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diff --git a/old/1283.txt b/old/1283.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..6a74079 --- /dev/null +++ b/old/1283.txt @@ -0,0 +1,6163 @@ +Project Gutenberg's Tom Swift and his Wizard Camera, by Victor Appleton + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with +almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + +Title: Tom Swift and his Wizard Camera + or, Thrilling Adventures while taking Moving Pictures + +Author: Victor Appleton + +Posting Date: July 17, 2008 [EBook #1283] +Release Date: April, 1998 +[This file last updated on August 26, 2010] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ASCII + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK TOM SWIFT AND HIS WIZARD CAMERA *** + + + + +Produced by Anthony Matonac + + + + + + + + + +TOM SWIFT AND HIS WIZARD CAMERA + +or + +Thrilling Adventures While Taking Moving Pictures + + +by + +VICTOR APPLETON + + + + +CONTENTS + +CHAPTER + + + I A STRANGE OFFER + II A MAN IN THE SNOW BANK + III TOM MAKES UP HIS MIND + IV HELD FAST + V TOM GETS A WARNING + VI TRYING THE CAMERA + VII WHAT THE CAMERA CAUGHT + VIII PHOTOS FROM THE AIRSHIP + IX OFF FOR INDIA + X UNEXPECTED EXCITEMENT + XI AN ELEPHANT STAMPEDE + XII THE LION FIGHT + XIII A SHOT IN TIME + XIV IN A GREAT GALE + XV SNAPPING AN AVALANCHE + XVI TELEGRAPH ORDERS + XVII SUSPICIOUS STRANGERS + XVIII THE NATIVE BATTLE + XIX A HEAVY LOSS + XX AFTER THE ENGLISHMEN + XXI THE JUNGLE FIRE + XXII A DANGEROUS COMMISSION + XXIII AT THE VOLCANO + XXIV THE MOLTEN RIM + XXV THE EARTHQUAKE--CONCLUSION + + + + +TOM SWIFT AND HIS WIZARD CAMERA + + +CHAPTER I + +A STRANGE OFFER + + +"Some one to see you, Mr. Tom." + +It was Koku, or August, as he was sometimes called, the new giant +servant of Tom Swift, who made this announcement to the young inventor. + +"Who is it, Koku?" inquired Tom, looking up from his work-bench in the +machine shop, where he was busy over a part of the motor for his new +noiseless airship. "Any one I know? Is it the 'Blessing Man?'" for so +Koku had come to call Mr. Damon, an eccentric friend of Tom's. + +"No, not him. A strange man. I never see before. He say he got quick +business." + +"Quick business; eh? I guess you mean important, Koku," for this +gigantic man, one of a pair that Tom had brought with him after his +captivity in "Giant Land," as he called it, could not speak English +very well, as yet. "Important business; eh, Koku? Did he send in his +card?" + +"No, Mr. Tom. Him say he have no card. You not know him, but he very +much what you call--recited." + +"Excited I guess you mean, Koku. Well, tell him to wait a few minutes, +and I'll see him. You can show him in then. But I say, Koku," and Tom +paused as he looked at the big man, who had attached himself to our +hero, as a sort of personal helper and bodyguard. + +"Yes, Mr. Tom; what is it?" + +"Don't let him go poking around the shop. He might look at some of my +machines that I haven't got fully patented yet. Is he in the front +office?" + +"That's where him am. He be lookin' at pictures on the walls." + +"Oh, that's all right then. Just keep him there. And, Koku, don't let +him come back in the shop here, until I get ready to see him. I'll ring +the bell when I am." + +"All right, Mr. Tom." + +Koku, very proud of his mission of keeping guard over the strange +visitor, marched from the room with his big strides, his long arms and +powerful hands swinging at his sides, for Koku, or August, as Tom had +rechristened him, and as he often called him (for it was in the month +of August that he had located the giants) was a very powerful man. A +veritable giant, being extremely tall, and big in proportion. + +"Be sure. Don't let him in here, Koku!" called Tom, in an additional +warning, as his new servant left the main shop. + +"Sure not!" exclaimed Koku, very earnestly. + +"I don't know who he may be," mused Tom, as he began putting away the +parts to his new noiseless motor, so that the stranger could not see +them, and profit thereby. "It looks rather funny, not sending in his +name. It may be some one who thinks he can spring a trick on me, and +get some points about my inventions, or dad's. + +"It may even be somebody sent on by Andy Foger, or his father. I can't +be too careful. I'll just put everything away that isn't fully covered +by patents, and then if he wants to infringe on any of the machines I +can sue him." + +Tom looked about the shop, which was filled with strange machinery, +most of which had been made by himself, or his father, or under their +combined directions. There was a big biplane in one corner, a small +monoplane in another, parts of a submarine boat hanging up overhead, +and a small, but very powerful, electric auto waiting to have some +repairs made to it, for on his last trip in it Tom Swift had suffered a +slight accident. + +"There, I guess he can't see anything but what I want him to," mused +Tom, as he put away the last part of a new kind of motor, from which he +hoped great things. "Let's see, yes, it's out of sight now. I wish Ned +Newton, or Mr. Damon were here to be a witness in case he starts +anything. But then I have Koku, even if he doesn't speak much English +yet. If it comes to blows--well, I wouldn't want that giant to hit me," +finished Tom with a laugh, as he rang the bell to announce to his +servant that the visitor might be shown in. + +There was a sound outside the door that separated the business office +from the main shop, and Tom heard Koku exclaim: + +"Hold on! Wait! I go first. You wait!" + +"What's the matter with me going ahead?" demanded a quick, snappy +voice. "I'm in a hurry, and--" + +"You wait! I go first," was the giant's reply, and then came the sound +of a scuffle. + +"Ouch! Say! Hold on there, my man! Take your hand off my shoulder! +You're crushing me with those big fingers of yours!" + +This was evidently the visitor remonstrating with the giant. + +"Humph! I guess Koku must have grabbed him," said Tom softly. "I don't +like that sort of a visitor. What's his hurry getting in here?" and our +hero looked about, to see if he had a weapon at hand in case of an +attack. Often cranks had forced their way into his shop, with pet +inventions which they wanted him to perfect after they had themselves +failed. Tom saw a heavy iron bar at hand, and knew this would serve to +protect him. + +"You come after me!" exclaimed Koku, when the voice of the other had +ceased. "Do you stand under me?" + +"Oh, yes, I understand all right. I'll keep back. But I didn't mean +anything. I'm just in a hurry to see Tom Swift, that is all. I'm +always in a hurry in fact. I've lost nearly a thousand dollars this +morning, just by this delay. I want to see Mr. Swift at once; and have +a talk with him." + +"Another crank, I guess," mused Tom. "Well, I'm not going to waste much +time on him." + +A moment later the door opened, and into the shop stepped Koku, +followed by a short, stout, fussy little man, wearing a flaming red +tie, but otherwise his clothes were not remarkable. + +"Is this Mr. Tom Swift?" asked the stranger, as he advanced and held +out his hand to the young man. + +"Yes," answered Tom, looking carefully at the visitor. He did not seem +to be dangerous, he had no weapon, and, Tom was relieved to note that +he did not carry some absurd machine, or appliance, that he had made, +hoping to get help in completing it. The youth was trying to remember +if he had ever seen the stranger before, but came to the conclusion +that he had not. + +"Sorry to take up your time," went on the man, "but I just had to see +you. No one else will do. I've heard lots about you. That was a great +stunt you pulled off, getting those giants for the circus. This is one; +isn't he?" and he nodded toward Koku. + +"Yes," replied Tom, wondering if the little man was in such a hurry why +he did not get down to business. + +"I thought so," the caller went on, as he shook hands with Tom. "Once +you felt his grip you'd know he was a giant, even if you didn't see +him. Yes, that was a great stunt. And going to the caves of ice, too, +and that diamond-making affair. All of 'em great. I--" + +"How did you know about them?" interrupted Tom, wishing the man would +tell his errand. + +"Oh, you're better known than you have any idea of, Tom Swift. As soon +as I got this idea of mine I said right away, to some of the others in +my business, I says, says I, 'Tom Swift is the boy for us. I'll get him +to undertake this work, and then it will be done to the Queen's taste. +Tom's the boy who can do it,' I says, and they all agreed with me. So I +came here to-day, and I'm sorry I had to wait to see you, for I'm the +busiest man in the world, I believe, and, as I said, I've lost about a +thousand dollars waiting to have a talk with you. I--" + +"I am sorry," interrupted Tom, and he was not very cordial. "But I was +busy, and--" + +"All right! All right! Don't apologize!" broke in the man in rapid +tones, while both Tom, and his servant, Koku, looked in surprise at the +quick flow of language that came from him. "Don't apologize for the +world. It's my fault for bothering you. And I'll lose several thousand +dollars, willingly, if you'll undertake this job. I'll make money from +it as it is. It's worth ten thousand dollars to you, I should say, and +I'm willing to pay that." + +He looked about, as though for a seat, and Tom, apologizing for his +neglect in offering one, shoved a box forward. + +"We don't have chairs in here," said the young inventor with a smile. +"Now if you will tell me what you--" + +"I'm coming right to it. I'll get down to business in a moment," +interrupted the man as he sat down on the box, not without a grunt or +two, for he was very stout. "I'm going to introduce myself in just a +second, and then I'm going to tell you who I am. And I hope you'll take +up my offer, though it may seem a strange one." + +The man took out a pocketbook, and began searching through it, +evidently for some card or paper. + +"He's as odd as Mr. Damon is, when he's blessing everything," mused +Tom, as he watched the man. + +"I thought I had a card with me, but I haven't," the visitor went on. +"No matter. I'm James Period--promoter of all kinds of amusement +enterprises, from a merry-go-'round to a theatrical performance. I want +you to--" + +"No more going after giants," interrupted. Tom. "It's too dangerous, +and I haven't time--" + +"No, it has nothing to do with giants," spoke Mr. Period, as he glanced +up at Koku, who towered over him as he sat on the box near Tom. + +"Well?" returned Tom. + +"This is something entirely new. It has never been done before, though +if you should happen to be able to get a picture of giants don't miss +the opportunity." + +"Get a picture?" exclaimed Tom, wondering if, after all, his visitor +might not be a little insane. + +"Pictures, yes. Listen. I'm James Period. Jim, if you like it better, +or just plain 'Spotty.' That's what most of my friends call me. Get the +idea? A period is a spot. I'm a Period, therefor I'm a spot. But that +isn't the real reason. It's because I'm always Johnny on the Spot when +anything is happening. If it's a big boxing exhibition, I'm there. If +it's a coronation, I'm there, or some of my men are. If it's a Durbar +in India, you'll find Spotty on the spot. That's me. If there's going +to be a building blown up with dynamite--I'm on hand; or some of my +men. If there's a fire I get there as soon as the engines do--if it's +a big one. Always on the spot--that's me--James Period--Spotty for +short. Do you get me?" and he drew a long breath and looked at Tom, his +head on one side. + +"I understand that you are--" + +"In the moving picture business," interrupted Mr. Period, who never +seemed to let Tom finish a sentence. "I'm the biggest moving picture +man in the world--not in size, but in business. I make all the best +films. You've seen some of 'em I guess. Every one of 'em has my picture +on the end of the film. Shows up great. Advertising scheme--get me?" + +"Yes," replied Tom, as he recalled that he had seen some of the films +in question, and good ones they were too. "I see your point, but--" + +"You want to know why I come to you; don't you?" again interrupted +"Spotty," with a laugh. "Well, I'll tell you. I need you in my +business. I want you to invent a new kind of moving picture camera. A +small light one--worked by electricity--a regular wizard camera. I want +you to take it up in an airship with you, and then go to all sorts of +wild and strange countries, Africa, India--the jungles--get pictures of +wild animals at peace and fighting--herds of elephants--get scenes of +native wars--earthquakes--eruptions of volcanoes--all the newest and +most wonderful pictures you can. You'll have to make a new kind of +camera to do it. The kind we use won't do the trick. + +"Now do you get me? I'm going to give you ten thousand dollars, above +all your expenses, for some films such as I've been speaking of. I want +novelty. Got to have it in my business! You can do it. Now will you?" + +"I hardly think--" began Tom. + +"Don't answer me now," broke in Mr. Period. "Take four minutes to think +it over. Or even five. I guess I can wait that long. Take five +minutes. I'll wait while you make up your mind, but I know you'll do +it. Five minutes--no more," and hastily getting up off the box Mr. +Period began impatiently pacing up and down the shop. + + + + +CHAPTER II + +A MAN IN THE SNOW BANK + + +Tom Swift looked somewhat in surprise at his strange visitor. It had +all happened so suddenly, the offer had been such a strange one, the +man himself--Mr. Period--was so odd, that our hero hardly knew what to +think. The moving picture agent continued pacing up and down the room +now and then looking at his watch as if to note when the five minutes +had passed. + +"No," said Tom to himself. "I'm not going to take this offer. There's +too much work and risk attached to it. I want to stay at home and work +on my noiseless motor for the airship. After that--well--I don't know +what I'll do. I'll tell Mr. Period that he needn't wait the five +minutes. My mind is made up now!" + +But as Tom was about to make this announcement, and dismiss his caller, +he looked again at the visitor. There was something attractive about +him--about his hasty way of talking, about his manner of interrupting, +about the way he proposed matters. Tom was interested in spite of +himself. + +"Well," he reflected, "I may as well wait until the five minutes are +up, anyhow." + +Koku, the giant servant, glanced at his young master, as if to ask if +there was anything that he could do. Tom shook his head, and then the +big man strolled over to the other side of the machine shop, at the +same time keeping a careful eye on Mr. Period. + +While Tom is waiting for the time to expire, I will take a few minutes +to tell you something more about him. Those of my friends who have read +the previous books in this series need no introduction to my hero, but +those who may chance upon this as their first book in the Tom Swift +series, will like to be more formally introduced. + +Tom, whose mother had been dead some years, lived with his father, +Barton Swift, in the town of Shopton. Mr. Swift was an inventor of +prominence, and his son was fast following in his footsteps. A Mrs. +Baggert kept house for the Swifts, and another member of the household +was Eradicate Sampson, an aged colored man, who said he used to +"eradicate" the dirt. He had been with Tom on many trips, but of late +was getting old and feeble. Then there was Garret Jackson, an engineer +employed by the Swifts. These were all the immediate members of the +household. + +Tom had a chum, Ned Newton, who used to work in a bank, and there was a +girl, Mary Nestor, a daughter of Amos Nestor, in which young lady Tom +was much interested. + +Eradicate Sampson had a mule, Boomerang, of whom he thought almost as +much as he did of Tom. Eradicate was a faithful friend and servant, +but, of late, Koku, or August, the giant, had rather supplanted him. I +must not forget Mr. Wakefield Damon, of Waterfield, a village near +Shopton. Mr. Damon was an odd man, always blessing everything. He and +Tom were good friends, and had been on many trips together. + +The first book of the series was called "Tom Swift and His +Motor-Cycle," and related how Tom bought the cycle from Mr. Damon, +after the latter had met with an accident on it, and it was in this way +that our hero became acquainted with the odd man. + +Tom had many adventures on his motor-cycle, and, later on he secured a +motor-boat, in which he beat his enemy, Andy Foger, in a race. Next Tom +built an airship, and in this he went on a wonderful trip. Returning +from this he and his father heard about a treasure sunken under the +ocean. In his submarine boat Tom secured the valuables, and made a +large sum for himself. + +In his electric runabout, which was the swiftest car on the road, Tom +was able to save from ruin a bank in which his father was interested, +and, a short time after that, he went on a trip in an airship, with a +man who had invented a new kind. The airship was smashed, and fell to +Earthquake Island, where there were some refugees from a shipwreck, +among them being the parents of Mary Nestor. In the volume called "Tom +Swift and His Wireless Message," I told how he saved these people. + +When Tom went among the diamond makers he had more strange adventures, +on that trip discovering the secret of phantom mountain. He had bad +luck when he went to the caves of ice, for there his airship was +wrecked. + +When Tom made the trip in his sky racer he broke all records for an +aerial flight, incidentally saving his father's life. It was some time +after this when he invented an electric rifle, and went to elephant +land, to rescue some missionaries from the red pygmies. + +The eleventh volume of the series is called "Tom Swift in the Land of +Gold," and relates his adventures underground, while the next one tells +of a new machine he invented--an air-glider--which he used to save the +exiles of Siberia, incidentally, on that trip, finding a valuable +deposit of platinum. + +As I have said, it was on his trip to giant land that Tom got his big +servant. This book, the thirteenth of the series, is called "Tom Swift +in Captivity," for the giants captured him and his friends, and it was +only by means of their airship that they made their daring escape. + +Tom had been back from the strange land some time now. One giant he had +turned over to the circus representative for whom he had undertaken the +mission, and the other he retained to work around his shop, as +Eradicate was getting too old. It was now winter, and there had been +quite a fall of snow the day before Mr. Period, the odd moving picture +man, called on Tom. There were many big drifts outside the building. + +Tom had fitted up a well-equipped shop, where he and his father worked +on their inventions. Occasionally Ned Newton, or Mr. Damon, would come +over to help them, but of late Tom had been so busy on his noiseless +motor that he had not had time to even see his friends. + +"Well, I guess the five minutes have passed, and my mind is made up," +thought Tom, as he looked at his watch. "I might as well tell Mr. +Period that I can't undertake his commission. In the first place it +isn't going to be an easy matter to make an electric moving picture +camera. I'd have to spend a lot of time studying up the subject, and +then I might not be able to get it to work right. + +"And, again, I can't spare the time to go to all sorts of wild and +impossible places to get the pictures. It's all well enough to talk +about getting moving pictures of natives in battle, or wild beasts +fighting, or volcanoes in action, but it isn't so easy to do it. Then, +too, I'd have to make some changes in my airship if I went on that +trip. No, I can't go. I'll tell him he'll have to find some one else." + +Mr. Period pulled out his watch, opened it quickly, snapped it shut +again, and exclaimed: + +"Well, how about it, Tom Swift? When can you start! The sooner the +better for me! You'll want some money for expenses I think. I brought +my check book along, also a fountain pen. I'll give you a thousand +dollars now, for I know making an electric moving picture camera isn't +going to be cheap work. Then, when you get ready to start off in your +airship, you'll need more money. I'll be Johnny-on-the-spot all right, +and have it ready for you. Now when do you think you can start?" + +He sat down at a bench, and began filling out a check. + +"Hold on!" cried Tom, amused in spite of himself. "Don't sign that +check, Mr. Period. I'm not going." + +"Not going?" The man's face showed blank amazement. + +"No," went on Tom. "I can't spare the time. I'm sorry, but you'll have +to get some one else." + +"Some one else? But who can I get?" + +"Why, there are plenty who would be glad of the chance." + +"But they can't invent an electric moving picture camera, and, if they +could, they wouldn't know enough to take pictures with it. It's got to +be you or no one, Tom Swift. Look here, I'll make it fifteen thousand +dollars above expenses." + +"No, I'm sorry, but I can't go. My work here keeps me too busy. + +"Oh, pshaw! Now, look here, Tom Swift! Do you know who sent me to see +you?" + +"It was Mr. Nestor, who has a daughter named Mary, I believe. Mr. +Nestor is one of the directors in our company, and one day, when he +told me about you sending a wireless message from Earthquake Island, I +knew you would be the very man for me. So now you see you'll be doing +Mr. Nestor a favor, as well as me, if you go on this trip." + +Tom was somewhat surprised, yet he realized that Mr. Period was +speaking the truth. Mr. Nestor was identified with many new +enterprises. Yet the youth was firm. + +"I really can't go," said our hero. "I'd like to, but I can't. I'd +like to oblige Mr. Nestor, for--well, for more reasons than one," and +Tom blushed slightly. "But it is out of the question. I really can't +go." + +"But you must!" insisted the camera man. "I won't take 'no' for an +answer. You've got to go, Tom Swift, do you hear that? You've go to go?" + +Mr. Period was apparently very much excited. He strode over to Tom and +smote his hands together to emphasize what he said. Then he shook his +finger at Tom, to impress the importance of the matter on our hero. + +"You've just got to go!" he cried. "You're the only one who can help +me, Tom. Do go! I'll pay you well, and--oh, well, I know you don't need +the money, exactly, but--say, you've got to go!" + +In his earnestness Mr. Period laid his hand on Tom's arm. The next +instant something happened. + +With a few big strides Koku was beside the picture man. With great +quickness he grasped Mr. Period by the coat collar, lifted him off his +feet with one hand, and walked over to a window with him, easily +lifting him above the floor. + +With one fling the giant tossed the short, stout gentleman out into a +snow bank, while Tom looked on, too surprised to do anything, even if +he had had the chance. + +"There. You touch Tom Swift again, and I sit on you and keep you under +snow!" cried the giant, while Mr. Period kicked and squirmed about in +the drift, as Tom made a leap forward to help him out. + + + + +CHAPTER III + +TOM MAKES UP HIS MIND + + +"Great Scott!" yelled the picture man. "What in the world happened to +me? Did I get kicked by that mule Boomerang of Eradicate's, that I've +heard so much about? Or was it an earthquake, such as I want to get a +picture of? What happened?" + +He was still floundering