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CHAPTER I
A Startling Discovery
“LOOK here, Joe. There’s something stirring. I know the signs. Our dads wouldn’t keep together constantly, studying maps and reading books and making frequent trips to the museum, for nothing. It – ”
“You’re right, Bob. They certainly must have something important in mind. And I have an idea as to what it is.”
“Another expedition into the unknown,” cut in Bob Holton, in tones that implied certainty.
“But where, do you suppose?” asked Joe Lewis, his brown eyes sparkling with interest.
“More than I know,” the other youth replied. “Could be any place. But wherever it is, I’ll bet they’ve been there before. They just travel from one end of this little old world to another in search of birds and reptiles and animals, and they always find them.”
“And always will,” added Joe with strong conviction. “Why,” he went on, becoming even more absorbed, “do you remember the time they went to Africa in search of a white rhinoceros?”
“Yes. Looked high and low for several months, and finally got one after all hopes had been abandoned. Oh, it takes them to do it. Just let the curator mention the things wanted, and if it’s at all possible, our dads will get them. All specimens are alike to – ”
He was interrupted by the sound of footsteps from the side of the house and turned to see who the person might be. While he is looking expectantly, it might be well to tell who the boys were, and what had been their experiences up to the time this story opens.
Bob was a big fellow, strong and muscular, and endowed with the ability to do the right thing at the right time. He was one of the star players on the high school football team. Everyone liked him – he was so straightforward and sympathizing and trustworthy.
Joe was of medium size, with almost black eyes and a naturally dark complexion. He was lighter and less robust than his friend, but was possessed of fierce courage and bravery. He never started a thing without finishing it.
Mr. Holton and Mr. Lewis, fathers of the youths, were noted naturalists and collectors of specimens for museums and zoos. They had been nearly everywhere and always welcomed any hint that might start them on a new trip into the unknown. The two men had met several years before at a convention of scientists, and took a great liking to each other. As they both lived in Washington, D. C., they agreed to work together in behalf of a large museum, and Mr. Lewis made an attempt to purchase the residence next to that of his friend. He was at last successful in acquiring it, and then began the warm friendship between the two youths, Bob and Joe.
The boys were together much of their time and got along excellently, following in their fathers’ footsteps as much as possible by taking hikes into the woods to study nature. Fresh with the vigor of youth, they were having a grand time together, but would have had a still greater one had they been permitted to accompany the men on the various scientific expeditions.
“You’re only freshmen,” Mr. Holton had told them, about three years before. “Wait till you’re juniors or seniors, and then perhaps we will consider taking you along.”
Now the boys were in their senior year, or would be when school opened the coming fall, and were eagerly anticipating the future.
“If they’d only make a trip this summer,” said Joe, shortly after school had closed. “Then we might – ”
Let us return to the boys, as they cast glances at the side of the house. The sound of footsteps grew louder, and the next moment Bob’s father came into view.
“Hello, Dad.”
“Hello, Mr. Holton.”
The naturalist returned the greetings and then made his way to a porch seat. Several moments he spent in lighting a cigar. Then he turned to the youths.
“What’s all this praise you’ve been giving Mr. Lewis and me for our scientific work?” he asked, trying hard to suppress a smile.
The young men grinned. They had not suspected this.
“You got it right,” returned Joe. “You two have done as much for the museum as anyone else in this old U. S. And that’s as straight as a lion’s tail when he’s about to charge.”
Mr. Holton laughed unbelievingly.
“I know your game,” he chuckled. “You’re paving the way to accompany us on that Brazilian trip we’re about to take. Right?”
Bob and Joe jumped to their feet in wild excitement. A trip to Brazil! Think of that! Then their supposition was correct. Something was stirring after all.
Mr. Holton guessed their thoughts and broke the short period of suspense.
“It’s an expedition to the jungles of the Amazon,” he explained, as the boys seated themselves and listened with breathless interest. “Going to get specimens of fauna for the museum. In addition, we wish to make a study of several wild Indian tribes there. It’s a trip I’ve always wished to take, but, strange to say, I’ve never had the opportunity. You boys probably know that this region is one of the least-known on the face of the globe. It has the world’s heaviest forests, some of the most savage of people, and a wide variety of birds and beasts.”
