WITH the passing moments, the padding noise grew louder. Bob raised his rifle to fire. If any wild beast was intent upon charging camp, he would be ready to give it a royal welcome, the youth thought.

Then he caught sight of what resembled two luminous beads. They were slowly moving closer to the camp.

As Bob watched, he saw that a huge hyena was making its way toward the two lion skins. The beast probably intended to grab the trophies in its powerful jaws and flee.

“Here goes,” Bob murmured, and taking careful aim at the hyena he fired.

At once the brute stiffened out and then lay still. The bullet had done its work well, entering the brain.

Mr. Lewis and Mr. Holton came running out, followed by Noko and several others. They looked inquiringly at Bob.

“What happened?” asked Joe, who had also been aroused.

“Nothing much,” laughed Bob. “I shot a hyena, that was all. It was going after those lion skins.”

“Hmm. Good work, Son.” Mr. Holton stooped over to examine the body of the hyena.

“Thought you were asleep, you rascal,” chuckled Mr. Lewis.

“Somehow I couldn’t keep from thinking about shooting those lions,” said Bob. “I had a notion to get up and walk around a little, but finally decided to stay where I was. Then I heard the hyena.”

The youths and their fathers again retired, after the latter had instructed the guard to keep a close watch for any other night marauders.

But nothing further disturbed the peace, and they awoke the next morning ready for anything the day might bring.

Breakfast over, the safari again took up its long journey.

As the explorers penetrated deeper into the African wilds they saw new and marvelous sights: strange rocky formations; tall, flowering trees; unusual animals. It seemed to Bob and Joe that every minute was a bit more exciting than the one preceding it. One day they left a long stretch of jungle behind and found themselves on a wide level plain.

“Look over there and tell me what you see,” said Joe to his chum.

“Why—it’s a herd of elephants!” gasped Bob. “Look, Mr. Lewis, Dad!”

“Wonderful sight, isn’t it?” Mr. Holton gazed in interest.

The naturalists decided to make camp on the plain, so as to get a short rest before again entering the jungle. Then, when the hot afternoon sun would become less oppressive, they would plunge on toward the Forest of Mystery.

“While you’re resting here, suppose Joe and I explore around a little,” said Bob, picking up his rifle.

“We-ll—all right, boys,” returned Mr. Holton, with a look at Joe’s father. “But don’t take any chances. And don’t wander too far from camp.”

Glad of the chance to be on their own, the chums walked over the plain toward the herd of distant animals.

“Maybe we can plug an elephant,” grinned Joe, “purring” the movie camera.

“Maybe,” came from the other. “But then maybe not. It would be dangerous to tackle that herd single-handed. Suppose they’d charge us. Then where would we be?”

“Probably on our faces in the dirt,” Joe said. “Or perhaps”—grinning—“flying through the air.”

“Doesn’t sound very nice, does it?” asked Bob. “No, we’d better be content to watch those elephants from a safe distance.”

“Shucks!” Joe frowned. “I want pictures of them. How am I going to get them without getting close?”

“All right. Have it your own way. But I’m not going to take any chances.”

Cautiously the boys stalked through the high grass toward the elephant herd. Luckily the wind was blowing in their faces, so that the elephants did not catch the human scent. And as these huge brutes have comparatively short eyesight, the chums were able to move very close.

“How’s this?” asked Bob.

“Up a little farther,” urged Joe, holding the camera ready.

They were within twenty yards of the huge lumbering beasts and were naturally looking on with great interest.

There was a thick growth of tall bushes a little to one side. Joe suggested that they plunge into this so as to be able to get nearer to the elephants.

Then they heard a loud crashing noise, the sound of a heavy body plunging through the brush. It was coming from around a bend in a narrow trail.

“What’s that?” Bob stopped and listened.

“More than I know. Maybe some wild animal. Sounds—— Look out, Bob! a big elephant!”

There was terror in Joe’s voice. He looked to his chum to use his rifle.

A second later the huge head of a charging elephant appeared, its trunk thrown into the air, its eyes glaring. It must have been over ten feet high, for it towered far above the two youths.

Acting on the instant, Bob and Joe darted quickly to one side, their only thought being safety from grave danger.

Bob threw his rifle to his shoulder and fired.

“You got him!” cried Joe. “But it doesn’t seem to stop him.”

“Hide’s too tough,” his chum said.

The charging beast could not turn as quickly as did the youths. It went plunging on through the bushes. Apparently it had no intention of seeking out its enemies, for it continued through the heavy growth and disappeared behind a low spreading tree.

Bob and Joe were in a state of high excitement after their thrilling encounter. Perspiration was dripping from their bodies; their breath was coming in short gasps.

“Too bad I was too scared to take movies of that charge,” moaned Joe. “They’d sure have been interesting.”

“You ought to be glad you’re here,” said Bob. “Let’s get back to the safari.”

The chums had not gone far on the plain when they met their fathers and Noko, who had set out to secure a better view of the distant herd of elephants.

“We heard a rifle shot,” said Mr. Lewis. “What was the meaning of it?”

The youths looked at each other. They had been a bit foolish in moving so close to the elephants, especially since neither carried a rifle large enough to be effective against such large brutes.

“An elephant charged us,” said Bob at last.

“He did? Tell us about it.” Mr. Holton’s interest was aroused at once.

Aided by his friend, Bob related the encounter as accurately as he could.

When he had finished, the naturalists looked grave.

“You shouldn’t take chances like that, boys,” Mr. Holton said. “Luck can’t hold out forever, you know.”

They trekked back to camp, where they remained for a few hours longer. Then, thoroughly refreshed, they resumed the march.

Farther on, the youths caught sight of a large group of giraffes which towered above the small, stunted trees about them. Other, more graceful, animals could be seen.

The explorers emerged from a dense growth of bushes when they suddenly saw something that moved them to pity.

Standing unsteadily, its legs trembling, its eyes glazed, was a large eland, which was evidently at the point of death. The poor animal remained on its feet only with the greatest of difficulty.

But something else caused the explorers to be still more touched. Three vultures were circling around the stricken animal, waiting for it to fall.

“Look over there,” murmured Bob, pointing to something at the edge of the bushes.

A trio of hyenas was also waiting silently for the eland to die. They never took their eyes from the animal, although they made no move to action.

“There’s work here,” said Mr. Lewis, raising his rifle. “We must put that poor animal out of its misery.”

“And I’m going to plug those doggone hyenas,” muttered Bob.