about in the deep bank of snow that was just +outside the window. Fortunately the sash had been up, and Koku had +tossed Mr. Period through the open window. Otherwise, had there been +glass, the well-meaning, but unreasoning giant would probably have +thrown his victim through that, and he might have been badly cut. Tom +had the window open for fresh air, as it was rather close in the shop. + +"Why, Koku!" exclaimed the young inventor, as he leaned out of the +window, and extended his hand to the moving picture man to help him out +of the drift. "What do you mean by that? Have you gone crazy?" + +"No, but no one shall lay hands on my master!" declared the giant half +savagely. "I have vowed to always protect you from danger, in return +for what you did for me. I saw this man lay his hand on you. In another +moment he might have killed you, had not Koku been here. There is no +danger when I am by," and he stretched out his huge arms, and looked +ferocious. "I have turned over that man, your enemy!" he added. + +"Yes, you overturned me all right," admitted Mr. Period, as he got to +his feet, and crawled in through the window to the shop again. "I went +head over heels. I'm glad it was clean snow, and not a mud bank, Tom. +What in the world is the matter with him?" + +"I guess he thought you were going to harm me," said Tom in a low +voice, as the picture man came in the shop. "Koku is very devoted to +me, and sometimes he makes trouble," the youth went on. "But he means +it all for the best. I am very sorry for what happened," and Tom aided +Mr. Period in brushing the snow off his garments. "Koku, you must beg +the pardon of this gentleman," Tom directed. + +"What for?" the giant wanted to know. + +"For throwing him into the snow. It is not allowed to do such things in +this country, even though it is in Giant Land. Beg his pardon. + +"I shall not," said the giant calmly, for Tom had taught him to speak +fairly good English, though sometimes he got his words backwards. + +"The man was about to kill you, and I stopped him--I will stop him once +more, though if he does not like the snow, I can throw him somewhere +else." + +"No! No! You must not do it!" cried Tom. "He meant no harm. He is my +friend." + +"I am glad to hear you say that," exclaimed the picture man. "I have +hopes that you will do what I want." + +"He your friend?" asked Koku wonderingly. + +"Certainly; and you must beg his pardon for what you did," insisted Tom. + +"Very well. I am glad you did not hurt yourself," said the giant, and +with that "apology" he stalked out of the room, his feelings evidently +very much disturbed. + +"Ha! Ha!" laughed Mr. Period. "I guess he can't see any one but you, +Tom. But never mind. I know he didn't mean anything, and, as I'm none +the worse I'll forgive him. My necktie isn't spotted; is it?" + +"No, the snow didn't seem to do that any harm," replied the young +inventor, as he looked at the brilliant piece of red silk around Mr. +Period's collar. + +"I am very particular about my neckties," went on the picture man. "I +always wear one color. My friends never forget me then." + +Tom wondered how they could ever forget him, even though he wore no +tie, for his figure and face were such as to not easily be forgotten. + +"I'm glad it's not soiled," went on "Spotty" as he liked to be called. +"Now, Tom, you said you were my friend. Prove it by accepting my offer. +Build that wizard camera, and get me some moving pictures that will be +a sensation. Say you will!" + +He looked appealingly at Tom, and, remembering the rather rude and +unexpected treatment to which Koku had submitted the gentleman, Tom +felt his mind changing. Still he was not yet ready to give in. He +rather liked the idea the more he thought of it, but he felt that he +had other duties, and much to occupy him at home, especially if he +perfected his silent motor. + +"Will you go?" asked Mr. Period, picking up his fountain pen and check +book, that he had laid aside when he walked over to Tom, just before +the giant grasped him. "Say you will." + +The young inventor was silent a moment. He thought over the many +adventures he had gone through--in the caves of ice, in the city of +gold, escaping from the giants, and the red pygmies--He went over the +details of his trips through the air, of the dangers under the seas, of +those he had escaped from on Earthquake Island. Surely he was entitled +to a little rest at home. + +And yet there was a lure to it all. A certain fascination that was hard +to resist. Mr. Period must have seen what was going on in Tom's mind, +for he said: + +"I know you're going. I can see it. Why, it will be just the very thing +you need. You'll get more fame out of this thing than from any of your +other inventions. Come, say you'll do it. + +"I'll tell you what I'll do!" he went on eagerly. "After you make the +camera, and take a lot of films, showing strange and wonderful scenes, +I'll put at the end of each film, next to my picture, your name, and a +statement showing that you took the originals. How's that? Talk about +being advertised! Why you can't beat it! Millions of people will read +your name at the picture shows every night." + +"I am not looking for advertisements," said Tom, with a laugh. + +"Well, then, think of the benefit you will be to science," went on Mr. +Period quickly. "Think of the few people who have seen wild animals as +they are, of those who have ever seen an earthquake, or a volcano in +action. You can go to Japan, and get pictures of earthquakes. They have +them on tap there. And as for volcanoes, why the Andes mountains are +full of 'em. Think of how many people will be thankful to you for +showing them these wonderful scenes." + +"And think of what might happen if I should take a tumble into a crack +in the earth, or down a hot volcano, or fall into a jungle when there +was a fight on among the elephants," suggested Tom. "My airship might +take a notion to go down when I was doing the photographing," he added. + +"No. Nothing like that will happen to Tom Swift," was the confident +answer of the picture man. "I've read of your doings. You don't have +accidents that you can't get the better of. But come, I know you're +thinking of it, and I'm sure you'll go. Let me make you out this check, +sign a contract which I have all ready, and then get to work on the +camera." + +Tom was silent a moment. Then he said: + +"Well, I admit that there is something attractive about it. I hoped I +was going to stay home for a long time. But--" + +"Then you'll go!" cried Mr. Period eagerly. "Here's the money," and he +quickly filled out a check for Tom's first expenses, holding the slip +of paper toward the young inventor. + +"Wait a minute! Hold on!" cried Tom. "Not so fast if you please. I +haven't yet made up my mind." + +"But you will; won't you?" asked Mr. Period. + +"Well, I'll make up my mind, one way or the other," replied the young +man. "I won't say I'll go, but--" + +"I'll tell you what I'll do!" interrupted Mr. Period. "I'm a busy man, +and every second is worth money to me. But I'll wait for you to make up +your mind. I'll give you until to-morrow night. How's that? Fair, isn't +it?" + +"Yes--I think so. I am afraid--" + +"I'm not!" broke in the picture man. "I know you'll decide to go. Think +of the fun and excitement you'll have. Now I've taken up a lot of your +time, and I'm going to leave you alone. I'll be back tomorrow evening +for my answer. But I know you're going to get those moving pictures for +me. Is that giant of yours anywhere about?" he asked, as he looked +cautiously around before leaving the shop. "I don't want to fall into +his hands again." + +"I don't blame you," agreed Tom. "I never knew him to act that way +before. But I'll go to the gate with you, and Koku will behave himself. +I am sorry--" + +"Don't mention it!" broke in the picture man. "It was worth all I +suffered, if you go, and I know you will. Don't trouble yourself to +come out. I can find my way, and if your giant comes after me, I'll +call for help." + +He hurried out before Tom could follow, and, hearing the gate click a +little later, and no call for help coming, our hero concluded that his +visitor had gotten safely away. + +"Well, what am I going to do about it?" mused Tom, as he resumed work +on his silent motor. He had not been long engaged in readjusting some +of the valves, when he was again interrupted. + +This time it was his chum, Ned Newton, who entered, and, as Ned was +well known to the giant, nothing happened. + +"Well, what's up, Tom?" asked Ned. + +"Why, did you notice anything unusual?" asked Tom. + +"I saw Koku standing at the gate a while ago, looking down the road at +a short stout man, with a red tie. Your giant seemed rather excited +about something." + +"Oh, yes. I'll tell you about it," and Tom related the details of Mr. +Period's visit. + +"Are you going to take his offer?" asked Ned. + +"I've got until tomorrow to make up my mind. What would you do, Ned?" + +"Why, I'd take it in a minute, if I knew how to make an electric +camera. I suppose it has to be a very speedy one, to take the kind of +pictures he wants. Wait, hold on, I've just thought of a joke. It must +be a swift camera--catch on--you're Swift, and you make a swift camera; +see the point?" + +"I do," confessed Tom, with a laugh. "Well, Ned, I've been thinking it +over, but I can't decide right away. I will tomorrow night, though." + +"Then I'm coming over, and hear what it is. If you decide to go, maybe +you'll take me along." + +"I certainly will, and Mr. Damon, too." + +"How about the giant?" + +"Well, I guess there'll be room for him. But I haven't decided yet. +Hand me that wrench over there; will you," and then Tom and Ned began +talking about the new apparatus on which the young inventor was working. + +True to his promise Mr. Period called the next evening. He found Tom, +Ned and Mr. Swift in the library, talking over various matters. + +"Well, Tom, have you made up your mind?" asked the caller, when Mrs. +Baggert, the housekeeper, had shown him into the room. "I hope you +have, and I hope it is favorable to me." + +"Yes," said Tom slowly, "I've thought it all over, and I have decided +that I will--" + +At that moment there was a loud shouting outside the house, and the +sound of some one running rapidly through the garden that was just +outside the low library window--a garden now buried deep under snow. + +"What's that?" cried Ned, jumping to his feet. + +"That was Koku's voice," replied Tom, "and I guess he was chasing after +some one." + +"They'll need help if that giant gets hold of them," spoke Mr. Period +solemnly, while the noise outside increased in volume. + + + + +CHAPTER IV + +HELD FAST + + +"Here, Tom! Come back! Where are you going?" cried aged Mr. Swift, as +his son started toward the window. + +"I'm going to see what's up, and who it is that Koku is chasing," +replied the young inventor. + +As he spoke he opened the window, which went all the way down to the +floor. He stepped out on a small balcony, put his hand on the railing, +and was about to leap over. Back of him was his father, Mr. Period and +Ned. + +"Come back! You may get hurt!" urged Mr. Swift. He had aged rapidly in +the last few months, and had been obliged to give up most of his +inventive work. Naturally, he was very nervous about his son. + +"Don't worry, dad," replied the youth. "I'm not in much danger when +Koku is around." + +"That's right," agreed the moving picture man. "I'd sooner have that +giant look after me than half a dozen policemen." + +The noise had now grown fainter, but the sound of the pursuit could +still be heard. Koku was shouting in his hearty tones, and there was +the noise of breaking twigs as the chase wound in and out of the garden +shrubbery. + +Tom paused a moment, to let his eyes get somewhat used to the darkness. +There was a crescent moon, that gave a little light, and the snow on +the ground made it possible to notice objects fairly well. + +"See anything?" asked Ned, as he joined his chum on the balcony. + +"No, but I'm going to have a closer look. Here goes!" and Tom leaped to +the ground. + +"I'm with you," added Ned, as he followed. + +Then came another voice, shouting: + +"Dat's de way! Catch him! I'se comm', I is! Ef we gits him we'll tie +him up, an' let Boomerang walk on him!" + +"Here comes Eradicate," announced Tom, with a look back toward his +chum, and a moment later the aged colored man, who had evidently +started on the chase with Koku, but who had been left far behind, swung +totteringly around the corner of the house. + +"Did ye cotch him, Massa Tom?" asked Eradicate. "Did ye cotch de +raskil?" + +"Not yet, Rad. But Koku is after him. Who was he, and what did he do?" + +"Didn't do nuffin yit, Massa Tom, 'case as how he didn't git no +chance," replied the colored man, as he hurried along as rapidly as he +could beside the two youths. "Koku and I was too quick for him. Koku +an' me was a-sittin' in my shack, sort of talkin' togedder, when we +hears a racket neah de chicken house. I'se mighty partial t' de +chickens, an' I didn't want nobody t' 'sturb 'em. Koku was jes' de +same, an' when we hears dat noise, up we jumps, an' gits t' chasm.' He +runned dis way, an' us was arter him, but land lub yo', ole Eradicate +ain't so spry as he uster be an' Koku an' de chicken thief got ahead ob +me. Leastwise he ain't no chicken thief yit, 'case as how he didn't git +in de coop, but he meant t' be one, jes' de same." + +"Are you sure he was after the chickens?" asked Tom, with quick +suspicion in his mind, for, several times of late, unscrupulous persons +had tried to enter his shop, to get knowledge of his valuable +inventions before they were patented. + +"Course he were arter de chickens," replied Eradicate. "But he didn't +git none." + +"Come on, Ned!" cried Tom, breaking into a run. "I want to catch +whoever this was. Did you see him, Rad?" + +"Only jes' had a glimpse ob his back." + +"Well, you go back to the house and tell father and Mr. Period about +it. Ned and I will go on with Koku. I hope to get the fellow." + +"Why, Tom?" asked his chum. + +"Because I think he was after bigger game than chickens. My noiseless +motor, for the new airship, is nearly complete, and it may have been +some one trying to get that. I received an offer from a concern the +other day, who wished to purchase it, and, when I refused to sell, they +seemed rather put out." + +The two lads raced on, while Eradicate tottered back to the house, +where he found Mr. Swift and the picture man awaiting him. + +"I guess he got away," remarked Ned, after he and his chum had covered +nearly the length of the big garden. + +"I'm afraid so," agreed Tom. "I can't hear Koku any more. Still, I'm +not going to give up." + +Pantingly they ran on, and, a little later, they met the big man coming +back. + +"Did he get away?" asked Tom. + +"Yes, Mr. Tom, he scaped me all right." + +"Escaped you mean, Koku. Well, never mind. You did your best." + +"I would like to have hold of him," spoke the giant, as he stretched +out his big arms. + +"Did you know who he was?" inquired Ned. + +"No, I couldn't see his face," and he gave the same description of the +affair as had Eradicate. + +"Was it a full grown man, or some one about my size?" Tom wanted to +know. + +"A man," replied the giant. + +"Why do you ask that?" inquired Ned, as the big fellow went on to +resume his talk with Eradicate, and the two chums turned to go into the +house, after the fruitless chase. + +"Because, I thought it might be Andy Foger," was Tom's reply. "It +would be just like him, but if it was a man, it couldn't be him. Andy's +rather short." + +"Besides, he doesn't live here any more," said Ned. + +"I know, but I heard Sam Snedecker, who used to be pretty thick with +him, saying the other day that he expected a visit from Andy. I hope he +doesn't come back to Shopton, even for a day, for he always tries to +make trouble for me. Well, let's go in, and tell 'em all about our +chase after a chicken thief." + +"And so he got away?" remarked Mr. Swift, when Tom had completed his +story. + +"Yes," answered the young inventor, as he closed, and locked, the low +library window, for there was a chilly breeze blowing. "I think I will +have to rig up the burglar alarm on my shop again. I don't want to take +any chances." + +"Do you remember what we were talking about, when that interruption +came?" asked Mr. Period, after a pause. "You were saying, Tom, that you +had made up your mind, and that was as far as you got. What is your +answer to my offer?" + +"Well," spoke the lad slowly, and with a smile, "I think I will--" + +"Now don't say 'no'"; interrupted the picture man. "If you are going to +say 'no' take five minutes more, or even ten, and think it over +carefully. I want you--" + +"I wasn't going to say 'no,'" replied Tom. "I have decided to accept +your offer, and I'll get right at work on the electrical camera, and +see what I can do in the way of getting moving pictures for you." + +"You will? Say, that's great! That's fine! I knew you would accept, but +I was the least bit afraid you might not, without more urging." + +"Of course," began Tom, "it will take--" + +"Not another word. Just wait a minute," interrupted Mr. Period in his +breezy fashion. "Take this." + +He quickly filled out a check and handed it to Tom. + +"Now sign this contract, which merely says that you will do your best +to get pictures for me, and that you won't do it for any other concern, +and everything will be all right. Sign there," he added, pointing to a +dotted line, and thrusting a fountain pen into Tom's hand. The lad read +over the agreement, which was fair enough, and signed it, and Ned +affixed his name as a witness. + +"Now when can you go?" asked Mr. Period eagerly. + +"Not before Spring, I'm afraid," replied Torn. "I have first to make +the camera, and then my airship needs overhauling if I am to go on such +long trips as will be necessary in case I am to get views of wild +beasts in the jungle." + +"Well, make it as soon as you can," begged Mr. Period. "I can have the +films early next Fall then, and they will be in season for the Winter +runs at the theatres. Now, I'm the busiest man in the world, and I +believe I have lost five hundred dollars by coming here to-night. +Still, I don't regret it. I'm going back now, and I'll expect to hear +from you when you are ready to start. There's my address. Good-bye," +and thrusting a card into Tom's hand he hurried out of the room. + +"Won't you stop all night?" called Mr. Swift after him. + +"Sorry. I'd like to but can't. Got a big contract I must close in New +York to-morrow morning. I've ordered a special train to be at the +Shopton station in half an hour, and I must catch that. Good night!" +and Mr. Period hurried away. + +"Say, he's a hustler all right!" exclaimed Ned. + +"Yes, and I've got to hustle if I invent that camera," added Tom. "It's +got to be a specially fast one, and one that can take pictures from a +long distance. Electricity is the thing to use, I guess." + +"Then you are really going off on this trip. Tom?" asked his father, +rather wistfully. + +"I'm afraid I am," replied his son. "I thought I could stay at home for +a while, but it seems not." + +"I was in hopes you could give me a little time to help me on my +gyroscope invention," went on the aged man. "But I suppose it will keep +until you come back. It is nearly finished." + +"Yes, and I don't like stopping work on my noiseless motor," spoke Tom. +"But that will have to wait, too." + +"Do you know where you are going?" inquired Ned. + +"Well, I'll have to do considerable traveling I suppose to get all the +films he wants. But once I'm started I'll like it I guess. Of course +you're coming, Ned." + +"I hope so." + +"Of course you are!" insisted Tom, as if that settled it. "And I'm sure +Mr. Damon will go also. I haven't seen him in some time. I hope he +isn't ill." + +Tom started work on his Wizard Camera, as he called it, the next +day--that is he began drawing the designs, and planning how to +construct it. Ned helped him, and Koku was on hand in case he was +needed, but there was little he could do, as yet. Tom made an +inspection of his shop the morning after the chicken thief scare, but +nothing seemed to have been disturbed. + +A week passed, and Tom had all the plans drawn for the camera. He had +made several experiments with different forms of electricity for +operating the mechanism, and had decided on a small, but very powerful, +storage battery to move the film, and take the pictures. + +This storage battery, which would be inside the camera, would operate +it automatically. That is, the camera could be set up any place, in the +jungle, or on the desert, it could be left alone, and would take +pictures without any one being near it. Tom planned to have it operate +at a certain set time, and stop at a certain time, and he could set the +dials to make this time any moment of the day or night. For there was +to be a powerful light in connection with the camera, in order that +night views might be taken. Besides being automatic the camera could be +worked by hand. + +When it was not necessary to have the camera operate by the storage +battery, it could be connected to wires and worked by an ordinary set +of batteries, or by a dynamo. This was for use on the airship, where +there was a big electrical machine. I shall tell you more about the +camera as the story proceeds. + +One afternoon Tom was alone in the shop, for he had sent Koku on an +errand, and Eradicate was off in a distant part of the grounds, doing +some whitewashing, which was his specialty. Ned had not come over, and +Mr. Swift, having gone to see some friends, and Mrs. Baggert being at +the store, Tom, at this particular time, was rather isolated. + +He was conducting some delicate electrical experiments, and to keep the +measuring instruments steady he had closed all the windows and doors of +his shop. The young inventor was working at a bench in one corner, and +near him, standing upright, was a heavy shaft of iron, part of his +submarine, wrapped in burlap, and padded, to keep it from rusting. + +"Now," said Tom to himself, as he mixed two kinds of acid in a jar, to +produce a new sort of electrical current, "I will see if this is any +better than the first way in which I did it." + +He was careful about pouring out the powerful stuff, but, in spite of +this, he spilled a drop on his finger. It burned like fire, and, +instinctively, he jerked his hand back. + +The next instant there was a series of happenings. Tom's elbow came in +contact with another jar of acid, knocking it over, and spilling it +into the retort where he had been mixing the first two liquids. There +was a hissing sound, as the acids combined, and a thick, white vapor +arose, puffing into Tom's face, and making him gasp. + +He staggered back, brushed against the heavy iron shaft in the corner, +and it fell sideways against him, knocking him to the floor, and +dropping across his thighs. The padding on it saved him from broken +bones, but the shaft was so heavy, that after it was on him, Tom could +not move. He was held fast on the floor of his shop, unable to use his +legs, and prevented from getting up. + +For a moment Tom was stunned, and then he called: + +"Help! Help! Eradicate! Koku! Help!" + +He waited a moment, but there was only a silence. + +And then Tom smelled a strange odor--an odor of a choking gas that +seemed to smother him. + +"It's the acids!" he cried. "They're generating gas! And I'm held fast +here! The place is closed up tight, and I can't move! Help! Help!" + +But