Do you take my meaning ?" "I should like nothing better than to study animals in their home," said the boy, burning with excitement.
"And the two of you think you would like to join me in my expedition ?" Mr.Hume looked at them out of calm yellowish eyes as if he were studying them.
"We should," they said eagerly.
"Think it will turn out a picnic--a glorified sort of camping-out, with black fellows to wait on you, and a lot of shooting and fishing?
Is that your idea ?" "We were talking about that this morning," said Compton, "and we came to the conclusion that exploring was hard work.

We are prepared for rough living." "That's right.

And you tell me that you are free to go without giving anxiety to relatives, eh ?" "We neither of us have near relatives." Mr.Hume stood up and felt each one over in turn, making them draw deep breaths.
"Seem sound," he mused, "in wind and limb.

But there is one thing.
The great danger in Central Africa is from fever--not from animals or blacks." Here he took down a bottle of white powder, and placed a large pinch in a wine-glass of water.

"Quinine is the traveler's stand-by, but there are some who cannot take quinine, It has no effect on them, and such people have no business to set foot in fever districts.