Through Unknown Forests
"That a car--an automobile?" asked Bob, holding back his laughter.
"You don't mean to say that thing will take us fourteen miles!" cried
Joe, no less moved than his chum.
The naturalists smiled. They had apparently not expected this.
"It's about the best we can do here," confessed Mr. Lewis. "Of course
there are better automobiles, but none of them seems to be for hire.
You see, this drive-yourself idea doesn't appear to be very popular
here. I suppose it's because there is so much danger of being attacked
by bands of nomads who would think nothing of robbing the occupants
and stealing the car. But this car, although not beautiful to look at,
has a good motor and good tires, and that's about all we could expect.
Remember, we're not in America now."
The object of their remarks was indeed not anything to be especially
proud of. A well-known American make, it had undoubtedly been of
great service in its time, and was still capable of covering many
more miles. It had no top, and nothing to show that one had been
present, but the seats were in fair condition, and a well-shined
windshield promised to keep away the formidable dust of the desert.
"Well, I suppose we could do much worse," sighed Joe, taking his place
in the back seat.
After a few more remarks with the keeper of the garage, the
adventurers started the motor and pulled out into the street, Mr.
Lewis at the wheel. The chug of the engine was almost deafening, but,
as Bob remarked, they would probably get used to it.
"Ought to be some new springs," said Joe, with a wink at his chum.
"And there could be new upholstering," added Bob. "Of course it needs
new----"
"All right, boys," smiled Mr. Holton, cutting off their capricious
suggestions. "If you don't like it, you know what you can do."
"I guess we'd better shut up," grinned Bob. "We may get thrown out on
our ear."
Mr. Lewis had studied the map of Algiers and had no difficulty in
finding his way out of the city and to Maison Carrée, which might
almost be called a suburb of the metropolis. From here they went
almost straight south and soon came to a narrow river, which was
spanned by a small bridge.
"Scarcely any curves from here on," said Mr. Lewis, as he increased
the speed of the car.
The road remained good, and in a short time they reached Arba, their
destination. Here for the first time they caught a glimpse of a camel
caravan, for they are never seen as far as Algiers. It was composed of
about ten dromedaries, with only three riders. Strapped on the brutes'
backs were packs containing probably dates and other products of the
desert.
Bob and Joe took in the scene with intense interest, for soon they
would be fitted out in a like manner for the long desert journey. The
youths were particularly anxious to observe the manner in which the
brutes are ridden. They had heard that to straddle a camel and be able
to bounce freely along was an art that came only of long practice.
Whether this was true they did not know but resolved to find out
sooner or later from Fekmah.
"I'll bet it's harder than it looks, though," remarked Joe.
A little later they saw other caravans of donkeys, the usual beast of
burden used near the coast.
"The Arab, unlike other natives, never carries his load," explained
Mr. Holton. "I guess he thinks it lowers himself too much."
They drove on into the town and had more trouble finding good streets
than in Algiers.
Luckily it was Wednesday, and the market was in full swing. Traders
were swarming everywhere, buying and selling the queer native goods
and foodstuffs.
"Suppose we park the car where we can and look about a bit," suggested
Joe. "It's no special hurry to begin the hunt, is it?"
The others were more than willing, and as soon as possible the
automobile--if it could be called that--was stopped at a convenient
corner.
"Sure feels good to get out and stretch," smiled Bob, taking advantage
of the opportunity to relax his cramped legs.
They left the car and made for the business center of the town, intent
upon spending a half-hour or so in watching the busy scene of
interest.
It was soon discovered that except for the large market there was
little of interest to be seen. In many respects the town resembled
Algiers, although on a much smaller scale and not nearly as modern.
The streets were narrow and, in many cases, curving, and the houses
were far from attractive. But the hustle and bustle of the natives
clearly indicated that Arba was of considerable importance
commercially.
This was especially noted in the city market, where every article
imaginable was for sale. Bakers, vegetable dealers, butchers,
shoemakers, wine venders, and many others did their best to convince
the buyer of the worth of their products.
"And over there in that tent is a physician," pointed out Mr. Lewis.
"How good he would be considered in the United States is hard to say,
but the Arabs seem to have confidence in him. Look at the patients
going in."
"For my part, I'd rather trust nature to cure my illness," smiled Bob,
as he noted the rather blank expression of the native physician.
The explorers spent nearly a half-hour in the city, taking in the
various sights so strange and interesting to a visitor from a far-away
land. At last Mr. Holton moved that they go back to the car and get
their rifles and begin the hunt, and the others were in favor of doing
so.
Their lunch, cartridges, binoculars, and other hunting necessities
were packed in lightweight ruck sacks, which required but a minute to
strap on their backs.
The car was to be left where it was, as probably no better parking
place could be found.
"Guess we're ready," said Mr. Lewis, picking up his rifle.
It required but a short walk to reach the edge of the town, and one
glance revealed that the country here was wild and uncultivated.
Mountains were but a short distance away, and some of the peaks were
rather impressive.
"Those forests look like there might be anything in them," observed
Joe, directing his glance at the towering wooded slopes.
"We'll see in a short time," said his father, fumbling his rifle.
The foothills over which they were passing were, for the most part,
bare and devoid of heavy vegetation. But a little later they came to a
region that gradually sloped upward, and less than an hour's traveling
brought them to the base of a high, sloping mountain, which was
covered with a dense forest.
With renewed efforts they began the task of climbing, keeping a sharp
lookout for any wild animals that might dart out in front of them.
"About all the wild animals to be found here are rabbits, jackals,
hyenas, panthers, and a very few lions," said Mr. Holton, as they
trudged up the hill.
Luckily there were no sharp cliffs to be scaled. Instead, the way was
gradual, unbroken.
"I'd like to get a glimpse of one of those queer creatures that have
been reported to exist in these woods," remarked Mr. Holton with a
smile.
"What's that?" asked Joe.
"Another Arabian myth, most likely. At any rate I know of nobody who
has ever been fortunate enough to see one. It is supposed to be about
the size of a badger and is a very peculiar combination of six or more
well-known animals. The face, eyes, tail, abdomen, and other body
regions are supposed to be taken from other creatures; and all the
details are very accurate and convincing, to hear the Arab tell it.
Again arises the question of where such queer conceptions get into his
head."
As they hiked on, Bob and Joe began to get behind their elders. There
was much to be seen in the way of odd plants and colorful flowers, and
their attention was continually diverted from one thing to another.
"I suppose when we get as seasoned in the art of exploring as our dads
we'll not notice such minorities," said Bob. "But right now----"
He stopped suddenly as he caught sight of something that made his
blood turn cold.
Not five feet away was a huge wild boar, showing its terrible tusks
savagely as it prepared to rush at the youths.