there was no one at hand to aid Tom, and every moment the fumes of +the gas became stronger. Desperately the youth struggled to rid himself +of the weight of the shaft, but he could not. And then he felt his +senses leaving him, for the powerful gas was making him unconscious. + + + + +CHAPTER V + +TOM GETS A WARNING + + +"Bless my shoe buttons!" exclaimed a voice, as a man came toward Tom's +shop, a little later. "Bless my very necktie! This is odd. I go to the +house, and find no one there. I come out here, and not a soul is about. +Tom Swift can't have gone off on another one of his wonderful trips, +without sending me word. I know he wouldn't do that. And yet, bless my +watch and chain, I can't find any one!" + +It was Mr. Damon who spoke, as my old readers have already guessed. He +peered into one of the shop windows, and saw something like a fog +filling the place. + +"That's strange," he went on. "I don't see Tom there, and yet it looks +as if an experiment was going on. I wonder--" + +Mr. Damon heard some one coming up behind him, and turned to see Koku +the giant, who was returning from the errand on which Tom had sent him. + +"Oh, Koku, it's you; is it?" the odd man asked. "Bless my cuff buttons! +Where is Tom?" + +"In shop I guess." + +"I don't see him. Still I had better look. There doesn't seem to be any +one about." + +Mr. Damon opened the shop door, and was met by such an outward rush of +choking gas that he staggered back. + +"Bless my--" he began but he had to stop, to cough and gasp. "There +must have been some sort of an accident," he cried, as he got his lungs +full of fresh air. "A bad accident! Tom could never work in that +atmosphere. Whew!" + +"Accident! What is matter?" cried Koku stepping to the doorway. He, +too choked and gasped, but his was such a strong and rugged nature, and +his lungs held such a supply of air, that it took more than mere gas to +knock him out. He peered in through the wreaths of the acid vapor, and +saw the body of his master, lying on the floor--held down by the heavy +iron. + +In another instant Koku had rushed in, holding his breath, for, now +that he was inside the place, the gas made even him feel weak. + +"Come back! Come back!" cried Mr. Damon. "You'll be smothered! Wait +until the gas escapes!" + +"Then Mr. Tom die!" cried the giant. "I get him--or I no come out." + +With one heave of his powerful right arm, Koku lifted the heavy shaft +from Tom's legs. Then, gathering the lad up in his left arm, as if he +were a baby, Koku staggered out into the fresh air, almost falling with +his burden, as he neared Mr. Damon, for the giant was, well-nigh +overcome. + +"Bless my soul!" cried the odd man. "Is he--is he--" + +He did not finish the sentence, but, as Koku laid Tom down on the +overcoat of Mr. Damon, which the latter quickly spread on the snow, the +eccentric man put his hand over the heart of the young inventor. + +"It beats!" he murmured. "He's alive, but very weak. We must get a +doctor at once. I'll do what I can. There's no time to spare. Bless +my--" + +But Mr. Damon concluded that there was no time for blessing anything, +and so he stopped short. + +"Carry him up to the house, Koku," he said. "I know where there are +some medicines, and I'll try to revive him while we're waiting for the +doctor Hurry!" + +Tom was laid on a lounge, and, just then, Mrs. Baggert came in. + +"Telephone for the doctor!" cried Mr. Damon to the housekeeper, who +kept her nerve, and did not get excited. "I'll give Tom some ammonia, +and other stimulants, and see if I can bring him around. Koku, get me +some cold water." + +The telephone was soon carrying the message to the doctor, who promised +to come at once. Koku, in spite of his size, was quick, and soon +brought the water, into which Mr. Damon put some strong medicine, that +he found in a closet. Tom's eyelids fluttered as the others forced some +liquid between his lips. + +"He's coming around!" cried the eccentric man. "I guess he'll be all +right, Koku." + +"Koku glad," said the giant simply, for he loved Tom with a deep +devotion. + +"Yes, Koku, if it hadn't been for you, though, I don't believe that he +would be alive. That was powerful gas, and a few seconds more in there +might have meant the end of Tom. I didn't see him lying on the floor, +until after you rushed in. Bless my thermometer! It is very strange." + +They gave Tom more medicine, rubbed his arms and legs, and held ammonia +under his nose. Slowly he opened his eyes, and in a faint voice asked: + +"Where--am--I?" + +"In your own house," replied Mr. Damon, cheerfully. "How do you feel?" + +"I'm--all--right--now," said Tom slowly. He, felt his strength coming +gradually back, and he remembered what had happened, though he did not +yet know how he had been saved. The doctor came in at this moment, with +a small medical battery, which completed the restorative work begun by +the others. Soon Tom could sit up, though he was still weak and rather +sick. + +"Who brought me out?" he asked, when he had briefly told how the +accident occurred. + +"Koku did," replied Mr. Damon. "I guess none of the rest of us could +have lifted the iron shaft from your legs." + +"It's queer how that fell," said Tom, with a puzzled look on his face. +"I didn't hit it hard enough to bring it down. Beside, I had it tied to +nails, driven into the wall, to prevent just such an accident as this. +I must see about it when I get well." + +"Not for a couple of days," exclaimed the doctor grimly. "You've got +to stay in bed a while yet. You had a narrow escape, Tom Swift." + +"Well, I'm glad I went to Giant Land," said the young inventor, with a +wan smile. "Otherwise I'd never have Koku," and he looked +affectionately at the big man, who laughed happily. In nature Koku was +much like a child. + +Mr. Swift came home a little later, and Ned Newton called, both being +very much surprised to hear of the accident. As for Eradicate, the poor +old colored man was much affected, and would have sat beside Tom's bed +all night, had they allowed him. + +Our hero recovered rapidly, once the fumes of the gas left his system, +and, two days later, he was able to go out to the shop again. At his +request everything had been left just as it was after he had been +brought out. Of course the fumes of the gas were soon dissipated, when +the door was opened, and the acids, after mingling and giving off the +vapor, had become neutralized, so that they were now harmless. + +"Now I'm going to see what made that shaft fall," said Tom to Ned, as +the two chums walked over to the bench where the young inventor had +been working. "The tap I gave it never ought to have brought it down." + +Together they examined the thin, but strong, cords that had been passed +around the shaft, having been fastened to two nails, driven into the +wall. + +"Look!" cried Tom, pointing to one of the cords. + +"What is it?" asked Ned. + +"The strands were partly cut through, so that only a little jar was +enough to break the remaining ones," went on Tom. "They've been cut +with a knife, too, and not frayed by vibration against the nail, as +might be the case. Ned, someone has been in my shop, meddling, and he +wanted this shaft to fall. This is a trick!" + +"Great Scott, Tom! You don't suppose any one wanted that shaft to fall +on you; do you?" + +"No, I don't believe that. Probably some one wanted to damage the +shaft, or he might have thought it would topple over against the bench, +and break some of my tools, instruments or machinery. I do delicate +experiments here, and it wouldn't take much of a blow to spoil them. +That's why those cords were cut." + +"Who did it? Do you think Andy Foger--" + +"No, I think it was the man Koku thought was a chicken thief, and whom +we chased the other night. I've got to be on my guard. I wonder if--" + +Tom was interrupted by the appearance of Koku, who came out of the shop +with a letter the postman had just left. + +"I don't know that writing very well, and yet it looks familiar," said +Tom, as he tore open the missive. "Hello, here's more trouble!" he +exclaimed as he hastily read it. + +"What's up now?" asked Ned. + +"This is from Mr. Period, the picture man," went on the young inventor. +"It's a warning." + +"A warning?" + +"Yes. He says: + + +"'Dear Tom. Be on your guard. I understand that a rival moving picture +concern is after you. They want to make you an offer, and get you away +from me. But I trust you. Don't have anything to do with these other +fellows. And, at the same time, don't give them a hint as to our plans. +Don't tell them anything about your new camera. There is a lot of +jealousy and rivalry in this business and they are all after me. +They'll probably come to see you, but be on your guard. They know that +I have been negotiating with you. Remember the alarm the other night.'" + + + + +CHAPTER VI + +TRYING THE CAMERA + + +"Well, what do you think of that?" cried Ned, as his chum finished. + +"It certainly isn't very pleasant," replied Tom. "I wonder why those +chaps can't let me alone? Why don't they invent cameras of their own? +Why are they always trying to get my secret inventions?" + +"I suppose they can't do things for themselves," answered Ned. "And +then, again, your machinery always works, Tom, and some that your +rivals make, doesn't." + +"Well, maybe that's it," admitted our hero, as he put away the letter. +"I will be on the watch, just as I have been before. I've got the +burglar alarm wires adjusted on the shop now, and when these rival +moving picture men come after me they'll get a short answer." + +For several days nothing happened, and Tom and Ned worked hard on the +Wizard Camera. It was nearing completion, and they were planning, soon, +to give it a test, when, one afternoon, two strangers, in a powerful +automobile, came to the Swift homestead. They inquired for Tom, and, +as he was out in the shop, with Ned and Koku, and as he often received +visitors out there, Mrs. Baggert sent out the two men, who left their +car in front of the house. + +As usual, Tom had the inner door to his shop locked, and when Koku +brought in a message that two strangers would like to see the young +inventor, Tom remarked: + +"I guess it's the rival picture men, Ned. We'll see what they have to +say." + +"Which of you is Tom Swift?" asked the elder of the two men, as Tom and +Ned entered the front office, for our hero knew better than to admit +the strangers to the shop. + +"I am," replied Tom. + +"Well, we're men of business," went on the speaker, "and there is no +use beating about the bush. I am Mr. Wilson Turbot, and this is my +partner, Mr. William Eckert. We are in the business of making moving +picture films, and I understand that you are associated with Mr. Period +in this line. 'Spotty' we call him." + +"Yes, I am doing some work for Mr. Period," admitted Tom, cautiously. + +"Have you done any yet?" + +"No, but I expect to." + +"What kind of a camera are you going to use?" asked Mr. Eckert eagerly. + +"I must decline to answer that," replied Tom, a bit stiffly. + +"Oh, that's all right," spoke Mr. Turbot, good naturedly. "Only +'Spotty' was bragging that you were making a new kind of film for him, +and we wondered if it was on the market." + +"We are always looking for improvements," added Mr. Eckert. + +"This camera isn't on the market," replied Tom, on his guard as to how +he answered. + +The two men whispered together for a moment, and then Mr. Turbot said: + +"Well, as I remarked, we're men of business, and there's no use beating +about the bush. We've heard of you, Tom Swift, and we know you can do +things. Usually, in this world, every man has his price, and we're +willing to pay big to get what we want. I don't know what offer Mr. +Period made to you, but I'll say this: We'll give you double what he +offered, for the exclusive rights to your camera, whenever it's on the +market, and we'll pay you a handsome salary to work for us." + +"I'm sorry, but I can't consider the offer," replied Tom firmly. "I +have given my word to Mr. Period. I have a contract with him, and I +cannot break it." + +"Offer him three times what Period did," said Mr. Eckert, in a hoarse +whisper that Tom heard. + +"It would be useless!" exclaimed our hero. "I wouldn't go back on my +word for a hundred times the price I am to get. I am not in this +business so much for the money, as I am for the pleasure of it." + +The men were silent a moment. There were ugly looks on their faces. +They looked sharply at Tom and Ned. Then Mr. Eckert said: + +"You'll regret this, Tom Swift. We are the biggest firm of moving +picture promoters in the world. We always get what we want." + +"You won't get my camera," replied Tom calmly. + +"I don't know about that!" exclaimed Mr. Turbot, as he made a hasty +stride toward Tom, who stood in front of the door leading to the +shop--the shop where his camera, almost ready for use, was on a bench. +"I guess if we--" + +"Koku!" suddenly called Tom. + +The giant stepped into the front office. He had been standing near the +door, inside the main shop. Mr. Turbot who had stretched forth his +hand, as though to seize Tom, and his companion, who had advanced +toward Ned, fairly jumped back in fright at the sight of the big man. + +"Koku," went on Tom, in even tones, "just show these gentlemen to the +front door--and lock it after them," he added significantly, as he +turned back into the shop, followed by Ned. + +"Yes, Mr. Tom," answered the giant, and then, with his big hand, and +brawny fist, he gently turned the two men toward the outer door. They +were gasping in surprise as they looked at the giant. + +"You'll be sorry for this, Tom Swift!" exclaimed Mr. Turbot. "You'll +regret not having taken our offer. This Period chat is only a small +dealer. We can do better by you. You'll regret--" + +"You'll regret coming here again," snapped Tom, as he closed the door +of his shop, leaving Koku to escort the baffled plotters to their auto. +Shortly afterward Tom and Ned heard the car puffing away. + +"Well, they came, just as Mr. Period said they would," spoke Tom, +slowly. + +"Yes, and they went away again!" exclaimed Ned with a laugh. "They had +their trip for nothing. Say, did you see how they stared at Koku?" + +"Yes, he's a helper worth having, in cases like these." + +Tom wrote a full account of what had happened and sent it to Mr. +Period. He received in reply a few words, thanking him for his loyalty, +and again warning him to be on his guard. + +In the meanwhile, work went on rapidly on the Wizard Camera. Briefly +described it was a small square box, with a lens projecting from it. +Inside, however, was complicated machinery, much too complicated for me +to describe. Tom Swift had put in his best work on this wonderful +machine. As I have said, it could be worked by a storage battery, by +ordinary electric current from a dynamo, or by hand. On top was a new +kind of electric light. This was small and compact, but it threw out +powerful beams. With the automatic arrangement set, and the light +turned on, the camera could be left at a certain place after dark, and +whatever went on in front of it would be reproduced on the moving roll +of film inside. + +In the morning the film could be taken out, developed, and the pictures +thrown on a screen in the usual way, familiar to all who have been in a +moving picture theatre. With the reproducing machines Tom had nothing +to do, as they were already perfected. His task had been to make the +new-style camera, and it was nearly completed. + +A number of rolls of films could be packed into the camera, and they +could be taken out, or inserted, in daylight. Of course after one film +had been made, showing any particular scene any number of films could +be made from this "master" one. Just as is done with the ordinary +moving picture camera. Tom had an attachment to show when one roll was +used, and when another needed inserting. + +For some time after the visit of the rival moving picture men, Tom was +on his guard. Both house and shop were fitted with burglar alarms, but +they did not ring. Eradicate and Koku were told to be on watch, but +there was nothing for them to do. + +"Well," remarked Tom to Ned, one afternoon, when they had both worked +hard, "I think it's about finished. Of course it needs polishing, and +there may be some adjusting to do, but my camera is now ready to take +pictures--at least I'm going to give it a test." + +"Have you the rolls of films?" + +"Yes, half a dozen of 'em And I'm going to try the hardest test first." + +"Which one is that?" + +"The night test. I'm going to place the camera out in the yard, facing +my shop. Then you and I, and some of the others, will go out, pass in +front of it, do various stunts, and, in the morning we'll develop the +films and see what we have." + +"Why, are you going to leave the camera out, all night?" + +"Sure. I'm going to give it the hardest kind of a test." + +"But are you and I going to stay up all night to do stunts in front of +it?" + +"No, indeed. I'm going to let it take what ever pictures happen to come +along to be taken after we get through making some special early ones. +You see my camera will be a sort of watch dog, only of course it won't +catch any one--that is, only their images will be caught on the film. + +"Oh, I see," exclaimed Ned, and then he helped Tom fix the machine for +the test. + + + + +CHAPTER VII + +WHAT THE CAMERA CAUGHT + + +"Well, is she working, Tom?" asked our hero's chum, a little later, +when they had set the camera up on a box in the garden. It pointed +toward the main shop door, and from the machine came a clicking sound. +The electric light was glowing. + +"Yes, it's all ready," replied Tom. "Now just act as if it wasn't +there. You walk toward the shop. Do anything you please. Pretend you +are coming in to see me on business. Act as if it was daytime. I'll +stand here and receive you. Later, I'll get dad out here, Koku and +Eradicate. I wish Mr. Period was here to see the test, but perhaps it's +just as well for me to make sure it works before he sees it." + +"All right, Tom, here I come." + +Ned advanced toward the shop. He tried to act as though the camera was +not taking pictures of him, at the rate of several a second, but he +forgot himself, and turned to look at the staring lens. Then Tom, with +a laugh, advanced to meet him, shaking hands with him. Then the lads +indulged in a little skylarking. They threw snowballs at each other, +taking care, however to keep within range of the lens. Of course when +Tom worked the camera himself, he could point it wherever he wanted to, +but it was now automatic. + +Then the lads went to the shop, and came out again. They did several +other things. Later Koku, and Eradicate did some "stunts," as Tom +called them. Mr. Swift, too, was snapped, but Mrs. Baggert refused to +come out. + +"Well, I guess that will do for now," said Tom, as he stopped the +mechanism. "I've just thought of something," he added. "If I leave the +light burning, it will scare away, before they got in front of the +lens, any one who might come along. I'll have to change that part of +it." + +"How can you fix it?" asked Ned. + +"Easily. I'll rig up some flash lights, just ordinary photographing +flashlights, you know. I'll time them to go off one after the other, +and connect them with an electric wire to the door of my shop." + +"Then your idea is--" began Ned. + +"That some rascals may try to enter my shop at night. Not this +particular night, but any night. If they come to-night we'll be ready +for them." + +"An' can't yo'-all take a picture ob de chicken coop?" asked Eradicate. +"Dat feller may come back t' rob mah hens." + +"With the lens pointing toward the shop," spoke Tom, "it will also take +snap shots of any one who tries to enter the coop. So, if the chicken +thief does come, Rad, we'll have a picture of him." + +Tom and Ned soon had the flashlights in place, and then they went to +bed, listening, at times, for the puff that would indicate that the +camera was working. But the night passed without incident, rather to +Tom's disappointment. However, in the morning, he developed the film of +the first pictures taken in the evening. Soon they were dry enough to +be used in the moving picture machine, which Tom had bought, and set up +in a dark room. + +"There we are!" he cried, as the first images were thrown on the white +screen. "As natural as life, Ned! My camera works all right!" + +"That's so. Look! There's where I hit you with a snowball!" cried his +chum, as the skylarking scene was reached. + +"Mah goodness!" cried Eradicate, when he saw himself walking about on +the screen, as large as life. "Dat shorely am wonderful." + +"It is spirits!" cried Koku, as he saw himself depicted. + +"I wish we had some of the other pictures to show," spoke Tom. "I mean +some unexpected midnight visitors." + +For several nights in succession the camera was set to "snap" any one +who might try to enter the shop. The flashlights were also in place. +Tom and Ned, the latter staying at his chum's house that week, were +beginning to think they would have their trouble for their pains. But +one night something happened. + +It was very dark, but the snow on the ground made a sort of glow that +relieved the blackness. The camera had been set as usual, and Tom and +Ned went to bed. + +It must have been about midnight when they were both awakened by +hearing the burglar alarm go off. At the same time there were several +flashes of fire from the garden. + +"There she goes!" cried Ned. + +"Yes, they're trying to get into the shed," added Tom, as a glance at +the burglar-alarm indicator on the wall of the room, showed that the +shop door was being tried. "Come on!" + +"I'm with you!" yelled Ned. + +They lost little time getting into their clothes, for they had laid +them out in readiness for putting on quickly. Down the stairs they +raced, but ere they reached the garden they heard footsteps running +along the wall toward the road. + +"Who's there?" cried Tom, but there was no answer. + +"Koku! Eradicate!" yelled Ned. + +"Yais, sah, I'se comm'!" answered the colored man, and the voice of the +giant was also heard. The flashlights had ceased popping before this, +and when the two lads and their helpers had reached the shop, there was +no one in sight. + +"The camera's there all right!" cried Tom in relief as he picked it up +from the box. "Now to see what it caught. Did you see anything of the +fellows, Koku, or Eradicate?" Both said they had not, but Eradicate, +after examining the chicken house door by the aid of a lighted match, +cried out: + +"Somebody's been tryin' t' git in heah, Massa Tom. I kin see where de +do's been scratched." + +"Well, maybe we'll have the picture for you to look at in the morning," +said Tom. + +The films were developed in the usual way in the morning, but the +pictures were so small that Tom could not make out the features or +forms of the men. And it was plain that at least three men had been +around the coop and shop. + +By the use of alcohol and an electric fan Tom soon had the films dry +enough to use. Then the moving picture machine was set up in a dark +room, and all gathered to see what would be thrown on the screen, +greatly enlarged. + +First came several brilliant flashes of light, and then, as the +entrance to the shop loomed into view, a dark figure seemed to walk +across the canvas. But it did not stop at the shop door. Instead it +went to the chicken coop, and, as the man reached that door, he began +working to get it open. Of course it had all taken place in a few +seconds, for, as soon as the flashlights