The Forest of Mystery Page 4

  CHAPTER IV

  Seeing the Sights

  "Do you remember what we said yesterday about making an expedition toAfrica?" asked Mr. Lewis as the youths sat up in bed expectantly.

  "Why--you said you might go," Bob answered.

  "Well, there isn't going to be any 'might' in it," Mr. Lewis said."We're going."

  The youths bounded out of bed in wild excitement.

  "You mean we're actually going to Africa?" cried Joe, falling overhimself in enthusiasm.

  The naturalists laughed significantly.

  "We're not certain how that 'we' will work out," chuckled Mr. Holton."But we're almost sure of one thing: Ben [Mr. Lewis] and I are going.How many more will make up the expedition we haven't decided as yet.In fact, it was only this morning that we came to a conclusion."

  "Oh, you've got to take Joe and me," Bob begged. "We always havewanted to explore in the Dark Continent. We're plenty old enough totake care of ourselves. You see how we made short work of dangerouswild animals in the Andes and in Brazil. Well, we could do the samewith lions and elephants."

  "Don't be too sure of that," said his father gravely but withtwinkling eyes. "There's scarcely anything worse than a chargingelephant."

  "Just the same, we'd take care of the situation," said Bob boastfully."They wouldn't stand much chance before the Lewis-Holton expedition.Why we'd mow 'em down right and left. But seriously, Dad, Mr. Lewis,why can't Joe and I go with you?"

  "We'd like to have you," his father assured him. "But of course you'llhave to reckon with your mothers. Suppose," he went on, "we don't sayanything more about this matter until we get back to Washington. Yousee, there's a chance that the museum heads will have something elsefor us to do. In that case, we won't go."

  "I'm betting you will," smiled Joe, who felt there was a big chance ofan expedition.

  "Perhaps," smiled Mr. Holton. "Right now, though, let's think ofsomething else. We want to leave for Washington tomorrow morning. We'dgo today if Ben and I didn't have some more business to look after."

  "Had breakfast yet?" inquired Joe.

  "Breakfast? You mean lunch?" Mr. Lewis laughed. "Boys, in case youdon't know it, it's nearly ten o'clock."

  "Wow!" cried Bob. "If Joe and I get to see any more of old SanFrancisco we'll have to do some hustling."

  "Be careful that you don't get in any danger. Don't be carried away onsome ship," Mr. Holton said, grinning. "And now," he added, "we'releaving. Be back about three this afternoon. Take care of yourselves,boys. And be careful."

  "We will. So long, Mr. Lewis, Dad."

  The youths had been dressing during the conversation with theirfathers, and now they were ready to get breakfast. After the meal,they would start out to see more of San Francisco and perhaps visitother cities across the bay.

  A half hour later they were walking down Market Street toward theFerry Building, having decided to see the busy waterfront.

  It was no short distance to their destination, but they moved rapidly,dodging in and out among the crowd of shoppers. They were sointerested in the sights about them that they found themselves almostwithout knowing it at the Ferry Building.

  "Now let's go around to the docks," suggested Bob. "I'd like to seethe boats coming in from the Orient."

  "Ought to see some," Joe said. "There are a lot of steamship lineshere."

  Directly in back of the building were the ferry slips. Bob and Joestopped a few minutes to watch passengers board a boat to Oakland.Then they continued around to the docks, where scores of vessels wereanchored.

  Beside one dock was a huge liner almost ready to embark for Honolulu.The gangplank was being pulled in, ropes were loosened, and a generalscene of excitement prevailed. Relatives and friends of theleavetakers waved hearty farewells as, with long blasts of thewhistle, the ship slowly left the wharf.

  Bob and Joe watched closely as it steamed majestically out into theblue Pacific. Not far out there was the Golden Gate. Beyond this wasthe Orient, with all its lure, its beckoning.

  "I sure would give a lot to sail out on the Pacific," sighed Bob,turning and walking on with his chum.

  Away on around Embarcadero Street the boys came to Fishermen's Wharf,where their eyes met with a sight slightly different. At a miniatureharbor were scores of Italian fishing vessels. Their crew were busilyengaged in preparing the boats for sailing, or in unloading the hugecargoes of fish.

  "Look over here," called Joe. "They're selling fresh crab sandwiches.Let's get some."

  "O.K. What do they taste like?"

  The chums soon found out. A short, exceedingly fat man who alwayssmiled served them with tempting steaming sandwiches in return for ameager sum. After the eventful morning they tasted delicious.

  As they ate, Bob and Joe walked back down past the docks, their eyesalways ready to single out the unusual. Although they had been in manyinteresting cities, never had they been more captivated than now.

  Soon their attention was attracted by a coarse whistle, and lookingaround they saw a large freighter steaming up to the dock.

  Ordinarily the boys would have paid little or no attention to theship, for they had often watched vessels arriving and departing. Butthis time they looked up in wonder.

  The freighter was listing badly to starboard and looked as though itwere partly filled with water. How it kept from going over on itsside was a puzzle to the chums.

  When the ship had entered the dock and was moored by several men whostood by waiting, the gangplank was lowered, and the captain walkeddown, followed by others of the crew.

  One of the men paused at the foot of the gangplank, and Joe tookadvantage of the opportunity.

  "What was the trouble?" the youth asked, desiring to know whatmisfortune had befallen the ship.

  "Struck a derelict," was the reply. "It was an old clipper that wasabout rotted through. We can't see yet how it got through the hull,but it did."

  "But how did it happen that your ship didn't sink?" Joe inquired, hiscuriosity thoroughly aroused.

  The sailor laughed.

  "Be pretty hard to sink the _Southern Cross_," he said. "She's gotwatertight compartments. When she gets a leak, all we have to do isclose up the doors. It----Hullo, Red. Let's get goin'."

  With another of the crew, for whom he had been waiting, the seamanleft the youths and moved on over to the dock.

  Bob and Joe stood for some time looking at the unfortunate vessel.Then, as nothing of further interest happened, they walked on aroundthe harbor, absorbed in thought.

  The last few days had indeed been eventful to the chums. What did thefuture hold in store?