The Fury of the Storm
While all waited silently, the sound of moving footsteps could be
heard. A little later two huge elephants broke through the foliage and
made for the water hole. They drank great draughts of the refreshing
liquid, and then with their long trunks sluiced themselves thoroughly.
Bob and Joe watched interestedly. They had but one fear. What if the
purring of the movie cameras could be heard by the huge brutes? Would
they charge the little hidden group, or would they immediately take
flight into the dark recesses of the jungle?
As the moments passed, the adventurers grew more hopeful. Thus far the
elephants had not heard. Perhaps, after all, the noise was not loud
enough.
"Listen!" hissed Bob, catching his chum's arm. "Something else is
coming."
He had scarcely spoken when from another direction emerged a troop of
wildebeests, followed by three zebras. Still more wild creatures
showed up soon after, including an oryx, Thompson's gazelle,
hartebeest, and numerous monkeys.
"Isn't that a wonderful sight?" whispered Mr. Holton, never taking his
eyes from the scene.
"Best ever," came from Joe.
A little later they heard a series of strange grunts, and a huge wart
hog moved in a slow, awkward gait toward the water hole.
"A drinking place is the best spot there is to see a number of
different kinds of animals side by side," remarked Mr. Lewis, also
speaking in a very low whisper.
"They don't seem to notice each other," observed Joe. "They just keep
on drinking as though nothing else were there."
Again footsteps were heard, and with them the sound of a heavy body
crashing through the underbrush. Then there suddenly appeared but a
short distance away a monstrous buffalo, which was also intent upon
satisfying its thirst.
"Be trouble now," said Bob.
"Wait and see," smiled his father.
Much to the boys' surprise the buffalo paid not the slightest
attention to the other animals. It found a place at the pond and
began drinking.
"That's a new one on me," whispered Bob, and Joe nodded. "Looks like
there'd be trouble, with all those different kinds of creatures there
at once."
"You see they have a common interest: to quench their thirst,"
explained Mr. Lewis. "In such a case peace reigns."
But ten minutes later the explorers--and very obviously the
animals--heard something that was not so suggestive of peace. It was
the deep, vibrating roar of a lion, which seemed to be coming nearer.
The effect was immediate. Uneasiness prevailed among the more harmless
animals; some of them turned about and disappeared into the jungle
depths, while others pricked up their ears and listened.
But there was no mistaking the distant roar. A lion was abroad
stalking for prey.
As the minutes passed, Mr. Lewis and Mr. Holton held their rifles
ready for instant action. At every second they feared that the lion
would appear. Bob and Joe, although realizing that perhaps their lives
were in danger, continuing to film the scene, delighted at the
unusualness of the occasion.
Suddenly the explorers' eyes opened wide, for the thing that they
beheld was exceedingly large and powerful.
A great maned lion moved slowly toward the water hole!
Their hearts in their mouths, Bob and Joe half expected to see the
beast make toward their _boma_. But it did not.
Long before, the horde of animals that had been drinking had vanished,
leaving the pond to take refuge from the king of beasts. The great
lion seemed to sense that this had taken place. It uttered a
tremendous roar of defiance, then bent its head to drink.
"Good chance for a shot," murmured Bob, barely making himself heard.
But the naturalists shook their heads.
"One animal is enough to shoot from a _boma_," whispered Mr. Lewis.
"Somehow I feel that it doesn't give them a fair chance."
They watched the lion silently until the latter finally turned and
left, making its way stealthily over the carpet of twigs and rotting
vines. Then Mr. Holton suggested that they get back to camp.
"That ought to be about the most interesting scene we've filmed,"
remarked Joe the next morning, as with the others he prepared to
leave.
"No doubt you'll get others when we penetrate deeper into this
forest," said his father.
Late the next afternoon Noko cast uneasy glances up at the distant
sky. There was a worried look on his face as he lead the safari
farther into the unknown.
"Um big storm coming," he said with a frown.
"A storm?" breathed Bob. "Do you think it will be here today?"
Noko nodded, his face grave.
"Um storm him not wait," the tall African said. "Storm come much soon.
Sky it getting dark."
Indeed, the signs were most threatening. The distant horizon was
colored a sickly yellow, which seemed to shine ominously. Dark clouds
were forming overhead and were joining slowly but surely.
"It certainly looks bad," murmured Mr. Lewis. "We must find shelter
somewhere. Where do you suggest going, Noko?"
"We find um cave or um-um hollow," returned the head native. "That
only way we get out from um storm."
A weird silence hovered about. Birds had ceased their calls; monkeys
were no longer chattering in the trees. Not the slightest suggestion
of a wind played through the leaves.
Under the leadership of Noko they searched about desperately for some
place that would serve as a refuge from the approaching storm. But as
time passed they were still moving through the forest as before.
Mr. Lewis suggested that they erect their tents, but the tall African
shook his head vigorously. A storm as bad as this one promised to be,
said Noko in the native language, would most certainly tear the frail
tents loose almost at once. For, he reminded them, the new rainy
season was not far off.
With every passing minute the clouds banked tighter. An odd twilight
enveloped the adventurers, making the task of escaping even more
difficult.
At one time Bob and Joe caught a glimpse of several monkeys huddled
closely together under a gigantic leaf. The little creatures would
under other circumstances have inspired a smile from the youths.
"Must hurry," urged Noko, increasing his pace still more. "Must find
um cave um quick."
Then suddenly, with the fury of a battle, the tropical hurricane was
upon them!