"Nine times out of ten, young man," said Professor Wiseman
impressively fixing Billy with his gaze just as he would have
impaled a bug or grasshopper, "and the tenth time they come so near
the truth as to be uncomfortable."

"I have heard of such things, but I always put them down as
impossibilities," gasped Frank.

"Just travelers' tales," said Billy.

"There are many things for the young to learn in Africa," remarked
Professor Wiseman coldly and gazing at Billy with squashing
intentness; "the young do not believe many things merely because
they are young--and foolish."

"Gee! that was a nailer for fair," said Billy afterward. "I felt as
if the Doc was running a big blue pin through me and sticking me on
a bit of cork,"

That morning, as the start for the interior was not to be made till
the next day, M. Desplaines asked the boys if they would care to try
a little fishing at the foot of the famous Jumbari Falls which lay
on a branch of the Bari river a short distance from the town. Of
course the boys assented eagerly, but as it was found that only
Frank and Harry were expert canoeists, it was agreed that the others
should fish from the bank while the two young leaders trolled their
lines from a native built craft. This canoe was kept at the falls--to
which they tramped the two miles overland by a narrow trail.

The falls were a magnificent sight. From a dark red rock, fully two