most of those around, and the
situation looked stormy until a little, awkward-looking man strolled up
and joined in.
"Nonsense!" His irritated voice shrilled high above the rest. "Shut up,
you fools! Why, what do you know about East Africa? When I tramped from
Fort Rosebury to Kituta in my bare hide I got nothing worse than
mosquito bites, and I've had to make moccasins many a time or go
barefoot. I'm leaving this afternoon for Africa; how many of you chaps
want to go with me? Don't all speak at once, please."
Charlie stared, expecting to see the little, bitter-tongued man mobbed.
But to his vast surprise not a word was said, and the dilettante hunters
faded away one by one. The little man turned to Schoverling with a
bristling laugh of delight.
"See 'em run, General? Going in, I hear."
"Boys, I'd like to have you meet Mr. Mowbray," said the explorer,
introducing the two. "You aren't going to British territory, I suppose?"
"Never you mind, my son," snapped the little man. "Give me back my map.
Just got in from Washington an hour ago, and leave in another hour. I'll
need that map worse than you will--got wind of something big."
As Schoverling pulled out the folded map and handed it over, Mowbray
lowered his voice.
"I'll beat you there by some time, old boy, but I'll be around. Let you
in on it, if I can't handle it. Good-looking boys, there. Keep your ears
open for a nigger who says 'Me debbil man.' You can trust him. Got to
go, General. Mighty glad to have met you, boys--see you later, maybe.
Besselama!"
"Jumping sandhills!" ejaculated Charlie. "Who's he? A grand mogul around
here? What's that last word mean?"
"Arabic for 'so-long,'" smiled the General.
"What made 'em all shut up when he handed it to them?" inquired Jack
curiously.
"That's the chap, of course, who lent me the map, boys." And the General
spoke very seriously. "You must never repeat what he said to a soul, or
mention his name. In British Africa they have hunted him for years, by
regiments; there's a price on his head of some thousands of pounds, and
he's slipped into and out of the country whenever he liked. He's
defeated the Somali troops and even the white regulars time and again,
and no one knows how he gets into the ivory country. He does it for
sheer love of the game, for he has a fortune of his own."
"You mean," asked the puzzled and wondering Charlie, "that he's one of
the ivory raiders?"
"He's _the_ ivory raider of them all," nodded Schoverling, "and the
biggest man in the club here. For all his scornful words, not a man
there but would bite off his tongue sooner than repeat that Mowbray was
starting for Africa to-day. Why, the British would pay a thousand pounds
for those half-dozen words! Now just forget it, boys."
Forget it! It was a long time before Charlie ever forgot the sight of
that little man, and the time came when he was to remember him more
vividly still, as was Jack also. Neither of them gave any thought to the
muttered "Me debbil man." If Schoverling did, he betrayed no inkling of
it through his bronzed mask of a face.
That night they were aboard the steamer. During the days that followed
Charlie enjoyed every minute of the time, as did Jack also. But they
were both accustomed to hard work, and the luxuries of civilization,
where everything was done for them, soon grew monotonous. When they had
gone over their beloved guns, oiling every inch, and received
instructions for the use of the few simple medicines taken along, there
was little to do except to read up on Africa, which labor they threw
themselves into gladly.
They saw little of von Hofe on the way over, for he was busy on some
chemical experiments; but the day before they reached Gibraltar a
strange odor, which permeated the whole ship, drew down on him the wrath
of the captain, after which the big Teuton abandoned his beloved
mixtures.
The whole voyage to Port Said was uneventful in actual happenings. But
at Port Said they went aboard the _Mombasa_, and off Aden they had the
pleasure of meeting the gentlemanly Selim ben Amoud, and of first
hearing of the Magic Lake and its mysterious Rogue Elephant guardian.