went off, the intruders had +run away. But they had been there long enough to have their pictures +taken. + +The man at the chicken coop turned around as the lights flashed, and he +was looking squarely at the camera. Of course this made his face very +plain to the audience, as Tom turned the crank of the reproducing +machine. + +"Why, it's a colored man!" cried Ned in surprise. + +"Yes, I guess it's only an ordinary chicken thief, after all," remarked +Tom. + +There was a gasp from Eradicate. + +"Fo' de land sakes!" he cried. "De raskil! Ef dat ain't mah own second +cousin, what libs down by de ribber! An' to t'ink dat Samuel 'Rastus +Washington Jackson Johnson, mah own second cousin, should try t' rob +mah chicken coop! Oh, won't I gib it t' him!" + +"Are you sure, Rad?" asked Tom. + +"Suah? Sartin I'se suah, Massa Tom," was the answer as the startled +colored man on the screen stared at the small audience. "I'd know dat +face ob his'n anywhere." + +"Well, I guess he's the only one we caught last night," said Tom, as +the disappointed chicken thief ran away, and so out of focus. But the +next instant there came another series of flashlight explosions on the +screen, and there, almost as plainly as if our friends were looking at +them, they saw two men stealthily approaching the shop. They, too, as +the chicken thief had done, tried the door, and then, they also, +startled by the flashes, turned around. + +"Look!" cried Ned. + +"Great Scott!" exclaimed Tom. "Those are the two rivals of Mr. Period! +They are Mr. Turbot and Mr. Eckert!" + +"Same men I pushed out!" cried Koku, much excited. + +There was no doubt of it, and, as the images faded from the screen, +caused by the men running away, Tom and Ned realized that their rivals +had tried to put their threat into execution--the threat of making Tom +wish he had taken their offer. + +"I guess they came to take my camera,--but, instead the camera took +them," said the young inventor grimly. + + + + +CHAPTER VIII + +PHOTOS FROM THE AIRSHIP + + +"Well, Tom, how is it going?" asked a voice at the door of the shop +where the young inventor was working. He looked up quickly to behold +Mr. Nestor, father of Mary, in which young lady, as I have said, Tom +was much interested. "How is the moving picture camera coming on?" + +"Pretty good, Mr. Nestor. Come in. I guess Koku knew you all right. I +told him to let in any of my friends, but I have to keep him there on +guard." + +"So I understand. They nearly got in the other night, but I hear that +your camera caught them." + +"Yes, that proved that the machine is a success, even if we didn't +succeed in arresting the men." + +"Did you try?" + +"Yes, I sent copies of the film, showing Turbot and Eckert trying to +break into my shop, to Mr. Period, and he had enlarged photographs +made, and went to the police. They said it was rather flimsy evidence +on which to arrest anybody, and so they didn't act. However, we sent +copies of the pictures to Turbot and Eckert themselves, so they know +that we know they were here, and I guess they'll steer clear of me +after this." + +"I guess so, Tom," agreed Mr. Nestor with a laugh. "But what about the +chicken thief?" + +"Oh, Eradicate attended to his second cousin. He went to see him, +showed him a print from the film, and gave him to understand that he'd +be blown up with dynamite, or kicked by Boomerang, if he ever came +around here again, and so Samuel 'Rastus Washington Jackson Johnson +will be careful about visiting strange chicken coops, after this." + +"I believe you, Tom. But how is the camera coming on?" + +"Very well. I am making a few changes in it, and I expect to get my +biggest airship in readiness for the trip in about a week, and then +I'll try taking pictures from her. But I understand that you are +interested in Mr. Period's business, Mr. Nestor?" + +"Yes, I own some stock in the company, and, Tom, that's what I came +over to see you about. I need a vacation. Mary and her mother are going +away this Spring for a long visit, and I was wondering if you couldn't +take me with you on the trips you will make to get moving pictures for +our concern." + +"Of course I can, Mr. Nestor. I'll be glad to do it." + +"And there is another thing, Tom," went on Mr. Nestor, soberly. "I've +got a good deal of my fortune tied up in this moving picture affair. I +want to see you win out--I don't want our rivals to get ahead of us." + +"They shan't get ahead of us." + +"You see, Tom, it's this way. There is a bitter fight on between our +concern and that controlled by our rivals. Each is trying to get the +business of a large chain of moving picture theatres throughout the +United States. These theatre men are watching us both, and the +contracts for next season will go to the concern showing the best line +of films. If our rivals get ahead of us--well, it will just about ruin +our company,--and about ruin me too, I guess." + +"I shall do my very best," answered our hero. + +"Is Mr. Damon going along?" + +"Well, I have just written to ask him. I sent the letter yesterday. + +"Doesn't he know what you contemplate?" + +"Not exactly. You see when he came, that time I was overcome by the +fumes from the acids, everything was so upset that I didn't get a +chance to tell him. He's been away on business ever since, but returned +yesterday. I certainly hope that he goes with us. Ned Newton is +coming, and with you, and Koku and myself, it will be a nicer party." + +"Then you are going to take Koku?" + +"I think I will. I'm a little worried about what these rival moving +picture men might do, and if I get into trouble with them, my giant +helper would come in very useful, to pick one up and throw him over a +tree top, for instance." + +"Indeed, yes," agreed Mr. Nestor, with a laugh. "But I hope nothing +like that happens." + +"Nothing like that happens?" suddenly asked a voice. "Bless my +bookcase! but there always seems to be something going on here. What's +up now, Tom Swift?" + +"Nothing much, Mr. Damon," replied our hero, as he recognized his odd +friend. "We were just talking about moving pictures, Mr. Damon, and +about you. Did you get my letter?" + +"I did, Tom." + +"And are you going with us?" + +"Tom, did you ever know me to refuse an invitation from you? I guess +not! Of course I'm going. But, for mercy sakes, don't tell my wife! She +mustn't know about it until the last minute, and then she'll be so +surprised, when I tell her, that she won't think of objecting. Don't +let her know." + +Tom laughed, and promised, and then the three began talking of the +prospective trip. After a bit Ned Newton joined the party. + +Tom showed the two men how his new camera worked. He had made several +improvements on it since the first pictures were taken, and now it was +almost perfect. Mr. Period had been out to see it work, and said it was +just the apparatus needed. + +"You can get films with that machine," he said, "that will be better +than any pictures ever thrown on a screen. My fortune will be made, +Tom, and yours too, if you can only get pictures that are out of the +ordinary. There will be some hair-raising work, I expect, but you can +do it." + +"I'll try," spoke Tom. "I have--" + +"Hold on! I know what you are going to say," interrupted Mr. Period. +"You are going to say that you've gone through some strenuous times +already. I know you have, but you're going to have more soon. I think +I'll send you to India first." + +"To India!" exclaimed Tom, for Mr. Period had spoken of that as if it +was but a journey downtown. + +"Yes, India. I want a picture of an elephant drive, and if you can get +pictures of the big beasts in a stampede, so much the better. Then, +too, the Durbar is on now, and that will make a good film. How soon can +you start for Calcutta?" + +"Well, I've got to overhaul the airship," said Tom. "That will take +about three weeks. The camera is practically finished. I can leave in a +month, I guess." + +"Good. We'll have fine weather by that time. Are you going all the way +by your airship?" + +"No, I think it will be best to take that apart, ship it by steamer, +and go that way ourselves. I can put the airship together in India, and +then use it to get to any other part of Europe, Asia or Africa you +happen to want pictures from." + +"Good! Well, get to work now, and I'll see you again." + +In the days that followed, Tom and Ned were kept busy. There was +considerable to do on the airship, in the way of overhauling it. This +craft was Tom's largest, and was almost like the one in which he had +gone to the caves of ice, where it was wrecked. It had been, however, +much improved. + +The craft was a sort of combined dirigible balloon, and aeroplane, and +could be used as either. There was a machine on board for generating +gas, to use in the balloon part of it, and the ship, which was named +the Flyer, could carry several persons. + +"Bless my shoe laces!" cried Mr. Damon one day as he looked at Koku. +"If we take him along in the airship, will we be able to float, Tom?" + +"Oh, yes. The airship is plenty big enough. Besides, we are not going +to take along a very large party, and the camera is not heavy. Oh, +we'll be all right. I suppose you'll be on hand to-morrow, Mr. Damon?" + +"To-morrow? What for?" + +"We're going to take the picture machine up in the airship, and get +some photos from the sky. I expect to make some films from high in the +air, as well as some in the regular way, on the ground, and I want a +little practice. Come around about two o'clock, and we'll have a trial +flight." + +"All right. I will. But don't let my wife know I'm going up in an +airship again. She's read of so many accidents lately, that she's +nervous about having me take a trip." + +"Oh, I won't tell," promised Tom with a laugh, and he worked away +harder than ever, for there were many little details to perfect. The +weather was now getting warm, as there was an early spring, and it was +pleasant out of doors. + +The moving picture camera was gotten in readiness. Extra rolls of films +were on hand, and the big airship, in which they were to go up, for +their first test of taking pictures from high in the air, had been +wheeled out of the shed. + +"Are you going up very far?" asked Mr. Nestor of Tom, and the young +inventor thought that Mary's father was a trifle nervous. He had not +made many flights, and then only a little way above the ground, with +Tom. + +"Not very high," replied our hero. "You see I want to get pictures that +will be large, and if I'm too far away I can't do it." + +"Glad to hear it," replied Mr. Nestor, with a note of relief in his +voice. "Though I suppose to fall a thousand feet isn't much different +from falling a hundred when you consider the results." + +"Not much," admitted Tom frankly. + +"Bless my feather bed!" cried Mr. Damon. "Please don't talk of falling, +when we're going up in an airship. It makes me nervous." + +"We'll not fall!" declared Tom confidently. + +Mr. Period sent his regrets, that he could not be present at the trial, +stating in his letter that he was the busiest man in the world, and +that his time was worth about a dollar a minute just at present. He, +however, wished Tom all success. Tom's first effort was to sail along, +with the lens of the camera pointed straight toward the earth. He would +thus get, if successful, a picture that, when thrown on the screen, +would give the spectators the idea that they were looking down from a +moving balloon. For that reason Tom was not going to fly very high, as +he wanted to get all the details possible. + +"All aboard!" cried the young inventor, when he had seen to it that his +airship was in readiness for a flight. The camera had been put aboard, +and the lens pointed toward earth through a hole in the main cabin +floor. All who were expected to make the trip with Tom were on hand, +Koku taking the place of Eradicate this time, as the colored man was +too aged and feeble to go along. + +"All ready?" asked Ned, who stood in the steering tower, with his hand +on the starting lever, while Tom was at the camera to see that it +worked properly. + +"All ready," answered the young inventor, and, an instant later, they +shot upward, as the big propellers whizzed around. + +Tom at once started the camera to taking pictures rapidly, as he wanted +the future audience to get a perfect idea of how it looked to go up in +a balloon, leaving the earth behind. Then as the Flyer moved swiftly +over woods and fields, Tom moved the lens from side to side, to get +different views. + +"Say! This is great!" cried Mr. Nestor, to whom air-riding was much of +a novelty. "Are you getting good pictures, Tom?" + +"I can't tell until we develop them. But the machine seems to be +working all right. I'm going to sail back now, and get some views of +our own house from up above." + +They had sailed around the town of Shopton, to the neighboring +villages, over woods and fields. Now they were approaching Shopton +again. + +"Bless my heart!" suddenly exclaimed Mr. Damon, who was looking toward +the earth, as they neared Tom's house. + +"What is it?" asked our hero, glancing up from the picture machine, the +registering dial of which he was examining. + +"Look there! At your shop, Tom! There seems to be a lot of smoke coming +from it!" + +They were almost over Tom's shop now, and, as Mr. Damon had said, there +was considerable smoke rolling above it. + +"I guess Eradicate is burning up papers and trash," was Ned's opinion. + +Tom looked to where the camera pointed, he was right over his shop now, +and could see a dense vapor issuing from the door. + +"That isn't Eradicate!" cried the young inventor. "My shop is on fire! +I've got to make a quick drop, and save it! There are a lot of valuable +models, and machines in there! Send us down, Ned, as fast as she'll go!" + + + + +CHAPTER IX + +OFF FOR INDIA + + +"Bless my hose reel!" cried Mr. Damon, as the airship took a quick +lurch toward the earth. "Things are always happening to you, Tom Swift! +Your shop on fire! How did it happen?" + +"Look!" suddenly cried Ned, before Tom had a chance to answer. +"There's a man running away from the shop, Tom!" + +All saw him, and, as the airship rushed downward it could be seen that +he was a fellow dressed in ragged garments, a veritable tramp. + +"I guess that fire didn't happen," said Tom significantly. "It was +deliberately set. Oh, if we can only get there before it gains too much +headway!" + +"I like to catch that fellow!" exclaimed Koku, shaking his big fist at +the retreating tramp. "I fix him!" + +On rushed the airship, and the man who had probably started the fire, +glanced up at it. Tom suddenly turned the lens of his Wizard Camera +toward him. The mechanism inside, which had been stopped, started +clicking again, as the young inventor switched on the electric current. + +"What are you doing?" cried Ned, as he guided the airship toward the +shop, whence clouds of smoke were rolling. + +"Taking his picture," replied Tom. "It may come in useful for evidence." + +But he was not able to get many views of the fellow, for the latter +must have suspected what was going on. He quickly made a dive for the +bushes, and was soon lost to sight. Tom shut off his camera. + +"Bless my life preserver!" cried Mr. Damon. "There comes your father, +Tom, and Mrs. Baggert! They've got buckets! They're going to put out +the fire!" + +"Why don't they think to use the hose?" cried the young inventor, for +he had his shop equipped with many hose lines, and an electrically +driven pump. "The hose! The hose, dad!" shouted Tom, but it is doubtful +if his father or Mrs. Baggert heard him, for the engine of the airship +was making much noise. However, the two with the buckets looked up, and +waved their hands to those on the Flyer. + +"There's Eradicate!" yelled Ned. "He's got the hose all right!" The +colored man was beginning to unreel a line. + +"That's what it needs!" exclaimed Tom. "Now there's some chance to save +the shop." + +"We'll be there ourselves to take a hand in a few seconds!" cried Mr. +Damon, forgetting to bless anything. + +"The scoundrel who started this fire, and those back of him, ought to +be imprisoned for life!" declared Mr. Nestor. + +A moment later Ned had landed the airship within a short distance of +the shop. In an instant the occupants of the craft had leaped out, and +Tom, after a hasty glance to see that his valuable camera was safe, +dashed toward the building crying: + +"Never mind the pails, dad! Use the hose! there's a nozzle at the back +door. Go around there, and play the water on from that end." + +Eradicate, with his line of hose, had disappeared into the shop through +the front door, and the others pressed in after him, heedless of the +dense smoke. + +"Is it blazing much, Rad?" cried Tom. + +"Can't see no blaze at all, Massa Tom," replied the colored man. +"Dere's a heap of suffin in de middle ob de flo', an' dat's what's +raisin' all de rumpus." + +They all saw it a moment later, a smoldering heap of rags and paper on +the concrete floor of the shop. Eradicate turned his hose on it, there +was a hissing sound, a cloud of steam arose, and the fire was +practically out, though much smoke remained. + +"Jove! that was a lucky escape!" exclaimed Tom, as he looked around +when the vapor had partly cleared away. "No damage done at all, as far +as I can see. I wonder what the game was? Did you see anything of a +tramp around here?" he asked of his father. + +"No, Tom. I have been busy in the house. So has Mrs. Baggert. Suddenly +she called my attention to the smoke coming from the door, and we ran +out." + +"I seen it, too," added Eradicate. "I was doin' some whitewashin', an' +I run up as soon as I could." + +"We saw the tramp all right, but he got away," said Tom, and he told +how he had taken pictures of him. "I don't believe it would be much use +to look for him now, though." + +"Me look," spoke Koku significantly, as he hurried off in the direction +taken by the tramp. He came back later, not having found him. + +"What do you think of it, Tom?" asked Ned, when the excitement had +calmed down, and the pile of burned rags had been removed. It was found +that oil and chemicals had been put on them to cause a dense smoke. + +"I think it was the work of those fellows who are after my camera," +replied the young inventor. "They are evidently watching me, and when +they saw us all go off in the airship they thought probably that the +coast was clear." + +"But why should they start a fire?" + +"I don't know, but probably to create a lot of smoke, and excitement, +so that they could search, and not be detected. Maybe the fellow after +he found that the camera was gone, wanted to draw those in the house +out to the shop, so he could have a clear field to search in my room +for any drawings that would give him a clew as to how my machine works. +They certainly did not want to burn the shop, for that pile of rags +could have smoldered all day on the concrete floor, without doing any +harm. Robbery was the motive, I think." + +"The police ought to be notified," declared Mr. Nestor. "Develop those +pictures, Tom, and I'll take the matter up with the police. Maybe they +can identify the tramp from the photographs." + +But this proved impossible. Tom had secured several good films, not +only in the first views he took, giving the spectators the impression +that they were going up in an airship, but also those showing the shop +on fire, and the tramp running away, were very plain. + +The police made a search for the incendiary, but of course did not find +him. Mr. Period came to Shopton, and declared it was his belief that +his rivals, Turbot and Eckert, had had a hand in the matter. But it was +only a suspicion, though Tom himself believed the same thing. Still +nothing could be accomplished. + +"The thing to do, now that the camera works all right, is for you to +hit the trail for India at once," suggested the picture man. "They +won't follow you there. Get me some pictures of the Durbar, of +elephants being captured, of tiger fights, anything exciting." + +"I'll do my--" began Tom. + +"Wait, I'm not through," interrupted the excitable man. "Then go get +some volcanoes, earthquakes--anything that you think would be +interesting. I'll keep in touch with you, and cable occasionally. Get +all the films you can. When will you start?" + +"I can leave inside of two weeks," replied Tom. + +"Then do it, and, meanwhile, be on your guard." + +It was found that a few changes were needed on the camera, and some +adjustments to the airship. Another trial flight was made, and some +excellent pictures taken. Then Tom and his friends prepared to take the +airship apart, and pack it for shipment to Calcutta. It was to go on +the same steamer as themselves, and of course the Wizard Camera would +accompany Tom. He took along many rolls of films, enough, he thought, +for many views. He was also to send back to Mr. Period from time to +time, the exposed rolls of film, so they could be developed, and +printed in the United States, as Tom would not have very good +facilities for this on the airship, and to reproduce them there was +almost out of the question. Still he did fit up a small dark room +aboard the Flyer, where he could develop pictures if he wished. + +There was much to be done, but hard work accomplished it, and finally +the party was ready to start for India. Tom said good-bye to Mary +Nestor, of course, and her father accompanied our hero from the Nestor +house to the Swift homestead, where the start was to take place. + +Eradicate bade his master a tearful good-bye, and there was moisture in +the eyes of Mr. Swift, as he shook hands with his son. + +"Take care of yourself, Tom," he said. "Don't run too many risks. This +moving picture taking isn't as easy as it sounds. It's more than just +pointing your camera at things. Write if you get a chance, or send me a +message." + +Tom promised, and then bade farewell to Mrs. Baggert. All were +assembled, Koku, Mr. Damon, who blessed everything he saw, and some +things he did not, Ned, Mr. Nestor and Tom. The five were to go by +train to New York, there to go aboard the steamer. + +Their journey to the metropolis was uneventful. Mr. Period met them at +the steamship dock, after Tom had seen to it that the baggage, and the +parts of the airship were safely aboard. + +"I wish I were going along!" exclaimed the picture man. "It's going to +be a great trip. But I can't spare the time. I'm the busiest man in the +world. I lose about a thousand dollars just coming down to see you off, +but it's a good investment. I don't mind it. Now, Tom, good luck, and +don't forget, I want exciting views." + +"I'll try--" began our hero. + +"Wait, I know what you're going to say!" interrupted Mr. Period. +"You'll do it, of course. Well, I must be going. I will-- Great +Scott!" and Mr. Period interrupted himself. "He has the nerve to come +here!" + +"Who?" asked Tom. + +"Wilson Turbot, the rascal! He's trying to balk me at the last minute, +I believe. I'm going to see what he means!" and with this, the excited +Mr. Period rushed down the gangplank, toward the man at whom he had +pointed--one of the men who had tried to buy Tom's picture taking +camera. + +A moment later the steamer's whistle blew, the last belated passenger +rushed up the gangplank, it was drawn in, and the vessel began to move +away from the dock. Tom and his friends were on their way to India, and +the last glimpse they had of Mr. Period was as he was chasing along the +pier, after Mr. Turbot. + + + + +CHAPTER X + +UNEXPECTED EXCITEMENT + + +"Well, what do you know about that, Tom?" asked