“Great!” blurted out Joe in a strange, animated tone. “How wonderful it would be! Away out in the wildest of Brazilian wilds, seeing strange and astonishing things – things that only a very few have the opportunity of seeing.”
“It’s my idea of adventure,” declared Bob, taking up where his friend had left off. “Why can’t you arrange to take us with you?”
The scientist eyed the young men intently with an expression of sympathy.
“Then you want to go that badly?” he asked, and then his eyes fell. He had been young himself once. How often had he visualized this very mission! How many times had he tramped through the heavy Western woods, imagining himself in a great tropical forest, with its mysteries, thrills, and tragedies! If those longings could only have been satisfied when they were strongest!
For over a minute Mr. Holton stared thoughtfully at the floor. Then, with twinkling eyes, he glanced up at the boys.
“What would you give to go with us?” he asked, his face brightening.
“What!” cried Bob, with a look that combined delight with bewilderment. “You mean that we can go?”
“Not exactly,” was the reply. “I just asked you what you’d give to go.”
“Everything!” blurted out Joe. “Everything we’ve got – and then some. Oh, do take us, Mr. Holton,” he went on more pleadingly. “We’re old enough by now to take care of ourselves.”
“I’d like to have you,” the naturalist said. “And so would your father. But your mothers – ” Here he stopped. It was unnecessary to continue. The youths understood.
“But I’m sure they’ll consent,” Bob said, with a certainty that he was far from feeling. “Especially if they know you are willing to have us.”
“Of course there’s a possibility,” the man assured them. “But I wouldn’t be too sure of it. You know how they are. Unwilling to have their sons take any unnecessary risks. Well, perhaps they’re right,” he went on, tapping the chair thoughtfully. “Perhaps it isn’t best to tax good fortune too much. You boys are young and have a great future before you. What if anything should happen – ”
“But, Dad,” Bob pleaded, “nothing will happen. We’d be with you and Mr. Lewis – and anyone else who would be along. Nothing has happened to you so far. You’ve always come back O.K.”
“We’ve had some narrow escapes, though,” with a shaking of the head. “Fever, wild beasts, savages, hurricanes – there’s no limit to the number of tragedies that may befall an expedition into the unknown. But then,” his tones became more lively, “you boys want to go with us regardless of these dangers, and if I must say so, I believe you’d make a good showing. I’ll talk the matter over with Mr. Lewis and your mothers and let you know later how things look.”
“Fine!” cried Bob, overwhelmed with joy. “Now tell us some more about this mission. What section of Amazonia do you intend to explore?”
“The lower middle,” was the response. “We intend to follow the Amazon to the Purús River, where we’ll branch off and travel by native canoes for approximately five hundred miles.”
Joe gave a long whistle.
“Five hundred miles by canoe!” he gasped, almost unbelievingly. “Seems almost impossible. How can you take food enough along?”
“Does seem sort of absurd. But we’ll manage it. And we expect to live on game and fish to a certain extent. Everything will have to be timed to a dot. We won’t dare stay any longer than our food supply lasts. When that begins to get low, back to civilization we’ll go.”
“How long do you expect to be gone?” Bob asked.
“We – ll, perhaps three or four months. We want to get as much done as possible. You see,” he explained, “as I said before, our stay is limited to the supply of provisions we have with us. If it were possible to carry enough, I would like to spend at least six months there. What a wonderful opportunity to study primitive man in his everyday life.”
“Should think it would be rather dangerous,” remarked Joe. “He might object and study you instead. Headhunters, I mean.”
“It’s a chance we have to take,” was the reply. “But after all, if we treat them kindly there is little danger. Human nature is much the same all over the globe.”
“I’ll trust you to come out all right,” Bob said.
“We hope to,” the scientist returned. “And we also hope to add greatly to the world’s knowledge of Brazil and its animal inhabitants.”
“At present that isn’t very much, is it?” Joe asked.
“You can’t exactly say that,” Mr. Holton answered, “for a large amount is known about different sections that have been more or less frequented by civilized man. But when you refer to the deeper, more inaccessible regions, then it’s different. Of course there have been numerous expeditions sent out to explore these unknown sections, but even now there is a large and interesting field open to the scientist.”
