Part 3 (1/2)
”Don't know about that,” replied Mr St John, to his son's intense surprise ”It depends on what part of Africa, Etta You must remember that the world's not so small as it used to be You can juo to Africa or China or Russia and never have to bother your head about a thing What's the proposition, George?”
”I've been thinking that it would do Burt a lot of good to go with e would set him up in fine shape, and ould keep out of the low lands, you know”
”The Congo!” cried his sister in dismay ”Why, that's where they torture people! Do you--”
”Nonsense!” interrupted Mr Wallace io is just as civilized as parts of our own country We can take a steamer at the mouth and travel for thousands of miles by it I have one recruit from New Britain already, and I'd like to have Burt if you'll spare hi fro Critchfield,” came the reply
CHAPTER III
THE DECISION
”Critch!” shouted Burt, unable to restrain his amazement His parents looked equally incredulous and Mr Wallace explained with a smile
”Yes, Howard Critchfield You see, I'd like to bring back so the them in shape So when I found that Critch was no slouch at taxidermy and only needed the chance, it occurred toI saw his father about it and proposed to pay all his expenses and a small salary Mr Critchfield came around after a little He saw that it would be a splendid education for the boy--would give hily”
”Why didn't Critch tell nantly
”He didn't know!” laughed his uncle ”His father and I agreed that we'd let his to think of Now look at the thing sensibly, you folks We wouldn't be away longer than six er in his canoe on the Kennebec than in a big steao”
”But after you leave the steamer? You can't shoot ivory from the boat, I presume,” protested Mr St John
”And what about snakes and savage tribes?” put in his wife
”My dear Etta,” replied the explorer patiently, ”ill be near few savage tribes I ht almost say that there are none As for snakes, I've seen only three deadly ones in all the years I've spent in Africa
After we leave the steahlands Burt stands just as ht run over hiht fall on hih that went up at his uncle's concluding words The laughter cleared the somewhat tense situation, and the discussion was carried into the library Burt saw, much to his relief, that his father was not absolutely opposed to the trip, although his ive us your proposition, George,” said his father as they settled down around the table ”What's your definite idea about it?”
”Good! Noe're getting down to cases!” cried the explorer with a se atlas over there” Burt had the atlas on the table in an instant ”Let's see--Africa--here we are Get around here, folks!” As he spoke Mr Wallace pulled out a pencil and pointed to the o, you see Here we step aboard one of the State stea between New York and Boston Following the Congo up and around for twelve hundred , we come to the Aruwimi river Up this--and here we are at Yaation on the Aruwio on up by boat or launch for three or four hundred miles farther, then strike off after elephants”
”But how do you get down there in the first place?” asked Mr St John, who seemed keenly interested
”Any way you want to!” returned the explorer ”There are lines running to Banana Point or Bo, or froracious!” said Burt's o was so near civilization as all that! Are there real launches away up there in the heart of Africa?”
”Launches? Autoreed Mr Wallace ”There are motor trucks in service at several points We could even take the trip by railroad if ished, and we'll telegraph you direct e reach there!”
”Well that's news to ht that Central Africa was a blank wilderness filled with gorillas and savages Seeame laws in Roosevelt's book How about that?”
”There are stringent laws in Uganda and British East Africa,” replied Mr Wallace ”But I intend to depend on tradefor my ivory Now look at this Makua river that runs west, up north of the Aruwi held up at Bo co out a bunch of ivory and then rob ht up to the Makua and down that river to the French Congo I've got apull with the French people ever since they ion of Honor for azed at the map reflectively then looked up with a sudden se!”
”Oh, I was talking about young Critchfield and hed the explorer ”Come now, Etta, doesn't it sound a whole lot more reasonable than it did at first?”