Ned, as they stood on +deck watching the chase. "Isn't he the greatest ever--Mr. Period, I +mean?" + +"He certainly is. I'd like to see what happens when he catches that +Turbot chap." + +"Bless my pocket handkerchief!" cried Mr. Damon. "I don't believe he +will. Mr. Period's legs aren't long enough for fast running." + +"Those scoundrels were after us, up to the last minute," spoke Mr. +Nestor, as the ship moved farther out from the dock. Tom and his +friends could no longer see the excitable picture man after his rival, +but there was a commotion in the crowd, and it seemed as if he had +caught the fellow. + +"Well, we're free of him now," spoke the young inventor, with a breath +of relief. "That is, unless they have set some one else on our trail," +and he looked carefully at the passengers near him, to detect, if +possible, any who might look like spies in the pay of the rival moving +picture concern, or any suspicious characters who might try to steal +the valuable camera, that was now safely locked in Tom's cabin. Our +hero, however, saw no one to worry about. He resolved to remain on his +guard. + +Friends and relatives were waving farewells to one another, and the +band was playing, as the big vessel drew out into the North, or Hudson, +river, and steamed for the open sea. + +Little of interest marked the first week of the voyage. All save Koku +had done much traveling before, and it was no novelty to them. The +giant, however, was amused and delighted with everything, even the most +commonplace things he saw. He was a source of wonder to all the other +passengers, and, in a way, he furnished much excitement. + +One day several of the sailors were on deck, shifting one of the heavy +anchors. They went about it in their usual way, all taking hold, and +"heaving" together with a "chanty," or song, to enliven their work. But +they did not make much progress, and one of the mates got rather +excited about it. + +"Here, shiver my timbers!" he cried. "Lively now! Lay about you, and +get that over to the side!" + +"Yo! Heave! Ho!" called the leader of the sailor gang. + +The anchor did not move, for it had either caught on some projection, +or the men were not using their strength. + +"Lively! Lively!" cried the mate. + +Suddenly Koku, who was in the crowd of passengers watching the work, +pushed his way to where the anchor lay. With a powerful, but not rough +action, he shoved the sailors aside. Then, stooping over, he took a +firm grip of the big piece of iron, planted his feet well apart on the +deck, and lifted the immense mass in his arms. There was a round of +applause from the group of passengers. + +"Where you want him?" Koku calmly asked of the mate, as he stood +holding the anchor. + +"Blast my marlin spikes!" cried the mate. "I never see the like of this +afore! Put her over there, shipmate. If I had you on a voyage or two +you'd be running the ship, instead of letting the screw push her along. +Put her over there," and he indicated where he wanted the anchor. + +Koku calmly walked along the deck, laid the anchor down as if it was an +ordinary weight, and passed over to where Tom stood looking on in +amused silence. There were murmurs of surprise from the passengers at +the giant's strength, and the sailors went forward much abashed. + +"Say, I'd give a good bit to have a bodyguard like that," exclaimed a +well-known millionaire passenger, who, it was reported, was in constant +fear of attacks, though they had never taken place. "I wonder if I +could get him." + +He spoke to Tom about it, but our hero would not listen to a +proposition to part with Koku. Besides, it is doubtful if the simple +giant would leave the lad who had brought him away from his South +American home. But, if Koku was wonderfully strong, and, seemingly +afraid of nothing, there were certain things he feared. + +One afternoon, for the amusement of the passengers, a net was put +overboard, sunk to a considerable depth, and hauled up with a number of +fishes in it. Some of the finny specimens were good for eating, and +others were freaks, strange and curious. + +Koku was in the throng that gathered on deck to look at the haul. +Suddenly a small fish, but very hideous to look at, leaped from the net +and flopped toward the giant. With a scream of fear Koku jumped to one +side, and ran down to his stateroom. He could not be induced to come on +deck until Tom assured him that the fishes had been disposed of. Thus +Koku was a mixture of giant and baby. But he was a general favorite on +the ship, and often gave exhibitions of his strength. + +Meanwhile Tom and his friends had been on the lookout for any one who +might be trailing them. But they saw no suspicious characters among the +passengers, and, gradually, they began to feel that they had left their +enemies behind. + +The weather was pleasant, and the voyage very enjoyable. Tom and the +others had little to do, and they were getting rather impatient for the +time to come when they could put the airship together, and sail off +over the jungle, to get moving pictures of the elephants. + +"Have you any films in the camera now?" asked Ned of his chum on day, +as they sat on deck together. + +"Yes, it's all ready for instant use. Even the storage battery is +charged. Why?" + +"Oh, I was just wondering. I was thinking we might somehow see +something we could take pictures of." + +"Not much out here," said Tom, as he looked across the watery expanse. +As he did so, he saw a haze of smoke dead ahead. "We'll pass a steamer +soon," he went on, "but that wouldn't make a good picture. It's too +common." + +As the two lads watched, the smoke became blacker, and the cloud it +formed grew much larger. + +"They're burning a lot of coal on that ship," remarked Ned. "Must be +trying for a speed record." + +A little later a sailor stationed himself in the crow's nest, and +focused a telescope on the smoke. An officer, on deck, seemed to be +waiting for a report from the man aloft. + +"That's rather odd," remarked Ned. "I never knew them to take so much +interest in a passing steamer before; and we've gone by several of +late." + +"That's right," agreed Tom. "I wonder--" + +At that moment the officer, looking up, called out: + +"Main top!" + +"Aye, aye, sir," answered the sailor with the glass. "She's a small +steamer, sir, and she's on fire!" + +"That's what I feared. Come down. I'll tell the captain. We must crowd +on all steam, and go to the rescue." + +"Did you hear that?" cried Ned to Tom, as the officer hurried to the +bridge, where the captain awaited him. "A steamer on fire at sea, Tom! +why don't you--" + +"I'm going to!" interrupted the young inventor, as he started for his +cabin on the run. "I'm going to get some moving pictures of the rescue! +That will be a film worth having." + +A moment later the Belchar, the vessel on which our friends had +embarked, increased her speed, while sudden excitement developed on +board. + +As the Belchar approached the burning steamer, which had evidently seen +her, and was making all speed toward her, the cloud of smoke became +more dense, and a dull flame could be seen reflected in the water. + +"She's going fast!" cried Mr. Nestor, as he joined Ned on deck. + +"Bless my insurance policy!" cried Mr. Damon. "What a strange +happening! Where's Tom Swift?" + +"Gone for his camera," answered his chum. "He's going to get some +pictures of the rescue." + +"All hands man the life boats!" cried an officer, and several sailors +sprang to the davits, ready to lower the boats, when the steamers +should be near enough together. + +Up on deck came Tom, with his wonderful camera. + +"Here you go, Ned!" he called. "Give me a hand. I'm going to start the +film now." + + + + +CHAPTER XI + +AN ELEPHANT STAMPEDE + + +"Lower away!" + +"Stand by the life boats!" + +"Let go! Pull hearty!" + +These and other commands marked the beginning of the rescue, as the +sailors manned the davit-falls, and put the boats into the water. The +burning steamer had now come to a stop, not far away from the Belchar, +which was also lay-to. There was scarcely any sea running, and no wind, +so that the work of rescuing was not difficult from an ordinary +standpoint. But there was grave danger, because the fire on the doomed +vessel was gaining rapidly. + +"That's oil burning," remarked an officer, and it seemed so, from the +dense clouds of smoke that rolled upward. + +"Is she working, Tom?" asked Ned, as he helped his chum to hold the +wonderful camera steady on the rail, so that a good view of the burning +steamer could be had. + +"Yes, the film is running. Say, I wonder if they'll get 'em all off?" + +"Oh, I think so. There aren't many passengers. I guess it's a tramp +freighter." + +They could look across the gap of water, and see the terrified +passengers and crew crowding to the rail, holding out their hands +appealingly to the brave sailors who were lustily and rapidly, pulling +toward them in life boats. + +At times a swirl of smoke would hide those on the doomed vessel from +the sight of the passengers on the Belchar, and on such occasions the +frightened screams of women could be heard. Once, as the smoke cleared +away, a woman, with a child in her arms, giving a backward glance +toward the flames that were now enveloping the stern of the vessel, +attempted to leap overboard. + +Many hands caught her, however, and all this was registered on the film +of Tom's camera, which was working automatically. As the two vessels +drifted along, Tom and Ned shifted the lens so as to keep the burning +steamer, and the approaching lifeboats, in focus. + +"There's the first rescue!" cried Ned, as the woman who had attempted +to leap overboard, was, with her child, carefully lowered into a boat. +"Did you get that, Tom?" + +"I certainly did. This will make a good picture. I think I'll send it +back to Mr. Period as soon as we reach port." + +"Maybe you could develop it on board here, and show it. I understand +there's a dark room, and the captain said one of his officers, who used +to be in the moving picture business, had a reproducing machine." + +"Then that's what I'll do!" cried Tom. "I'll have our captain charge +all the Belchar passengers admission, and we'll get up a fund for the +fire sufferers. They'll probably lose all their baggage." + +"That will be great!" exclaimed Ned. + +The rescue was now in full swing, and, in a short time all the +passengers and crew had been transferred to the life boats. Tom got a +good picture of the captain of the burning steamer being the last to +leave his vessel. Then the approaching life boats, with their loads of +sailors, and rescued ones, were caught on the films. + +"Are you all off?" cried the captain of the Belchar to the unfortunate +skipper of the doomed ship. + +"All off, yes, thank you. It is a mercy you were at hand. I have a +cargo of oil. You had better stand off, for she'll explode in a few +minutes." + +"I must get a picture of that!" declared Tom as the Belchar got under +way again. "That will cap the climax, and make a film that will be hard +to beat." + +A few moments later there was a tremendous explosion on the tramp +oiler. A column of wreckage and black smoke shot skyward, and Tom +secured a fine view of it. Then the wreck disappeared beneath the +waves, while the rescuing steamer sailed on, with those who had been +saved. They had brought off only the things they wore, for the fire had +occurred suddenly, and spread rapidly. Kind persons aboard the Belchar +looked after the unfortunates. Luckily there was not a large passenger +list on the tramp. And the crew was comparatively small, so it was not +hard work to make room for them, or take care of them, aboard the +Belchar. + +Tom developed his pictures, and produced them in one of the large +saloons, on a machine he borrowed from the man of whom Ned had spoken. +A dollar admission was charged, and the crowd was so large that Tom had +to give two performances. The films, showing the burning steamer and +the rescue, were excellent, and enough money was realized to aid, most +substantially, the unfortunate passengers and crew. + +A few days later a New York bound steamer was spoken, and on it Tom +sent the roll of developed films to Mr. Period, with a letter of +explanation. + +I will not give all the details of the rest of the voyage. Sufficient +to say that no accidents marred it, nor did Tom discover any suspicious +characters aboard. In due time our friends arrived at Calcutta, and +were met by an agent of Mr. Period, for he had men in all quarters of +the world, making films for him. + +This agent took Tom and his party to a hotel, and arranged to have the +airship parts sent to a large open shed, not far away, where it could +be put together. The wonderful scenes in the Indian city interested Tom +and his companions for a time, but they had observed so many strange +sights from time to time that they did not marvel greatly. Koku, +however, was much delighted. He was like a child. + +"What are you going to do first?" asked Ned, when they had recovered +from the fatigue of the ocean voyage and had settled themselves in the +hotel. + +"Put the airship together," replied our hero, "and then, after getting +some Durbar pictures, we'll head for the jungle. I want to get some +elephant pictures, showing the big beasts being captured." + +Mr. Period's agent was a great help to them in this. He secured native +helpers, who aided Tom in assembling the airship, and in a week or two +it was ready for a flight. The wonderful camera, too, was looked over, +and the picture agent said he had never seen a better one. + +"It can take the kind of pictures I never could," he said. "I get +Calcutta street scenes for Mr. Period, and occasionally I strike a good +one. But I wish I had your chance." + +Tom invited him to come along in the airship, but the agent, who only +looked after Mr. Period's interests as a side issue, could not leave +his work. + +The airship was ready for a flight, stores and provisions had been put +on board, there was enough gasoline for the motor, and gas for the +balloon bag, to carry the Flyer thousands of miles. The moving picture +camera had been tested after the sea voyage, and had been found to work +perfectly. Many rolls of films were taken along. Tom got some fine +views of the Durbar of India, and his airship created a great sensation. + +"Now I guess we're all ready for the elephants," said Tom one day as he +came back from an inspection of the airship as it rested in the big +shed. "We'll start to-morrow morning, and head for the jungle." + +Amid the cries from a throng of wondering and awed natives, and with +the farewells of Mr. Period's agent ringing in their ears, Tom and his +party made an early start. The Flyer rose like a bird, and shot across +the city, while on the house tops many people watched the strange +sight. Tom did not start his camera working, as Mr. Period's agent said +he had made many pictures of the Indian city, and even one taken from +an airship, would not be much of a novelty. + +Tom had made inquiries, and learned that by a day's travel in his +airship (though it would have been much longer ordinarily) he could +reach a jungle where elephants might be found. Of course there was +nothing certain about it, as the big animals roamed all over, being in +one district one day, and on the next, many miles off. + +Gradually the city was left behind, and some time later the airship was +sailing along over the jungle. After the start, when Ned and Tom, with +Mr. Damon helping occasionally, had gotten the machinery into proper +adjustment, the Flyer almost ran herself. Then Tom took his station +forward, with his camera in readiness, and a powerful spyglass at hand, +so that he might see the elephants from a distance. + +He had been told that, somewhere in the district for which he was +headed, an elephant drive was contemplated. He hoped to be on hand to +get pictures of it, and so sent his airship ahead at top speed. + +On and on they rode, being as much at ease in the air as they would +have been if traveling in a parlor car. They did not fly high, as it +was necessary to be fairly close to the earth to get good pictures. + +"Well, I guess we won't have any luck to-day," remarked Ned, as night +approached, and they had had no sight of the elephants. They had gone +over mile after mile of jungle, but had seen few wild beasts in +sufficient numbers to make it worth while to focus the camera on them. + +"We'll float along to-night," decided Tom, "and try again in the +morning." + +It was about ten o'clock the next day, when Ned, who had relieved Tom +on watch, uttered a cry: + +"What is it?" asked his chum, as he rushed forward. "Has anything +happened?" + +"Lots!" cried Ned. "Look!" He pointed down below. Tom saw, crashing +through the jungle, a big herd of elephants. Behind them, almost +surrounding them, in fact, was a crowd of natives in charge of white +hunters, who were driving the herd toward a stockade. + +"There's a chance for a grand picture!" exclaimed Tom, as he got the +camera ready. "Take charge of the ship, Ned. Keep her right over the +big animals, and I'll work the camera." + +Quickly he focused the lens on the strange scene below him. There was +a riot of trumpeting from the elephants. The beaters and hunters +shouted and yelled. Then they saw the airship and waved their hands to +Tom and his friends, but whether to welcome them, or warn them away, +could not be told. + +The elephants were slowly advancing toward the stockade. Tom was taking +picture after picture of them, when suddenly as the airship came lower, +in response to a signal to Ned from the young inventor, one of the huge +pachyderms looked up, and saw the strange sight. He might have taken it +for an immense bird. At any rate he gave a trumpet of alarm, and the +next minute, with screams of rage and fear, the elephants turned, and +charged in a wild stampede on those who were driving them toward the +stockade. + +"Look!" cried Ned. "Those hunters and natives will be killed!" + +"I'm afraid so!" shouted Tom, as he continued to focus his camera on +the wonderful sight. + + + + +CHAPTER XII + +THE LION FIGHT + + +Crashing through the jungle the huge beasts turned against those who +had, been driving them on toward the stockade. With wild shouts and +yells, the hunters and their native helpers tried to turn back the +elephant tide, but it was useless. The animals had been frightened by +the airship, and were following their leader, a big bull, that went +crashing against great trees, snapping them off as if they were pipe +stems. + +"Say, this is something like!" cried Ned, as he guided the airship over +the closely packed body of elephants, so Tom could get good pictures, +for the herd had divided, and a small number had gone off with one of +the other bulls. + +"Yes, I'll get some great pictures," agreed Tom, as he looked in +through a red covered opening in the camera, to see how much film was +left. + +The airship was now so low down that Tom, and the others, could easily +make out the faces of the hunters, and the native helpers. One of the +hunters, evidently the chief, shaking his fist at our hero, cried: + +"Can't you take your blooming ship out of the way, my man? It's scaring +the beasts, and we've been a couple of weeks on this drive. We don't +want to lose all our work. Take your bloody ship away!" + +"I guess he must be an Englishman," remarked Mr. Nestor, with a laugh. + +"Bless my dictionary, I should say so," agreed Mr. Damon. "Bloody, +blooming ship! The idea!" + +"Well, I suppose we have scared the beasts," said Tom. "We ought to get +out of the way. Put her up, Ned, and we'll come down some distance in +advance." + +"Why, aren't you going to take any more views of the elephants?" + +"Yes, but I've got enough of a view from above. Besides, I've got to +put in a fresh reel of film, and I might as well get out of their sight +to do it. Maybe that will quiet them, and the hunters can turn them +back toward the stockade. If they do, I have another plan." + +"What is it?" his chum wanted to know. + +"I'm going to make a landing, set up my camera at the entrance to the +stockade, and get a series of pictures as the animals come in. I think +that will be a novelty. + +"That certainly will," agreed Mr. Nestor. "I am sure Mr. Period will +appreciate that. But won't it be dangerous, Tom?" + +"I suppose so, but I'm getting used to danger," replied our hero, with +a laugh. + +Ned put the ship high into the air, as Tom shut off the power from the +camera. Then the Flyer was sent well on in advance of the stampede of +elephants, so they could no longer see it, or hear the throb of the +powerful engines. Tom hoped that this would serve to quiet the immense +creatures. + +As the travelers flew on, over the jungle, they could still hear the +racket made by the hunters and beaters, and the shrill trumpeting of +the elephants, as they crashed through the forest. + +Tom at once began changing the film in the camera, and Ned altered the +course of the airship, to send it back toward the stockade, which they +had passed just before coming upon the herd of elephants. + +I presume most of my readers know what an elephant drive is like. A +stockade, consisting of heavy trees, is made in the jungle. It is like +the old fashioned forts our forefathers used to make, for a defense +against the Indians. There is a broad entrance to it, and, when all is +in readiness, the beaters go out into the jungle, with the white +hunters, to round up the elephants. A number of tame pachyderms are +taken along to persuade the wild ones to follow. + +Gradually the elephants are gathered together in a large body, and +gently driven toward the stockade. The tame elephants go in first, and +the others follow. Then the entrance is closed, and all that remains to +be done is to tame the wild beasts, a not very easy task. + +"Are you all ready?" asked Ned, after a bit, as he saw Tom come forward +with the camera. + +"Yes, I'm loaded for some more excitement. You can put me right over +the stockade now, Ned, and when we see the herd coming back I'll go +down, and take some views from the ground." + +"I think they've got 'em turned," said Mr. Damon. "It sounds as if they +were coming back this way." + +A moment later they had a glimpse of the herd down below. It was true +that the hunters had succeeded in stopping the stampede, and once more +the huge beasts were going in the right direction. + +"There's a good place to make a landing," suggested Tom, as he saw a +comparatively clear place in the jungle. "It's near the stockade, and, +in case of danger, I can make a quick get-away." + +"What kind of danger are you looking for?" asked Ned, as he shifted the +deflecting rudder. + +"Oh, one of the beasts might take a notion to chase me." + +The landing was made, and Tom, taking Ned and Mr. Nestor with him, and +leaving the others to manage the airship in case a quick flight would +be necessary, made his way along a jungle trail to the entrance to the +stockade. He carried his camera with him, for it was not heavy. + +On came the elephants, frightened by the shouts and cries of the +beaters, and the firing of guns. The young inventor took his place near +the stockade entrance, and, as the elephants advanced through the +forest, tearing up trees and bushes, Tom got some good pictures of them. + +Suddenly the advance of the brutes was checked, and the foremost of +them raised their trunks, trumpeted in anger, and were about to turn +back again. + +"Get away from that bloomin' gate!" shouted a hunter to Tom. "You're +scaring them as bad as