“Well,” said Bob, after a short silence, “I only hope that Joe and I may go with you.”
“We’ll see about it,” his father replied. “But I can assure you that consent from your mothers will not come without considerable – Well! Look who’s here. Come on the porch and sit down, Ben.” He referred to Joe’s father, Mr. Lewis, who, as usual, was to be his intimate companion during their stay in Brazil.
Mr. Lewis was a man of medium height, with sparkling blue eyes and a complexion that was extremely bronzed.
“Hello, friends,” he greeted, seating himself and wiping the perspiration from his brow. “I suppose,” he said to Mr. Holton, “you’ve been telling the boys about our coming expedition to South America. Right?”
“Right!” echoed Bob. “And not only that, but Joe and I are going with you.”
“What’s that!” Mr. Lewis cried in surprise.
“Yes,” Bob’s father returned, “they’ve put in their request to be a part of the expedition. What do you think of it?”
“Well – a – I hardly know. How do you think their mothers will look at it?”
Mr. Holton shook his head.
“Impossible to say,” he answered. “But we can all guess. Still, if we see fit to take the boys along, we can put the matter before them. They may consent after considerable pleading.”
“Hurrah!” cried Joe, in tones of gratitude. “And I’m sure – ”
He stopped suddenly and sniffed the air sharply.
“There’s something burning,” he said quietly, and then moved around the house.
The next instant he was back, pale-faced and panic-stricken.
“Our garage is on fire!” he cried. “It’s all ablaze!”
CHAPTER II
Firebugs at Work!
AT Joe’s ominous words, Mr. Lewis leaped to his feet.
“Come on,” he said in wild excitement. “We can’t get there any too quickly, for not only are the cars in danger but a satchel of valuable papers as well.”
“Something in connection with our expedition to Brazil?” asked Bob’s father, as he took second place in the race to the garage.
“Yes. They’re very important. I should have taken them in the house at once.”
As they turned to look at the scene, a feeling of helplessness crept over them, for already the blaze had leaped high in the air, and the crackling sound told that the fire had made considerable headway.
Bob rushed into the house and telephoned the fire department. Then, with Mrs. Lewis and Joe’s sister, he moved back outside, to see that the structure was blazing even higher.
Meanwhile the others had unlocked the doors and were inside, doing their best to roll out the cars. But the smoke was so thick that they were making little headway.
“Quick!” cried Mr. Holton. “Where are the keys, Ben?”
“I don’t know. I – I can’t seem to find them. Should be in my pocket. No, guess I left them in the house.”
The next instant he was gone, leaving his friends to survey the situation more carefully.
“It strikes me,” remarked Bob thoughtfully, “that if we wait for him to return with the keys it will be too late.”
“But what – how – ” Mr. Holton stammered, but was interrupted by his son.
“The only way that I can see is to break the glass in one of the doors. Then we can get inside to release the emergency brake. How about it?”
“I’d hate to do that, my boy. Yet there seems to be no other way out.”
As Bob had stated, it was evident that if they were to wait for the keys the cars would be badly burned. There was a possibility that the gasoline tanks might even explode, for at intervals particles of ignited timber fell from the blazing roof and missed them only a few inches. Rapidly the flames crept downward. Already they were halfway down the wall and moving like lightning. There was no time to lose. Something must be done!
“Come on,” Bob urged, entering the garage once more. “We must get those cars out at any cost.”
He looked about for some object with which he could break a glass, but could see nothing.
“If there was only a board, or even – ”
“Here,” came from his father, moving on up with a sharp piece of metal, “let me do it.”
There was a crash, a splintering of glass, and the next moment Mr. Holton was inside. It took but a second to release the parking brake, and then the car rolled easily out of danger.
“There,” panted the naturalist, rubbing his hand over his forehead. “Now to get to the coupé.”
Just then there came the sound of fire bells, and before they had attended to the other car, several fire trucks pulled up in front of the house. Their occupants were easily attracted to the scene of the fire, and they lost no time in hurrying back.
“Quick!” yelled Joe, almost panic-stricken. “Let’s get Dad’s private car out. The enamel is already off the left front fender.”
