The Forest of Mystery

g the

making an expedition to Africa?" asked Mr. L

you might go,"

be any 'might' in it," Mr.

ed out of bed in

g to Africa?" cried Joe, fall

sts laughed

e of one thing: Ben [Mr. Lewis] and I are going. How many more will make up the expedition

tinent. We're plenty old enough to take care of ourselves. You see how we made short work of dange

gravely but with twinkling eyes. "There's sca

ldn't stand much chance before the Lewis-Holton expedition. Why we'd mow 'em dow

uppose," he went on, "we don't say anything more about this matter until we get back to Washington. You se

ed Joe, who felt there was a

ething else. We want to leave for Washington tomorrow morning. We'd

ast yet?" i

wis laughed. "Boys, in case you don

to see any more of old San Francis

ship," Mr. Holton said, grinning. "And now," he added, "we're leaving. Be ba

o long, Mr.

d now they were ready to get breakfast. After the meal, they would start ou

Market Street toward the Ferry Building,

and out among the crowd of shoppers. They were so interested in the sights about

suggested Bob. "I'd like to see th

said. "There are a lot

ped a few minutes to watch passengers board a boat to Oakland. Then the

in, ropes were loosened, and a general scene of excitement prevailed. Relatives and friends of the le

nto the blue Pacific. Not far out there was the Golden Gate.

ut on the Pacific," sighed Bob, tu

sight slightly different. At a miniature harbor were scores of Italian fishing vessels. Their crew

. "They're selling fresh cra

do they t

smiled served them with tempting steaming sandwiches in return f

always ready to single out the unusual. Although they had been in m

arse whistle, and looking around they saw

on to the ship, for they had often watched vessels arriv

as though it were partly filled with water. How it kep

al men who stood by waiting, the gangplank was lowered, an

ot of the gangplank, and Joe to

h asked, desiring to know what m

d clipper that was about rotted through. We can't

ship didn't sink?" Joe inquired,

ilor l

ot watertight compartments. When she gets a leak, all we have

had been waiting, the seaman left th

te vessel. Then, as nothing of further interest happened

een eventful to the chums. Wha