Part 23 (2/2)

”The climate is very enervating, d.i.c.k. That is why this section of the globe makes little or no progress toward civilization.

Energetic men come here, with the best intention in the world of hustling, as it is termed, but soon their ambition oozes out of them like--well, like mola.s.ses out of a barrel lying on a hot dock in the sun.

”A good comparison,” laughed d.i.c.k.

”Come, Tom; come, Sam!” he called out, and soon the party was on its way again.

The highway was still broad, but now it was not as even as before, and here and there they had to leap over just such a treacherous swamp as had caused Sam so much trouble. ”It's a good thing we didn't bring the horses,” said Mr. Rover. ”I didn't think so before, but I do now.”

The jungle was filled with countless birds, of all sorts, sizes, and colors. Some of these sang in a fairly tuneful fas.h.i.+on, but the majority uttered only sounds which were as painful to the hearing as they were tiresome.

”The sound is enough to drive a nervous fellow crazy,” declared Tom. ”It's a good thing nature fixed it so that a man can't grow up nervous here.”

”Perhaps those outrageous cries are meant to wake a chap up,”

suggested d.i.c.k.

”I've a good mind to shoot some of the little pests.”

”You may take a few shots later on and see what you can bring down for supper,” answered his uncle. ”But just now let us push on as fast as we can.”

”Yes,” put in Tom. ”Remember we are out here to find father, not to hunt.”

”As if I would ever forget that,” answered d.i.c.k, with a reproachful glance.

They were now traveling a bit of a hill which took them, temporarily, out of sight of the Congo. Cujo declared this was a short route and much better to travel than the other. The way was through a forest of African teak wood, immense trees which seemed to tower to the very skies.

”They are as large as the immense trees of California of which you have all heard,” remarked Randolph Rover. ”It is a very useful wood, used extensively in s.h.i.+p building.”

”After all, I think a boat on the Congo would have been better to use than shoe leather,” said Sam, who was beginning to grow tired.

”No use a boat when come to falls,” grinned Cujo. ”Soon come to dem, too.”

Aleck had been dragging behind, carrying a heavy load, to which he was unaccustomed. Now he rejoined the others with the announcement that another party was in their rear.

”They are on foot, too,” he said. ”Cujo whar you dun t'ink da be gwine?”

”To the next settlement, maybe,” was Randolph Rover's comment, and Cujo nodded.

They waited a bit for the other party to come up, but it did not, and, after walking back, Cujo returned with the announcement that they were nowhere in sight.

”Perhaps they turned off on a side road,” said Tom, and there the matter was dropped, to be brought to their notice very forcibly that night.

Evening found them at another hostelry, presided over by a Frenchman who had a giant negress for a wife. The pair were a crafty looking couple, and did not at all please the Rovers.

”Perhaps we may as well sleep with one eye open tonight,” said Randolph Rover, upon retiring. ”We are in a strange country, and it's good advice to consider every man an enemy until he proves himself a friend.”

The hostelry was divided into half a dozen rooms, all on the ground floor. The Rovers were placed in two adjoining apartments, while the natives and Aleck were quartered in an addition of bamboo in the rear.

”Keep your eyes and ears open, Aleck,” whispered d.i.c.k, on separating from the faithful colored man. ”And if you find anything wrong let us know at once.”

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