Again Mr. Holton made use of the iron pipe, and the remaining automobile was pushed out just in time to avoid a large section of the roof that suddenly caved in.
“A narrow escape!” breathed Bob, stopping only for a moment to examine the finish that had been slightly scorched.
“A very narrow one,” returned Joe, as he thought of what would have happened had the roof fallen on the top.
By now two lines of hose had been attached, and firemen were working unflinchingly to check the cruel flames which, owing to a strong north wind, were protruding several yards beyond the roof. Occasionally a spark would fly over to the house, and this did not in the least simplify the efforts of the fire fighters.
A large crowd had gathered to view the spectacle and included several of Bob’s and Joe’s friends who lived near by.
“Some blaze, eh, fellows?” was the comment made by John Peterman, a classmate in school.
“The biggest I’ve seen for an age,” put in Tom Rogers, another friend.
“How’d it start?” asked another.
“Beyond us,” answered Bob. “Do you have any idea, Joe?”
“No. I’m sure Dad wouldn’t have left a cigar stub – ”
“Impossible,” his chum broke in, “for that blaze started on or near the roof.”
Mr. Lewis had now joined the others, and his delight was beyond words when he saw that the cars had been removed in time to avert disaster.
“I kept thinking that I could find the key,” he said. “I finally did, but not in time to save them.”
Gradually the flames were diminishing, and if the firemen kept up the good work it promised to be over in a short time.
“Good thing that your garage is quite a distance over,” remarked Joe to his friend. “One is bad enough without having two on fire.”
Finally the last blaze was extinguished amid a rousing cheer from the crowd, and, after closer examination inside, the firemen left the scene, and the crowd gradually thinned until no one was left but Bob, Joe, their fathers, and a few neighbors.
“Covered by insurance, isn’t it?” inquired Bob of Mr. Lewis, as they cast a resentful look at the charred beams of the structure that had once been a fine garage.
“Yes, but this may delay our expedition to Brazil for a week or two until I can look after the reconstruction of it. That is” – he glanced at Mr. Holton – “unless your father objects.”
“Not in the least,” came from that individual. “In fact,” he went on, “that is about the only way out.”
Bob and Joe walked into the burned building. All about were ashes – ashes that had once been the roof of the structure. The charcoal smell was strong about them.
“Don’t know where we’ll keep the cars tonight,” said Joe, glancing up through the hole in the roof.
“Guess we can find room in our garage,” his friend replied. “We only have the one car, and it doesn’t take up all the room by any means.”
“Awfully good of you.”
Suddenly Bob uttered an exclamation that brought his friend hurrying to his side.
“What is it?” Joe asked.
For answer the other youth pointed to a small tin box that was black from being in the fire. It had hung on the wall behind an old radiator hood, which had a moment before fallen to the floor.
“What could that be?” Bob Holton asked. “Does it belong to your dad?”
Joe reached up and took it down from its hanger.
“Has a hole in the top. And what’s that thing protruding from the side?”
“Beyond me. Could be a – Great Scott! Come on. We must get it to your father at once.”
Bewildered, Joe followed his friend to the back door, where the two men were still conversing.
“What does this mean?” asked Bob coolly, handing the box to Mr. Lewis.
The latter examined it closely for a moment. Then, suddenly grasping the meaning, he stared at the others.
“Firebugs at work!” he exclaimed, fumbling the box nervously. “Someone set the garage on fire!”
CHAPTER III
Valuable Information
AT the remark Mr. Holton gasped in astonishment.
“Who would it be?” he asked. “Has anyone got anything against you?”
“Not that I know of,” Joe’s father replied. “Let me think.”
He assumed a mood of thoughtful anxiety, and Mr. Holton took the small box for a closer examination. It was about eight inches square, with a hole in the top out of which protruded a short iron stem. Inside, an alarm clock was still ticking.
“Hmm! That fire was probably set for ten o’clock,” Mr. Holton murmured, as he noticed that it was now nearly eleven.
“How long ago do you suppose it was set?” inquired Bob.
“Impossible to say,” the response came. “It couldn’t have been more than twelve hours ago, however.”
Mr. Lewis looked up.