your airship did." + +"Yes, they won't go in with you there!" added another man. + +Tom slipped around the corner of the stockade, out of sight, and from +that vantage point he took scores of pictures, as the tame animals led +the wild ones into the fenced enclosure. Then began another wild scene +as the gate was closed. + +The terrified animals rushed about, trying in vain to find a way of +escape. Tom managed to climb up on top of the logs, and got some +splendid pictures. But this was nearly his undoing. For, just as the +last elephant rushed in, a big bull charged against the stockade, and +jarred Tom so that he was on the point of falling. His one thought was +about his camera, and he looked to see if he could drop it on the soft +grass, so it would not be damaged. + +He saw Koku standing below him, the giant having slipped out of the +airship, to see the beasts at closer range. + +"Catch this, Koku!" cried Tom, tossing the big man his precious camera, +and the giant caught it safely. But Tom's troubles were not over. A +moment later, as the huge elephant again rammed the fence, Tom fell +off, but fortunately outside. Then the large beast, seeing a small +opening in the gate that was not yet entirely closed, made for it. A +moment later he was rushing straight at Tom, who was somewhat stunned +by his fall, though it was not a severe one. + +"Look out!" yelled Ned. + +"Take a tree, Tom!" cried Mr. Nestor. + +The elephant paid no attention to any one but Tom, whom he seemed to +think had caused all his trouble. The young inventor dashed to one +side, and then started to run toward the airship, for which Ned and Mr. +Nestor were already making. The elephant hunters at last succeeded in +closing the gate, blocking the chance of any more animals to escape. + +"Run, Tom! Run!" yelled Ned, and Tom ran as he had never run before. +The elephant was close after him though, crashing through the jungle. +Tom could see the airship just ahead of him. + +Suddenly he felt something grasp him from behind. He thought surely it +was the elephant's trunk, but a quick glance over his shoulder showed +him the friendly face of Koku, the giant. + +"Me run for you," said Koku, as he caught Tom up under one arm, and, +carrying the camera under the other, he set off at top speed. Now Koku +could run well at times, and this time he did. He easily outdistanced +the elephant, and, a little later, he set Tom down on the deck of the +airship, with the camera beside him. Then Ned and Mr. Nestor came up +panting, having run to one side. + +"Quick!" cried Tom. "We must get away before the elephant charges the +Flyer." + +"He has stopped," shouted Mr. Nestor, and it was indeed so. The big +beast, seeing again the strange craft that had frightened him before, +stood still for a moment, and then plunged off into the jungle, +trumpeting with rage. + +"Safe!" gasped Tom, as he looked at his camera to see if it had been +damaged. It seemed all right. + +"Bless my latch key!" cried Mr. Damon. "This moving picture business +isn't the most peaceful one in the world." + +"No, it has plenty of perils," agreed Mr. Nestor. + +"Come on, let's get out of here while we have the chance," suggested +Tom. "There may be another herd upon us before we know it." + +The airship was soon ascending, and Tom and his companions could look +down and see the tame elephants in the stockade trying to calm the wild +ones. Then the scene faded from sight. + +"Well, if these pictures come out all right I'll have some fine ones," +exclaimed Tom as he carried his camera to the room where he kept the +films. "I fancy an elephant drive and stampede are novelties in this +line." + +"Indeed they are," agreed Mr. Nestor. "Mr. Period made no mistake when +he picked you out, Tom, for this work. What are you going to try for +next?" + +"I'd like to get some lion and tiger pictures," said the young +inventor. "I understand this is a good district for that. As soon as +those elephants get quieted down, I'm going back to the stockade and +have a talk with the hunters." + +This he did, circling about in the airship until nearly evening. When +they again approached the stockade all was quiet, and they came to +earth. A native showed them where the white hunters had their +headquarters, in some bungalows, and Tom and his party were made +welcome. They apologized for frightening the big beasts, and the +hunters accepted their excuses. + +"As long as we got 'em, it's all right," said the head man, "though for +awhile, I didn't like your bloomin' machine." Tom entertained the +hunters aboard his craft, at which they marvelled much, and they gave +him all the information they had about the lions and tigers in the +vicinity. + +"You won't find lions and tigers in herds, like elephants though," said +the head hunter. "And you may have to photograph 'em at night, as then +is when they come out to hunt, and drink." + +"Well, I can take pictures at night," said Tom, as he showed his camera +apparatus. + +The next day, in the airship, they left for another district, where, so +the natives reported, several lions had been seen of late. They had +done much damage, too, carrying off the native cattle, and killing +several Indians. + +For nearly a week Tom circled about in his airship, keeping a sharp +lookout down below for a sign of lions that he might photograph them. +But he saw none, though he did get some pictures of a herd of Indian +deer that were well worth his trouble. + +"I think I'll have to try for a night photograph," decided Tom at last. +"I'll locate a spring where wild beasts are in the habit of coming, set +the camera with the light going, and leave it there." + +"But will the lions come up if they see the light?" asked Ned. + +"I think so," replied his chum. "I'll take a chance, anyhow. If that +doesn't work then I'll hide near by, and see what happens." + +"Bless my cartridge belt!" cried Mr. Damon. "You don't mean that; do +you Tom?" + +"Of course. Come to think of it, I'm not going to leave my camera out +there for a lion to jump on, and break. As soon as I get a series of +pictures I'll bring it back to the ship, I think." + +By inquiry among the natives they learned the location of a spring +where, it was said, lions were in the habit of coming nightly to drink. + +"That's the place I want!" cried Tom. + +Accordingly the airship was headed for it, and one evening it came +gently to earth in a little clearing on the edge of the jungle, while +Koku, as was his habit, got supper. + +After the meal Tom and Ned set the camera, and then, picking out a good +spot nearby, they hid themselves to wait for what might happen. The +lens was focused on the spring, and the powerful electric light set +going. It glowed brightly, and our hero thought it might have the +effect of keeping the beasts away, but Tom figured that, after they had +looked at it for a while, and seen that it did not harm them, they +would lose their suspicions, and come within range of his machine. + +"The camera will do the rest," he said. In order not to waste films +uselessly Tom arranged a long electric wire, running it from the camera +to where he and Ned were hid. By pressing a button he could start or +stop the camera any time he wished, and, as he had a view of the spring +from his vantage point, he could have the apparatus begin taking +pictures as soon as there was some animal within focus. + +"Well, I'm getting stiff," said Ned, after an hour or so had passed in +silent darkness, the only light being the distant one on the camera. + +"So am I," said Tom. + +"I don't believe anything will come to-night," went on his chum. "Let's +go back and--" + +He stopped suddenly, for there was a crackling in the underbrush, and +the next moment the jungle vibrated to the mighty roar of a lion. + +"He's coming!" hoarsely whispered Tom. + +Both lads glanced through the trees toward the camera, and, in the +light, they saw a magnificent, tawny beast standing on the edge of the +spring. Once more he roared, as if in defiance, and then, as if +deciding that the light was not harmful, he stooped to lap up the water. + +Hardly had he done so than there was another roar, and a moment later a +second lion leaped from the dense jungle into the clearing about the +spring. The two monarchs of the forest stood there in the glare of the +light, and Tom excitedly pressed the button that started the shutter to +working, and the film to moving back of the lens. + +There was a slight clicking sound in the camera, and the lions turned +startedly. Then both growled again, and the next instant they sprang at +each other, roaring mightily. + +"A fight!" cried Tom. "A lion fight, and right in front of my camera! +It couldn't be better. This is great! This will be a film." + +"Quiet!" begged Ned. "They'll hear you, and come for us. I don't want +to be chewed up!" + +"No danger of them hearing me!" cried Tom, and he had to shout to be +heard above the roaring of the two tawny beasts, as they bit and clawed +each other, while the camera took picture after picture of them. + + + + +CHAPTER XIII + +A SHOT IN TIME + + +"Tom, did you ever see anything like it in your life?" + +"I never did, Ned! It's wonderful! fearful! And to think that we are +here watching it, and that thousands of people will see the same thing +thrown on a screen. Oh, look at the big one. The small lion has him +down!" + +The two lads, much thrilled, crouched down behind a screen of bushes, +watching the midnight fight between the lions. On the airship, not far +distant, there was no little alarm, for those left behind heard the +terrific roars, and feared Tom and Ned might be in some danger. But the +lions were too much occupied with their battle, to pay any attention to +anything else, and no other wild beasts were likely to come to the +spring while the two "kings" were at each other. + +It was a magnificent, but terrible battle. The big cats bit and tore at +each other, using their terrific claws and their powerful paws, one +stroke of which is said to be sufficient to break a bullock's back. +Sometimes they would roll out of the focus of the camera, and, at such +times, Tom wished he was at the machine to swing the lens around, but +he knew it would be dangerous to move. Then the beasts would roll back +into the rays of light again, and more pictures of them would be taken. + +"I guess the small one is going to win!" said Tom, after the two lions +had fought for ten minutes, and the bigger one had been down several +times. + +"He's younger," agreed Ned, "and I guess the other one has had his +share of fights. Maybe this is a battle to see which one is to rule +this part of the jungle." + +"I guess so," spoke the young inventor, as he pressed the button to +stop the camera, as the lions rolled out of focus. "Oh, look!" he cried +a moment later, as the animals again rolled into view. Tom started the +camera once more. "This is near the end," he said. + +The small lion had, by a sudden spring, landed on the back of his +rival. There was a terrific struggle, and the older beast went down, +the younger one clawing him terribly. Then, so quickly did it happen +that the boys could not take in all the details, the older lion rolled +over and over, and rid himself of his antagonist. Quickly he got to his +feet, while the smaller lion did the same. They stood for a moment +eyeing each other, their tails twitching, the hair on their backs +bristling, and all the while they uttered frightful roars. + +An instant later the larger beast sprang toward his rival. One terrible +paw was upraised. The small lion tried to dodge, but was not quick +enough. Down came the paw with terrific force, and the boys could hear +the back bone snap. Then, clawing his antagonist terribly, as he lay +disabled, the older lion, with a roar of triumph, lapped up water, and +sprang off through the jungle, leaving his dying rival beside the +spring. + +"That's the end," cried Tom, as the small lion died, and the young +inventor pressed the button stopping his camera. There was a rustle in +the leaves back of Tom and Ned, and they sprang up in alarm, but they +need not have feared, for it was only Koku, the giant, who, with a +portable electrical torch, had come to see how they had fared. + +"Mr. Tom all right?" asked the big man, anxiously. + +"Yes, and I got some fine pictures. You can carry the camera back now, +Koku. I think that roll of film is pretty well filled." + +The three of them looked at the body of the dead lion, before they went +back to the airship. I have called him "small," but, in reality, the +beast was small only in comparison with his rival, who was a tremendous +lion in size. I might add that of all the pictures Tom took, few were +more highly prized than that reel of the lion fight. + +"Bless my bear cage!" cried Mr. Damon, as Tom came back, "you certainly +have nerve, my boy." + +"You have to, in this business," agreed Tom with a laugh. "I never did +this before, and I don't know that I would want it for a steady +position, but it's exciting for a change." + +They remained near the "lion spring" as they called it all night, and +in the morning, after Koku had served a tasty breakfast, Tom headed the +airship for a district where it was said there were many antelope, and +buffaloes, also zebus. + +"I don't want to get all exciting pictures," our hero said to Mr. +Nestor. "I think that films showing wild animals at play, or quietly +feeding, will be good." + +"I'm sure they will," said Mary's father. "Get some peaceful scenes, by +all means." + +They sailed on for several days, taking a number of pictures from the +airship, when they passed over a part of the country where the view was +magnificent, and finally, stopping at a good sized village they learned +that, about ten miles out, was a district where antelope abounded. + +"We'll go there," decided Tom, "and I'll take the camera around with me +on a sort of walking trip. In that way I'll get a variety of views, and +I can make a good film." + +This plan was followed out. The airship came to rest in a beautiful +green valley, and Ned and Tom, with Mr. Damon, who begged to be taken +along, started off. + +"You can follow me in about half an hour, Koku," said Tom, "and carry +the camera back. I guess you can easily pick up our trail." + +"Oh, sure," replied the giant. Indeed, to one who had lived in the +forest, as he had all his life, before Tom found him, it was no +difficult matter to follow a trail, such as the three friends would +leave. + +Tom found signs that showed him where the antelopes were in the habit +of passing, and, with Ned and Mr. Damon, stationed himself in a +secluded spot. + +He had not long to wait before a herd of deer came past. Tom took many +pictures of the graceful creatures, for it was daylight now, and he +needed no light. Consequently there was nothing to alarm the herd. + +After having made several films of the antelope, Tom and his two +companions went farther on. They were fortunate enough to find a place +that seemed to be a regular playground of the deer. There was a large +herd there, and, getting as near as he dared, Tom focused his camera, +and began taking pictures. + +"It's as good as a play," whispered Mr. Damon, as he and Ned watched +the creatures, for they had to speak quietly. The camera made scarcely +any noise. "I'm glad I came on this trip." + +"So am I," said Ned. "Look, Tom, see the mother deer all together, and +the fawns near them. It's just as if it was a kindergarten meeting." + +"I see," whispered Tom. "I'm getting a picture of that." + +For some little time longer Tom photographed the deer, and then, +suddenly, the timid creatures all at once lifted up their heads, and +darted off. Tom and Ned, wondering what had startled them, looked +across the glade just in time to see a big tiger leap out of the tall +grass. The striped animal had been stalking the antelope, but they had +scented him just in time. + +"Get him, Tom," urged Ned, and the young inventor did so, securing +several fine views before the tiger bounded into the grass again, and +took after his prey. + +"Bless my china teacup! What's that!" suddenly cried Mr. Damon. As he +spoke there was a crashing in the bushes and, an instant later as +two-horned rhinoceros sprang into view, charging straight for the group. + +"Look out!" yelled Ned. + +"Bless my--" began Mr. Damon, but he did not finish, for, in starting +to run his foot caught in the grass, and he went down heavily. + +Tom leaped to one side, holding his camera so as not to damage it. But +he stumbled over Mr. Damon, and went down. + +With a "wuff" of rage the clumsy beast, came on, moving more rapidly +than Tom had any idea he was capable of. Hampered by his camera our +hero could not arise. The rhinoceros was almost upon him, and Ned, +catching up a club, was just going to make a rush to the rescue, when +the brute seemed suddenly to crumple up. It fell down in a heap, not +five feet from where Tom and Mr. Damon lay. + +"Good!" cried Ned. "He's dead. Shot through the heart! Who did it?" + +"I did," answered Koku quietly, stepping out of the bushes, with one of +Tom's Swift's electric rifles in his hand. + + + + +CHAPTER XIV + +IN A GREAT GALE + + +Tom Swift rose slowly to his feet, carefully setting his camera down, +after making sure that it was not injured. Then he looked at the huge +beast which lay dead in front of him, and, going over to the giant he +held out his hand to him. + +"Koku, you saved my life," spoke Tom. "Probably the life of Mr. Damon +also. I can't begin to thank you. It isn't the first time you've done +it, either. But I want to say that you can have anything you want, that +I've got." + +"Me like this gun pretty much," said the giant simply. + +"Then it's yours!" exclaimed Tom. "And you're the only one, except +myself, who has ever owned one." Tom's wonderful electric rifle, of +which I have told you in the book bearing that name, was one of his +most cherished inventions. + +He guarded jealously the secret of how it worked, and never sold or +gave one away, for fear that unscrupulous men might learn how to make +them, and to cause fearful havoc. For the rifle was a terrible weapon. +Koku seemed to appreciate the honor done him, as he handled the gun, +and looked from it to the dead rhinoceros. + +"Bless my blank cartridge!" exclaimed Mr. Damon, as he also got up and +came to examine the dead beast. It was the first thing he had said +since the animal had rushed at him, and he had not moved after he fell +down. He had seemingly been in a daze, but when the others heard him +use one of his favorite expressions they knew that he was all right +again. "Bless my hat!" went on the odd man. "What happened, Tom? Is +that beast really dead? How did Koku come to arrive in time?" + +"I guess he's dead all right," said Tom, giving the rhinoceros a kick. +"But I don't know how Koku happened to arrive in the nick of time, and +with the gun, too." + +"I think maybe I see something to shoot when I come after you, like you +tell me to do," spoke the giant. "I follow your trail, but I see +nothing to shoot until I come here. Then I see that animal run for you, +and I shoot." + +"And a good thing you did, too," put in Ned. "Well let's go back. My +nerves are on edge, and I want to sit quiet for a while." + +"Take the camera, Koku," ordered Tom, "and I'll carry the electric +rifle--your rifle, now," he added, and the giant grinned in delight. +They reached the airship without further incident, and, after a cup of +tea, Tom took out the exposed films and put a fresh roll in his camera, +ready for whatever new might happen. + +"Where is your next stopping place, Tom?" asked Ned, as they sat in the +main room of the airship that evening, talking over the events of the +day. They had decided to stay all night anchored on the ground, and +start off in the morning. + +"I hardly know," answered the young inventor. "I am going to set the +camera to-night, near a small spring I saw, to get some pictures of +deer coming to drink. I may get a picture of a lion or a tiger +attacking them. If I could it would be another fine film. To-morrow I +think we will start for Switzerland. But now I'm going to get the +camera ready for a night exposure. + +"Bless my check book!" cried Mr. Damon. "You don't mean to say that you +are going to stay out at a spring again, Tom, and run the chance of a +tiger getting you." + +"No, I'm merely going to set the camera, attach the light and let it +work automatically this time. I've put in an extra long roll of film, +for I'm going to keep it going for a long while, and part of the time +there may be no animals there to take pictures of. No, I'm not going to +sit out to-night. I'm too tired. I'll conceal the camera in the bushes +so it won't be damaged if there's a fight. Then, as I said, we'll start +for Switzerland to-morrow." + +"Switzerland!" cried Ned. "What in the world do you want to go make a +big jump like that for? And what do you expect to get in that mountain +land?" + +"I'm going to try for a picture of an avalanche," said Tom. "Mr. +Period wants one, if I can get it. It is quite a jump, but then we'll +be flying over civilized countries most of the time, and if any +accident happens we can go down and easily make repairs. We can also +get gasolene for the motor, though I have quite a supply in the tanks, +and perhaps enough for the entire trip. At the same time we won't take +any chances. So we'll be off for Switzerland in the morning. + +"I think some avalanche pictures will be great, if you can get them," +remarked Mr. Nestor. "But, Tom, you know those big slides of ice, snow +and earth aren't made to order." + +"Oh, I know," agreed the young inventor with a smile. "I'll just have +to take my chances, and wait until one happens." + +"Bless my insurance policy!" exclaimed Mr. Damon. "And when it does +happen, Tom, are you going to stand in front of it, and snap-shot it?" + +"Indeed I'm not. This business is risky and dangerous enough, without +looking for trouble. I'm going to the mountain region, and hover around +in the air, until we see an avalanche 'happen' if that is the right +word. Then I'll focus the camera on it, and the films and machinery +will do the rest." + +"Oh, that's different," remarked the odd man, with an air of relief. + +Tom and Ned soon had the camera set near the spring and then, everyone +being tired with the day's work and excitement, they retired. In the +morning there were signs around the spring that many animals had been +there in the night. There were also marks as if there had been a fight, +but of course what sort, or how desperate, no one could say. + +"If anything happened the camera got it, I'm sure of that much," +remarked Tom, as he brought in the apparatus. "I'm not going to develop +the roll, for I don't want to take the time now. I guess we must have +something, anyhow." + +"If there isn't it won't so much matter for you have plenty of other +good views," said Mr. Nestor. + +I will not go into details of the long trip to Switzerland, where, amid +the mountains of that country, Tom hoped to get the view he wanted. + +Sufficient to say that the airship made good time after leaving India. +Sometimes Tom sent the craft low down, in order to get views, and +again, it would be above the clouds. + +"Well, another day will bring us there," said Tom one evening, as he +was loading the camera with a fresh roll of films. "Then we'll have to +be on the lookout for an avalanche." + +"Yes, we're making pretty good time," remarked Ned, as he looked at the +speed gage. "I didn't know you had the motor working so fast, Tom." + +"I haven't," was