30 THE CAMP IN BECHUANA LAND. 



the wildest regions of the globe, where the largest animals known abound, they had 

 not encountered as many as they anticipated. 



"Have patience," said Mr. Godkin, when they referred to this fact; "you will 

 get your fill of adventure, and probably more too, before you see salt water again." 



" That may be," replied the sprightly Dick, in a tone which implied that he 

 doubted whether it was possible for him and his cousin to obtain more than they 

 desired, " provided we push northward through the Congo State into the Gaboon 

 country, the home of the chimpanzee and gorilla." 



HARTBEBST. 



The boys and Jack looked at the director of the expedition to observe how he 

 received this feeler. The sagacious fellow shook his head. 



" I'm afraid you don't understand what you say. We shall find all we can attend 

 to in this part of the world. To travel from the Tropic of Capricorn, through the 

 heart of Africa, to the Equator, is a task which I don't believe was ever accomplished 

 by mortal man, though a great deal of the country has been explored. We are here 

 to hunt curiosities for the shows, not to penetrate unknown regions, and, if we un- 

 dertake what you seem to favor, they would not only lose the money that has been 

 invested in this enterprise, but we should lose our lives." 