“I can think of several people who could be bad enough to do this,” he said thoughtfully. “But I cannot say which one it would be.
“First I might mention a man who wanted to buy some specimens from me, but I declined to sell them. He had a sour disposition, and his temper was thoroughly aroused when, after he had offered large sums of money, I refused him. Said he’d get even some time.”
“What’d he want with them?” Joe asked.
“Wanted to sell them to a well-known museum. You see they were very rare birds that I got in New Zealand, and he’d have been offered a large sum for them.”
“Could be the very man!” Mr. Holton said. “Who else might have done it?”
“A rival naturalist,” the other returned. “Name is Davis – Thomas T. Davis. Perhaps you remember, Howard. The fellow with the gold eyeglasses and scarred face. Said he got it when a tiger sprang at him. Always – ”
“Yes,” Mr. Holton interrupted, his eyes bright with sudden recollection. “The museum employed him awhile, didn’t it?”
Joe’s father nodded.
“He always had a dislike for me,” he went on. “Didn’t like it at all when I headed that expedition to central Asia.”
There was a short silence. Then Mr. Lewis made a resolution.
“I’m going to put this matter in the hands of detectives,” he said. “They may be able to figure it out.”
“That’s the thing to do,” Bob agreed. “Seems to me, though, that this first man you mentioned is responsible. The one who wanted to buy the specimens from you.”
“Could be. But I am very much in doubt as to whether he would do such a thing.”
“Are you certain that there is no one else that has anything against you?” Mr. Holton questioned.
“No. Not certain. But fairly sure.”
Suddenly Bob’s face lightened, and he turned to Mr. Lewis.
“Do you know where this man lives? The one who wanted to buy the specimens from you, I mean.”
“Why – yes,” Mr. Lewis faltered. “That is, I have it in my memorandum. What do you want with it?”
“Don’t know that it’ll be any good at all. But we could inquire of his neighbors what kind of man he is.”
“Good idea. Better let me go, though.”
Bob shook his head.
“Joe and I haven’t anything else to do,” he argued, “and we’ll be glad to do it.”
“All right. Come in the house and I’ll put his name and address on paper.”
In a short time Mr. Lewis was back with a folded paper, which he handed to Bob.
“Now use tact in getting your information,” he said. “Remember, don’t let the people you inquire of in on the secret.”
“We won’t,” came the response, and after securing permission to use Mr. Holton’s sedan, they left for the man’s address.
What would they find? Would the people living near know anything about this person? Would the youths find that he had moved and, owing to his criminal record, had told no one of his new location? These questions were in the minds of Bob and Joe as they went farther toward their destination.
After a twenty-minute ride they pulled up on a poor cross street near the city limits and gazed to their left at a small house set back from the sidewalk. Directly beside it was another house of slightly better appearance.
“That’s the place,” pronounced Bob. “Doesn’t look like anyone’s at home.”
“Let’s go to the house next to it,” suggested Joe, getting out of the car. “We’ll trust to luck that the occupants are not related to the man we’re after.”
The boys made their way to the door and knocked. For over a minute they waited in silence. Then, as it was evident that there was no one at home, they turned to leave. But at that moment a small car moved up to the curb and stopped. Two men got out and started toward the house where the alleged crook lived. But the second they caught sight of Bob and Joe they turned back to their car.
“Come on,” whispered Bob. “Let’s follow them. I have a notion that one of those fellows is the man we’re after.”
Joe nodded in agreement.
“Did you notice how strange they acted when they saw us?” he asked. “Perhaps they thought we were officers that had come to arrest them.”
The youths made their way to their automobile and had the motor started just as the other car whizzed away.
For over ten minutes they followed cautiously, and they were satisfied that the men had not noticed them. Then at last they turned up a dilapidated street and stopped in front of a small, weather-beaten house. Here they left the car and went inside, while Bob and Joe stopped a square away.
“Let’s go up and look around,” suggested Joe.
As quietly as possible, the boys walked up to the house.
“Come around to the back,” beckoned Joe. “There might be a window.”
His supposition proved correct, for they found one before they reached the back porch. The glass was out and the opening was boarded up fairly tight, but there were several large cracks.