the young inventor's answer, as he looked up in +surprise. "Why, we are going quite fast! It's the wind, Ned. It's +right with us, and it's carrying us along." + +Tom arose and went to the anemometer, or wind-registering instrument. +He gave a low whistle, half of alarm. + +"Fifty miles an hour she's blowing now," he said. "It came on suddenly, +too, for a little while ago it was only ten." + +"Is there any danger?" asked Mr. Nestor, for he was not very familiar +with airship perils. + +"Well, we've been in big blows before, and we generally came out all +right," returned Tom. "Still, I don't like this. Why she went up five +points since I've been looking at it!" and he pointed to the needle of +the gage, which now registered fifty-five miles an hour. + +"Bless my appendix!" gasped Mr. Damon. "It's a hurricane Tom!" + +"Something like that," put in Ned, in a low voice. + +With a suddenness that was startling, the wind increased in violence +still more. Tom ran to the pilot house. + +"What are you going to do?" Ned called. + +"See if we can't go down a bit," was Tom's answer. "I don't like this. +It may be calmer below. We're up too high as it is." + +He tried to throw over the lever controlling the deflecting rudder, +which would send the Flyer down, but he could not move it. + +"Give me a hand!" he called to Ned, but even the strength of the two +lads was not sufficient to shift it. + +"Call Koku!" gasped Tom. "If anybody can budge it the giant can!" + +Meanwhile the airship was being carried onward in the grip of a mighty +wind, so strong that its pressure on the surface of the deflecting +rudder prevented it from being shifted. + + + + +CHAPTER XV + +SNAPPING AN AVALANCHE + + +"Bless my thermometer!" gasped Mr. Damon. "This is terrible!" The +airship was plunging and swaying about in the awful gale. "Can't +something be done, Tom?" + +"What has happened?" cried Mr. Nestor. "We were on a level keel before. +What is it?" + +"It's the automatic balancing rudder!" answered Tom. "Something has +happened to it. The wind may have broken it! Come on, Ned!" and he led +the way to the engine room. + +"What are you going to do? Don't you want Koku to shift the deflecting +rudder? Here he is," Ned added, as the giant came forward, in response +to a signal bell that Tom's chum had rung. + +"It's too late to try the deflecting rudder!" tried Tom. "I must see +what is the matter with our balancer." As he spoke the ship gave a +terrific plunge, and the occupants were thrown sideways. The next +moment it was on a level keel again, scudding along with the gale, but +there was no telling when the craft would again nearly capsize. + +Tom looked at the mechanism controlling the equalizing and equilibrium +rudder. It was out of order, and he guessed that the terrific wind was +responsible for it. + +"What can we do?" cried Ned, as the airship nearly rolled over. "Can't +we do anything, Tom?" + +"Yes. I'm going to try. Keep calm now. We may come out all right. This +is the worst blow we've been in since we were in Russia. Start the gas +machine full blast. I want all the vapor I can get." + +As I have explained the Flyer was a combined dirigible balloon and +aeroplane. It could be used as either, or both, in combination. At +present the gas bag was not fully inflated, and Tom had been sending +his craft along as an aeroplane. + +"What are you going to do?" cried Ned, as he pulled over the lever that +set the gas generating machine in operation. + +"I'm going up as high as I can go!" cried Tom. "If we can't go down we +must go up. I'll get above the hurricane instead of below it. Give me +all the gas you can, Ned!" + +The vapor hissed as it rushed into the big bag overhead. Tom carried +aboard his craft the chemicals needed to generate the powerful lifting +gas, of which he alone had the secret. It was more powerful than +hydrogen, and simple to make. The balloon of the Flyer was now being +distended. + +Meanwhile Tom, with Koku, Mr. Damon and Mr. Nestor to help him, worked +over the deflecting rudder, and also on the equilibrium mechanism. But +they could not get either to operate. + +Ned stood by the gas machine, and worked it to the limit. But even with +all that energy, so powerful was the wind, that the Flyer rose slowly, +the gale actually holding her down as a water-logged craft is held +below the waves. Ordinarily, with the gas machine set at its limit the +craft would have shot up rapidly. + +At times the airship would skim along on the level, and again it would +be pitched and tossed about, until it was all the occupants could do to +keep their feet. Mr. Damon was continually blessing everything he could +remember. + +"Now she's going!" suddenly cried Ned, as he looked at the dials +registering the pressure of the gas, and showing the height of the +airship above the earth. + +"Going how?" gasped Tom, as he looked over from where he was working at +the equilibrium apparatus. "Going down?" + +"Going up!" shouted Ned. "I guess we'll be all right soon!" + +It was true. Now that the bag was filled with the powerful lifting gas, +under pressure, the Flyer was beginning to get out of the dangerous +predicament into which the gale had blown her. Up and up she went, and +every foot she climbed the power of the wind became less. + +"Maybe it all happened for the best," said Tom, as he noted the height +gage. "If we had gone down, the wind might have been worse nearer the +earth." + +Later they learned that this was so. The most destructive wind storm +ever known swept across the southern part of Europe, over which they +were flying that night, and, had the airship gone down, she would +probably have been destroyed. But, going up, she got above the +wind-strata. Up and up she climbed, until, when three miles above the +earth, she was in a calm zone. It was rather hard to breathe at this +height, and Tom set the oxygen apparatus at work. + +This created in the interior of the craft an atmosphere almost like +that on the earth, and the travelers were made more at their ease. +Getting out of the terrible wind pressure made it possible to work the +deflecting rudder, though Tom had no idea of going down, as long as the +blow lasted. + +"We'll just sail along at this height until morning," he said, "and by +then the gale may be over, or we may be beyond the zone of it. Start +the propellers, Ned. I think I can manage to repair the equilibrium +rudder now." + +The propellers, which gave the forward motion to the airship, had been +stopped when it was found that the wind was carrying her along, but +they were now put in motion again, sending the Flyer forward. In a +short time Tom had the equilibrium machine in order, and matters were +now normal again. + +"But that was a strenuous time while it lasted," remarked the young +inventor, as he sat down. + +"It sure was," agreed Ned. + +"Bless my pen wiper!" cried Mr. Damon. "That was one of the few times +when I wish I'd never come with you, Tom Swift," and everyone laughed +at that. + +The Flyer was now out of danger, going along high in the air through +the night, while the gale raged below her. At Tom's suggestion, Koku +got a lunch ready, for they were all tired with their labors, and +somewhat nervous from the danger and excitement. + +"And now for sleep!" exclaimed Tom, as he pushed back his plate. "Ned, +set the automatic steering gear, and we'll see where we bring up by +morning." + +An examination, through a powerful telescope in the bright light of +morning, showed the travelers that they were over the outskirts of a +large city, which, later, they learned was Rome, Italy. + +"We've made a good trip," said Tom. "The gale had us worried, but it +sent us along at a lively clip. Now for Switzerland, and the +avalanches!" + +They made a landing at a village just outside the "Holy City," as Rome +is often called, and renewed their supply of gasolene. Naturally they +attracted a crowd of curious persons, many of whom had never seen an +airship before. Certainly few of them had ever seen one like Tom +Swift's. + +The next day found them hovering over the Alps, where Tom hoped to be +able to get the pictures of snow slides. They went down to earth at a +town near one of the big mountain ranges, and there made inquiries as +to where would be the best location to look for big avalanches. If they +went but a few miles to the north, they were told, they would be in the +desired region, and they departed for that vicinity. + +"And now we've just got to take our time, and wait for an avalanche to +happen," remarked Tom, as they were flying along over the mountain +ranges. "As Mr. Damon said, these things aren't made to order. They +just happen." + +For three days they sailed in and out over the great snow-covered peaks +of the Alps. They did not go high up, for they wanted to be near earth +when an avalanche would occur, so that near-view pictures could be +secured. Occasionally they saw parties of mountain climbers ascending +some celebrated peak, and for want of something better to photograph, +Tom "snapped" the tourists. + +"Well, I guess they're all out of avalanches this season," remarked Ned +one afternoon, when they had circled back and forth over a mountain +where, so it was said, the big snow slides were frequent. + +"It does seem so," agreed Tom. "Still, we're in no hurry. It is easier +to be up here, than it is walking around in a jungle, not knowing what +minute a tiger may jump out at you." + +"Bless my rubbers, yes!" agreed Mr. Damon. + +The sky was covered with lowering clouds, and there were occasionally +flurries of snow. Tom's airship was well above the snow line on the +mountains. The young inventor and Ned sat in the pilot house, taking +observations through a spyglass of the mountain chain below them. + +Suddenly Ned, who had the glass focused on a mighty peak, cried out: + +"There she is, Tom!" + +"What?" + +"The avalanche! The snow is beginning to slide down the mountain! Say, +it's going to be a big one, too. Got your camera ready?" + +"Sure! I've had it ready for the last three days. Put me over there, +Ned. You look after the airship, and I'll take the pictures!" + +Tom sprang to get his apparatus, while his chum hurried to the levers, +wheels and handles that controlled the Flyer. As they approached the +avalanche they could see the great mass of ice, snow, big stones, and +earth sliding down the mountain side, carrying tall trees with it. + +"This is just what I wanted!" cried Tom, as he set his camera working. +"Put me closer, Ned." + +Ned obeyed, and the airship was now hovering directly over the +avalanche, and right in its path. The big landslide, as it would have +been called in this country, met no village in its path, fortunately, +or it would have wiped it out completely. It was in a wild and desolate +region that it occurred. + +"I want to get a real close view!" cried Tom, as he got some pictures +showing a whole grove of giant trees uprooted and carried off. "Get +closer Ned, and--" + +Tom was interrupted by a cry of alarm from his chum. + +"We're falling!" yelled Ned. "Something has gone wrong. We're going +down into the avalanche!". + + + + +CHAPTER XVI + +TELEGRAPH ORDERS + + +There was confusion aboard the airship. Tom, hearing Ned's cry, left +his camera, to rush to the engine room, but not before he had set the +picture apparatus to working automatically. Mr. Damon, Mr. Nestor and +Koku, alarmed by Ned's cries, ran back from the forward part of the +craft, where they had been watching the mighty mass of ice and earth as +it rushed down the side of the mountain. + +"What's wrong, Ned?" cried Tom excitedly. + +"I don't know! The propellers have stopped! We were running as an +aeroplane you know. Now we're going down!" + +"Bless my suspenders!" shouted Mr. Damon. "If we land in the midst of +that conglomeration of ice it will be the end of us." + +"But we're not going to land there!" cried Tom. + +"How are you going to stop it?" demanded Mr. Nestor. + +"By the gas machine!" answered Tom. "That will stop us from falling. +Start it up, Ned!" + +"That's right! I always forget about that! I'll have it going in a +second!" + +"Less than a second," called Tom, as he saw how near to the mighty, +rushing avalanche they were coming. + +Ned worked rapidly, and in a very short time the downward course of the +airship was checked. It floated easily above the rushing flood of ice +and earth, and Tom, seeing that his craft, and those on it, were safe, +hurried back to his camera. Meanwhile the machine had automatically +been taking pictures, but now with the young inventor to manage it, +better results would be obtained. + +Tom aimed it here and there, at the most spectacular parts of the +avalanche. The others gathered around him, after Ned had made an +inspection, and found that a broken electrical wire had caused the +propellers to stop. This was soon repaired and then, as they were +hanging in the air like a balloon, Tom took picture after picture of +the wonderful sight below them. Forest after forest was demolished. + +"This will be a great film!" Tom shouted to Ned, as the latter informed +him that the machinery was all right again. "Send me up a little. I +want to get a view from the top, looking down." + +His chum made the necessary adjustments to the mechanism and then, +there being nothing more to slide down the mountainside the avalanche +was ended. But what a mass of wreck and ruin there was! It was as if a +mighty earthquake had torn the mountain asunder. + +"It's a good thing it wasn't on a side of the mountain where people +lived," commented Ned, as the airship rose high toward the clouds. "If +it had been, there'd be nothing left of 'em. What hair-raising stunt +are you going to try next, Tom?" + +"I don't know. I expect to hear from Mr. Period soon. + +"Hear from Mr. Period?" exclaimed Mr. Nestor. "How are you going to do +that, Tom?" + +"He said he would telegraph me at Berne, Switzerland, at a certain +date, as he knew I was coming to the Alps to try for some avalanche +pictures. It's two or three days yet, before I can expect the telegram, +which of course will have to come part way by cable. In the meanwhile, +I think we'll take a little rest, and a vacation. I want to give the +airship an overhauling, and look to my camera. There's no telling what +Mr. Period may want next." + +"Then he didn't make out your programme completely before you started?" +asked Mr. Nestor. + +"No, he said he'd communicate with me from time to time. He is in touch +with what is going on in the world, you know, and if he hears of +anything exciting at any place, I'm to go there at once. You see he +wants the most sensational films he can get." + +"Yes, our company is out to give the best pictures we can secure," +spoke Mary's father, "and I think we are lucky to have Tom Swift +working for us. We already have films that no other concern can get. +And we need them." + +"I wonder what became of those men who started to make so much trouble +for you, Tom?" asked Mr. Damon. + +"Well, they seem to have disappeared," replied our hero. "Of course +they may be after me any day now, but for the time being, I've thrown +them off my track." + +"So then you don't know where you're going next?" asked Ned. + +"No, it may be to Japan, or to the North Pole. Well, I'm ready for +anything. We've got plenty of gasolene, and the Flyer can certainly +go," said Tom. + +They went down to earth in a quiet spot, just outside of a little +village, and there they remained three days, to the no small wonder of +the inhabitants. Tom wanted to see if his camera was working properly. +So he developed some of the avalanche pictures, and found them +excellent. The rest of the time was spent in making some needed repairs +to the airship, while the young inventor overhauled his Wizard machine, +that he found needed a few adjustments. + +Their arrival in Berne created quite a sensation, but they were used to +that. Tom anchored his airship just outside the city, and, accompanied +by Ned, made his way to the telegraph office. Some of the officials +there could speak English, though not very well. + +"I am expecting a message," said Tom. + +"Yes? Who for?" asked the clerk. + +"Tom Swift. It will be from America." + +As Tom said this he observed a man sitting in the corner of the office +get up hurriedly and go out. All at once his suspicions were aroused. +He thought of the attempts that had been made to get his Wizard Camera +away from him. + +"Who was that man?" he quickly asked the agent. + +"Him? Oh, he, too, is expecting a message from America. He has been +here some time." + +"Why did he go out so quickly?" Ned wanted to know. + +"Why, I can not tell. He is an Englishman. They do strange things." + +"My telegram? Is it here?" asked Tom impatiently. He wanted to get +whatever word there was from Mr. Period, and be on his way to whatever +destination the picture man might select. Perhaps, after all, his +suspicions, against the man who had so suddenly left, were unfounded. + +"Yes, there is a cablegram here for you, Monsieur Swift," said the man, +who was French. "There are charges on it, however." + +"Pay 'em, Ned, while I see what this is," directed the young inventor, +as he tore open the envelope. + +"Whew!" he whistled a moment later. "This is going some." + +"Where to now?" asked Ned. "The North Pole?" + +"No, just the opposite. Mr. Period wants me to go to Africa--the Congo +Free State. There's an uprising among the natives there, and he wants +some war pictures. Well, I guess I'll have to go." + +As Tom spoke he looked toward the door of the telegraph office, and he +saw the man, who had so hurriedly gone out a few moments before, +looking in at him. + + + + +CHAPTER XVII + +SUSPICIOUS STRANGERS + + +"Off to Africa; eh?" remarked Ned, as Tom put the envelope in his +pocket. "That's another long jump. But I guess the Flyer can do it." + +"Yes, I think so. I say Ned, not so loud," said Tom, who had hurried to +the side of his chum, whispered the last words. + +"What's up?" inquired Ned quickly. "Anything wrong?" + +"I don't know. But I think we are being watched. Did you notice that +fellow who was in here a minute ago, when I asked for a telegram?" + +"Yes, what about him?" + +"Well, he's looking in the door now I think. Don't turn round. Just +look up into that mirror on the wall, and you can see his reflection." + +"I understand," whispered Ned, as he turned his gaze toward the mirror +in question, a large one, with advertisements around the frame. "I see +him," he went on. "There's some one with him." + +"That's what I thought," replied Tom. "Take a good look. Whom do you +think the other chap is?" + +Ned looked long and earnestly. By means of the mirror, he could see, +perfectly plain, two men standing just outside the door of the +telegraph office. The portal was only partly open. Ned drew an old +letter from his pocket, and pretended to be showing it to Tom. But, all +the while he was gazing earnestly at the two men. Suddenly one of them +moved, giving Tom's chum a better view of his face. + +"By Jove, Tom!" the lad exclaimed in a tense whisper. "If it isn't that +Eckert fellow I'm a cow." + +"That's what I thought," spoke Tom coolly. "Not that you're a cow, Ned, +but I believe that this man is one of the moving picture partners, who +are rivals of Mr. Period. I wasn't quite sure myself after the first +glance I had of him, so I wanted you to take a look. Do you know the +other chap--the one who ran out when I asked for my telegram?" + +"No, I've never seen him before as far as I know." + +"Same here. Come on." + +"What are you going to do?" + +"Go back to the airship, and tell Mr. Nestor. As one of the directors +in the concern I'm working for. I want his advice." + +"Good idea," replied Ned, and they turned to leave the office. The +spying stranger, and William Eckert, were not in sight when the two +lads came out. + +"They got away mighty quick," remarked Tom, as he looked up and down +the street. + +"Yes, they probably saw us turn to come out, and made a quick get-away. +They might be in any one of these places along here," for the street, +on either side of the telegraph office, contained a number of hotels, +with doors opening on the sidewalk. + +"They must be on your trail yet," decided Mr. Nestor when Tom, reaching +the anchored airship, told what had happened. "Well, my advice is to go +to Africa as soon as we can. In that way we'll leave them behind, and +they won't have any chance to get your camera." + +"But what I can't understand," said Tom, "is how they knew I was coming +here. It was just as if that one man had been waiting in the telegraph +office for me to appear. I'm sorry, now, that I mentioned to Ned where +we were ordered to. But I didn't think." + +"They probably knew, anyway," was Mr. Nestor's opinion. "I think this +may explain it. The rival concern in New York has been keeping track of +Mr. Period's movements. Probably they have a paid spy who may be in his +employ. They knew when he sent you a telegram, what it contained, and +where it was directed to. Then, of course, they knew you would call +here for it. What they did not know was when you would come, and so +they had to wait. That one spy was on guard, and, as soon as you came, +he went and summoned Eckert, who was waiting somewhere in the +neighborhood." + +"Bless my detective story!" cried Mr. Damon. "What a state of affairs! +They ought to be arrested, Tom." + +"It would be useless," said Mr. Nestor. "They are probably far enough +away by this time. Or else they have put others on Tom's track." + +"I'll fight my own battles!" exclaimed the young inventor. "I don't go +much on the police in a case like this, especially foreign police. +Well, my camera is all right, so far," he went on, as he took a look at +it, in the compartment where he kept it. "Some one must always remain +near it, after this. But we'll soon start for Africa, to get some +pictures of a native battle. I hope it isn't the red pygmies we have to +photograph." + +"Bless my shoe laces! Don't suggest such a thing," begged Mr. Damon, as +he recalled the strenuous times when the dwarfs held the missionaries +captive. + +It was necessary to lay in some stores and provisions, and for this +reason Tom could not at once head the airship for the African jungles. +As she remained at anchor, just outside the city, crowds of Swiss +people came out to look at the wonderful craft. But Tom and his +companions took care that no one got aboard, and they kept a strict +lookout for Americans, or Englishmen, thinking perhaps that Mr. Eckert, +or the spy, might try to get the camera. However, they did not see +them, and a few days after the receipt of the message from Mr. Period, +having stocked up, they rose high into the air, and set out to cross +the Mediterranean Sea for Africa. Tom laid a route over Tripoli, the +Sahara Desert, the French Congo, and so into the Congo Free State. In +his telegram, Mr. Period had said that the expected uprising was to +take place near Stanley Falls, on the Congo River. + +"And supposing it does not happen?" asked Mr. Damon. "What if the +natives don't fight, Tom? You'll have your trip for nothing, and will +run a lot of risk besides." + +"It's one of the chances I'm taking," replied the young inventor, and +truly, as he thought of it, he realized that the perils of the moving +picture business were greater than he had imagined. Tom hoped to get a +quick trip to the Congo, but, as they were sailing over the big desert, +there was an accident to the main motor, and the airship suddenly began +shooting toward the sands. She was easily brought up, by