“A water hole; eh?” said Blake, when he heard about it. “What sort of pictures ought we to film there, sergeant?” “All kinds,” was the answer. “You may get anything from a giraffe to a lion, or from a baboon to a rhino. Water in the jungle makes all wild animals of a kin--for the time being--though later they may fight like cats and dogs.” They traveled on, and it was late that afternoon when Happy One, who, as usual, was in the lead, stopped, threw down his burden and began dancing about, brandishing his spear. “What’s up now?” asked Blake. “Maybe he sees an elephant or a hippo,” suggested Joe, “and he wants C. C. to kill it, so they can have broiled steak for supper.” “I don’t believe it’s that,” remarked Sergeant Hotchkiss, who was riding beside the boys. “I think it’s water he sees and we will need it soon, for our canteens are nearly empty. It’s been a dry march,” which was the truth indeed. “Then this must be the water hole!” exclaimed Blake. “I hope it is,” said Joe. “I’m as dry as a bone, and the water in my canteen tastes like mud!” It was the water hole, as they soon saw. Coming up to where Happy One was dancing about and singing, the boys looked down into a sort of level valley, in the centre of which were a number of depressions containing water. “Water hole!” exclaimed Mr. Piper; “it looks like a whole lot of holes.” “There are a number, fortunately,” said the former soldier. “But it is generally spoken of as a ‘hole.’ There are a number of places where the different animals can drink, though in very dry weather, when there is only one, partly filled, there are terrible fights for the right to the few drops that remain.” “Look!” cried Joe. “What are those small animals running away from the pools?” “Monkeys and baboons,” answered Mr. Hotchkiss. “They generally drink when they can get the chance, for almost every other animal will drive them away. They have to drink when they can, but our coming evidently frightened them. Do you think you can get some pictures here?” “I’m sure we can,” said Blake, as he noted that there were a number of large trees in which their cameras could be placed and screened from view. “We’ll try it to-morrow,” said Joe, and so it was agreed. They went into camp not far from the water hole, but as it was likely that many wild beasts would come to the drinking pools after dark, unusual precautions were taken. The tents of the whites, as well as the primitive sleeping places of the blacks, were surrounded by a thorn bomba, or fence. Large fires were built and guards posted with guns. It was some time after the night meal before Blake or Joe turned in. They were getting their cameras ready for the morning. Then, too, the strangeness of the surroundings impressed them. And they watched the blacks cooking their primitive meal and preparing to sleep. But at last the boys turned in, glad that the ticks and mosquitoes were comparatively scarce in this camp.