means of the +gas bags, and allowed to settle gently to the ground, in the vicinity +of a large oasis. But, when Tom looked at the broken machinery, he said: + +"This means a week's delay. It will take that, and longer, to fix it so +we can go on." + +"Too bad!" exclaimed Mr. Nestor. "The war may be over when we get +there. But it can't be helped." + +It took Tom and his friends even longer than he had thought to make the +repairs. In the meanwhile they camped in the desert place, which was +far from being unpleasant. Occasionally a caravan halted there, but, +for the most part, they were alone. + +"No danger of Eckert, or any of his spies coming here, I guess," said +Tom grimly as he blew on a portable forge, to weld two pieces of iron +together. + +In due time they were again on the wing, and without further incident +they were soon in the vicinity of Stanley Falls. They managed to locate +a village where there were some American missionaries established. They +were friends of Mr. and Mrs. Illington, the missionaries whom Tom had +saved from the red pygmies, as told in the "Electric Rifle" volume of +this series, and they made our hero and his friends welcome. + +"Is it true?" asked Tom, of the missionaries who lived not far from +Stanley Falls, "that there is to be a native battle? Or are we too late +for it?" + +"I am sorry to say, I fear there will be fighting among the tribesmen," +replied Mr. Janeway, one of the Christian workers. "It has not yet +taken place, though." + +"Then I'm not too late!" cried Tom, and there was exultation in his +voice. "I don't mean to be barbarous," he went on, as he saw that the +missionaries looked shocked, "but as long as they are going to fight I +want to get the pictures." + +"Oh, they'll fight all right," spoke Mrs. Janeway. "The poor, ignorant +natives here are always ready to fight. This time I think it is about +some cattle that one tribe took from another." + +"And where will the battle take place?" asked Tom. + +"Well, the rumors we have, seem to indicate that the fight will take +place about ten miles north of here. We will have notice of it before +it starts, as some of the natives, whom we have succeeded in +converting, belong to the tribe that is to be attacked. They will be +summoned to the defense of their town and then it will be time enough +for you to go. Oh, war is a terrible thing! I do not like to talk about +it. Tell me how you rescued our friends from the red pygmies," and Tom +was obliged to relate that story, which I have told in detail elsewhere. + +Several days passed, and Tom and his friends spent a pleasant time in +the African village with the missionaries. The airship and camera were +in readiness for instant use, and during this period of idleness our +hero got several fine films of animal scenes, including a number of +night-fights among the beasts at the drinking pools. One tiger battle +was especially good, from a photographic standpoint. + +One afternoon, a number of native bearers came into the town. They +preceded two white men, who were evidently sportsmen, or explorers, and +the latter had a well equipped caravan. The strangers sought the advice +of the missionaries about where big game might be found, and Tom +happened to be at the cottage of Mr. Janeway when the strangers arrived. + +The young inventor looked at them critically, as he was introduced to +them. Both men spoke with an English accent, one introducing himself as +Bruce Montgomery, and the other as Wade Kenneth. Tom decided that they +were of the ordinary type of globe-trotting Britishers, until, on his +way to his airship, he passed the place where the native bearers had +set down the luggage of the Englishmen. + +"Whew!" whistled Tom, as he caught sight of a peculiarly shaped box. +"See that, Ned?" + +"Yes, what is it? A new kind of magazine gun?" + +"It's a moving picture camera, or I lose my guess!" whispered Tom. "One +of the old fashioned kind. Those men are no more tourists, or after big +game, than I am! They're moving picture men, and they're here to get +views of that native battle! Ned, we've got to be on our guard. They +may be in the pay of that Turbot and Eckert firm, and they may try to +do us some harm!" + +"That's so!" exclaimed Ned. "We'll keep watch of them, Tom." + +As they neared their airship, there came, running down what served as +the main village street, an African who showed evidence of having come +from afar. As he ran on, he called out something in a strange tongue. +Instantly from their huts the other natives swarmed. + +"What's up now?" cried Ned. + +"Something important, I'll wager," replied Tom. "Ned, you go back to +the missionaries house, and find out what it is. I'm going to stand +guard over my camera." + +"It's come!" cried Ned a little later, as he hurried into the interior +of the airship, where Tom was busy working over a new attachment he +intended putting on his picture machine. + +"What has?" + +"War! That native, whom we saw running in, brought news that the battle +would take place day after to-morrow. The enemies of his tribe are on +the march, so the African spies say, and he came to summon all the +warriors from this town. We've got to get busy!" + +"That's so. What about those Englishmen?" + +"They were talking to the missionaries when the runner came in. They +pretended to have no interest in it, but I saw one wink to the other, +and then, very soon, they went out, and I saw them talking to their +native bearers, while they were busy over that box you said was a +picture machine." + +"I knew it, Ned! I was sure of it! Those fellows came here to trick us, +though how they ever followed our trail I don't know. Probably they +came by a fast steamer to the West Coast, and struck inland, while we +were delayed on the desert. I don't care if they are only straight +out-and-out rivals--and not chaps that are trying to take an unfair +advantage. I suppose all the big picture concerns have a tip about this +war, and they may have representatives here. I hope we get the best +views. Now come on, and give me a hand. We've got our work cut out for +us, all right." + +"Bless my red cross bandage!" cried Mr. Damon, when he heard the news. +"A native fight, eh? That will be something I haven't seen in some +time. Will there be any danger, Tom, do you think?" + +"Not unless our airship tumbles down between the two African forces," +replied our hero, "and I'll take care that it doesn't do that. We'll be +well out of reach of any of their blow guns, or arrows." + +"But I understand that many of the tribes have powder weapons," said +Mr. Nestor. + +"They have," admitted Tom, "but they are 'trader's' rifles, and don't +carry far. We won't run any risk from such old-fashioned guns." + +"A big fight; eh?" asked Koku when they told him what was before them. +"Me like to help." + +"Yes, and I guess both sides would give a premium for your services," +remarked Tom, as he gazed at his big servant. "But we'll need you with +us, Koku." + +"Oh, me stay with you, Mr. Tom," exclaimed the big man, with a grin. + +Somewhat to Tom's surprise the two Englishmen showed no further +interest in him and his airship, after the introduction at the +missionaries' bungalow. + +With the stolidity of their race the Britishers did not show any +surprise, as, some time afterward, they strolled down toward Tom's big +craft, after supper, and looked it over. Soon they went back to their +own camp, and a little later, Koku, who walked toward it, brought word +that the Englishmen were packing up. + +"They're going to start for the seat of war the first thing in the +morning," decided Tom. "Well, we'll get ahead of them. Though we can +travel faster than they can, we'll start now, and be on the ground in +good season. Besides, I don't like staying all night in the same +neighborhood with them. Get ready for a start, Ned." + +Tom did not stop to say good-bye to the Englishmen, though he bade +farewell to the missionaries, who had been so kind to him. There was +much excitement in the native town, for many of the tribesmen were +getting ready to depart to help their friends or relatives in the +impending battle. + +As dusk was falling, the big airship arose, and soon her powerful +propellers were sending her across the jungle, toward Stanley Falls in +the vicinity of which the battle was expected to take place. + + + + +CHAPTER XVIII + +THE NATIVE BATTLE + + +"By Jove, Tom, here they come!" + +"From over by that drinking pool?" + +"Yes, just as the spies said they would. Wow, what a crowd of the black +beggars there are! And some of 'em have regular guns, too. But most of +'em have clubs, bows and arrows, blow guns, or spears." + +Tom and Ned were standing on the forward part of the airship, which was +moving slowly along, over an open plateau, in the jungle where the +native battle was about to take place. Our friends had left the town +where the missionaries lived, and had hovered over the jungle, until +they saw signs of the coming struggle. They had seen nothing of their +English rivals since coming away, but had no doubt but that the +Britishers were somewhere in the neighborhood. + +The two forces of black men, who had gone to war over a dispute about +some cattle, approached each other. There was the beating of tom-toms, +and skin drums, and many weird shouts. From their vantage point in the +air, Tom and his companions had an excellent view. The Wizard Camera +was loaded with a long reel of film, and ready for action. + +"Bless my handkerchief!" cried Mr. Damon, as he looked down on the +forces that were about to clash. "I never saw anything like this +before!" + +"I either," admitted Tom. "But, if things go right, I'm going to get +some dandy films!" + +Nearer and nearer the rival forces advanced. At first they had stared, +and shouted in wonder at the sight of the airship, hovering above them, +but their anger soon drew their attention to the fighting at hand, and, +after useless gestures toward the craft of the air, and after some of +them had vainly fired their guns or arrows at it, they paid no more +attention, but rushed on with their shouts and cries and amid the +beating of their rude drums. + +"I think I'll begin to take pictures now," said Tom, as Ned, in charge +of the ship, sent it about in a circle, giving a general view of the +rival forces. "I'll show a scene of the two crowds getting ready for +business, and, later on, when they're actually giving each other cats +and dogs, I'll get all the pictures possible." + +The camera was started while, safe in the air those on the Flyer watched +what went on below them. + +Suddenly the forward squads of the two small armies of blacks met. With +wild, weird yells they rushed at each other. The air was filled with +flying arrows and spears. The sound of the old-fashioned muzzle-loading +guns could be heard, and clouds of smoke arose. Tilting his camera, and +arranging the newly attached reflecting mirrors so as to give the +effect as if a spectator was looking at the battle from in front, +instead of from above, Tom Swift took picture after picture. + +The fight was now on. With yells of rage and defiance the Africans came +together, giving blow for blow. It was a wild melee, and those on the +airship looked on fascinated, though greatly wishing that such horrors +could be stopped. + +"How about it, Tom?" cried Ned. + +"Everything going good! I don't like this business, but now I'm in it +I'm going to stick. Put me down a little lower," answered the young +inventor. + +"All right. I say Tom, look over there." + +"Where?" + +"By that lightning-struck gum tree. See those two men, and some sort of +a machine they've got stuck up on stilts? See it?" + +"Sure. Those are the two Englishmen--my rivals! They're taking +pictures, too!" + +And then, with a crash and roar, with wild shouts and yells, with +volley after volley of firearms, clouds of smoke and flights of arrows +and spears, the native battle was in full swing, while the young +inventor, sailing above it in his airship, reeled off view after view +of the strange sight. + + + + +CHAPTER XIX + +A HEAVY LOSS + + +"Bless my battle axe, but this is awful!" cried Mr. Damon. + +"War is always a fearful thing," spoke Mr. Nestor. "But this is not as +bad as if the natives fought with modern weapons. See! most of them +are fighting with clubs, and their fists. They don't seem to hurt each +other very much." + +"That's so," agreed Mr. Damon. The two gentlemen were in the main +cabin, looking down on the fight below them, while Tom, with Ned to +help him change the reels of films, as they became filled with +pictures, attended to the camera. Koku was steering the craft, as he +had readily learned how to manage it. + +"Are those Englishmen taking pictures yet?" asked Tom, too busy to turn +his head, and look for himself. + +"Yes, they're still at," replied Ned. "But they seem to be having +trouble with their machine," he added as he saw one of the men leave +the apparatus, and run hurriedly back to where they had made a +temporary camp. + +"I guess it's an old-fashioned kind," commented Tom. "Say, this is +getting fierce!" he cried, as the natives got in closer contact with +each other. It was now a hand-to-hand battle. + +"I should say so!" yelled Ned. "It's a wonder those Englishmen aren't +afraid to be down on the same level with the black fighters." + +"Oh, a white person is considered almost sacred by the natives here, so +the missionaries told me," said Tom. "A black man would never think of +raising his hand to one, and the Englishmen probably know this. They're +safe enough. In fact I'm thinking of soon going down myself, and +getting some views from the ground." + +"Bless my gizzard, Tom!" cried Mr. Damon. "Don't do it!" + +"Yes, I think I will. Why, it's safe enough. Besides, if they attack us +we have the electric rifles. Ned, you tell Koku to get the guns out, to +have in readiness, and then you put the ship down. I'll take a chance." + +"Jove! You've been doing nothing but take chances since we came on this +trip!" exclaimed Ned, admiringly. "All right! Here we go," and he went +to relieve Koku at the wheel, while the giant, grinning cheerfully at +the prospect of taking part in the fight himself, got out the rifles, +including his own. + +Meanwhile the native battle went on fiercely. Many on both sides fell, +and not a few ran away, when they got the chance, their companions +yelling at them, evidently trying to shame them into coming back. + +As the airship landed, Mr. Damon, Mr. Nestor, Ned and Koku stood ready +with the deadly electric rifles, in case an attack should be made on +them. But the fighting natives paid no more attention to our friends +than they did to the two Englishmen. The latter moved their clumsy +camera from place to place, in order to get various views of the +fighting. + +"This is the best yet!" cried Tom, as, after a lull in the fight, when +the two opposing armies had drawn a little apart, they came together +again more desperately than before. "I hope the pictures are being +recorded all right. I have to go at this thing pretty much in the dark. +Say, look at the beggars fight!" he finished. + +But a battle, even between uncivilized blacks, cannot go on for very +long at a time. Many had fallen, some being quite severely injured it +seemed, being carried off by their friends. Then, with a sudden rush, +the side which, as our friends learned later, had been robbed of their +cattle, made a fierce attack, overwhelming their enemies, and +compelling them to retreat. Across the open plain the vanquished army +fled, with the others after them. Tom, meanwhile, taking pictures as +fast as he could. + +"This ends it!" he remarked to Ned, when the warriors were too far away +to make any more good views. "Now we can take a rest." + +"The Englishmen gave up some time ago," said his chum, motioning to the +two men who were taking their machine off the tripod. + +"Guess their films gave out," spoke Tom. "Well, you see it didn't do +any harm to come down, and I got some better views here." + +"Here they come back!" exclaimed Ned, as a horde of the black fellows +emerged from the jungle, and came on over the plain. + +"Hear 'em sing!" commented Tom, as the sound of a rude chant came to +their ears. "They must be the winners all right." + +"I guess so," agreed Ned. "But what about staying here now? Maybe they +won't be so friendly to us when they haven't any fighting to occupy +their minds." + +"Don't worry," advised Tom. "They won't bother us." + +And the blacks did not. They were caring for their wounded, who had not +already been taken from the field, and they paid no attention to our +friends, save to look curiously at the airship. + +"Bless my newspaper!" cried Mr. Damon, with an air of relief. "I'm +glad that's over, and we didn't have to use the electric rifles, after +all." + +"Here come the Englishmen to pay us a visit," spoke Ned a little later, +as they sat about the cabin of the Flyer. The two rival picture men +soon climbed on deck. + +"Beg pardon," said the taller of the two, addressing our hero, "but +could you lend us a roll of film? Ours are all used up, and we want to +get some more pictures before going back to our main camp." + +"I'm sorry," replied Tom, "but I use a special size, and it fits no +camera but my own." + +"Ah! might we see your camera?" asked the other Englishman. "That is, +see how it works?" + +"I don't like to be disobliging," was Tom's answer, "but it is not yet +patented and--well--" he hesitated. + +"Oh, I see!" sneered the taller visitor. "You're afraid we might steal +some of your ideas. Hum! Come on Montgomery," and, swinging on his +heels, with a military air, he hurried away, followed by his companion. + +"They don't like that, but I can't help it," remarked Tom to his +friends a little later. "I can't afford to take any chances." + +"No, you did just right," said Mr. Nestor. "Those men may be all right, +but from the fact that they are in the picture taking business I'd be +suspicious of them." + +"Well, what's next on the programme?" asked Ned as Tom put his camera +away. + +"Oh, I think we'll stay here over night," was our hero's reply. "It's +a nice location, and the gas machine needs cleaning. We can do it here, +and maybe I can get some more pictures." + +They were busy the rest of the day on the gas generator, but the main +body of natives did not come back, and the Englishmen seemed to have +disappeared. + +Everyone slept soundly that night. So soundly, in fact, that the sun +was very high when Koku was the first to awaken, His head felt +strangely dizzy, and he wondered at a queer smell in the room he had to +himself. + +"Nobody up yet," he exclaimed in surprise, as he staggered into the +main cabin. There, too, was the strange, sweetish, sickly smell. "Mr. +Tom, where you be? Time to get up!" the giant called to his master, as +he went in, and gently shook the young inventor by the shoulder. + +"Eh? What's that? What's the matter?" began Tom, and then he suddenly +sat up. "Oh, my head!" he exclaimed, putting his hands to his aching +temples. + +"And that queer smell!" added Ned, who was also awake now. + +"Bless my talcum powder!" cried Mr. Damon. "I have a splitting +headache." + +"Hum! Chloroform, if I'm any judge!" called Mr. Nestor from his berth. + +"Chloroform!" cried Tom, staggering to his feet. "I wonder." He did not +finish his sentence, but made his way to the room where his camera was +kept. "It's gone!" he cried. "We have been chloroformed in the night, +and some one has taken my Wizard Camera." + + + + +CHAPTER XX + +AFTER THE ENGLISHMEN + + +"The camera gone!" gasped Ned. + +"Did they chloroform us?" exclaimed Mr. Damon. "Bless my--" but for one +of the few times in his life, he did not know what to bless. + +"Get all the fresh air you can," hastily advised Mr. Nestor. "Koku, +open all the doors and windows," for, though it was hot during the day +in the jungle, the nights were cool, and the airship was generally +closed up. With the inrush of the fresh air every one soon felt better. + +"Is anything else gone?" asked Ned, as he followed Tom into the camera +room. + +"Yes, several rolls of unexposed films. Oh, if only they haven't got +too much of a start! I'll get it away from them!" declared Tom with +energy. + +"From who? Who took it?" asked Ned. + +"Those Englishmen, of course! Who else? I believe they are in the pay +of Turbot and Eckert. Their taking pictures was only a bluff! They got +on my trail and stuck to it. The delays we had, gave them a chance to +catch up to us. They came over to the airship, to pretend to borrow +films, just to get a look at the place, and size it up, so they could +chloroform us, and get the camera." + +"I believe you're right," declared Mr. Nestor. "We must get after those +scoundrels as quickly as possible!" + +"Bless my shoulder braces!" cried Mr. Damon. "How do you imagine they +worked that trick on us?" + +"Easily enough," was Mr. Nestor's opinion. "We were all dead tired last +night, and slept like tops. They watched their chance, sneaked up, and +got in. After that it was no hard matter to chloroform each one of us +in turn, and they had the ship to themselves. They looked around, found +the camera, and made off with it." + +"Well, I'm going to get right after them!" cried Tom. "Ned, start the +motor. I'll steer for a while." + +"Hold on! Wait a minute," suggested Mr. Nestor. "I wouldn't go off in +the ship just yet, Tom." + +"Why not?" + +"Because you don't know which way to go. We must find out which trail +the Englishmen took. They have African porters with them, and those +porters doubtless know some of the blacks around here. We must inquire +of the natives which way the porters went, in carrying the goods of our +rivals, for those Englishmen would not abandon camp without taking +their baggage with them." + +"That's so," admitted the young inventor. "That will be the best plan. +Once I find which way they have gone I can easily overtake them in the +airship. And when I find 'em--" Tom paused significantly. + +"Me help you fix 'em!" cried Koku, clenching his big fist. + +"They will probably figure it out that you will take after them," said +Mr. Nestor, "but they may not count on you doing it in the Flyer, and +so they may not try to hide. It isn't going to be an easy matter to +pick a small party out of the jungle though, Tom." + +"Well, I've done more difficult things in my airships," spoke our hero. +"I'll fly low, and use the glass. I guess we can pick out their crowd +of porters, though they won't have many. Oh, my camera! I hope they +won't damage it." + +"They won't," was Ned's opinion. "It's too valuable. They want it to +take pictures with, themselves." + +"Maybe. I hope they don't open it, and see how it's made. And I'm glad +I thought to hide the picture films I've taken so far. They didn't get +those away from us, only some of the blank ones," and Tom looked again +in a secret closet, where he kept the battle-films, and the others, in +the dark, to prevent them from being light-struck, by any possible +chance. + +"Well, if we're going to make some inquiries, let's do it," suggested +Mr. Nestor. "I think I see some of the Africans over there. They have +made a temporary camp, it seems, to attend to some of their wounded." + +"Do you think we can make them understand what we want?" asked Ned. "I +don't believe they speak English." + +"Oh these blacks have been trading with white men," said Tom, "for they +have 'trader's' guns, built to look at, and not to shoot very well. I +fancy we can make ourselves understood. If not, we can use signs." + +Leaving Koku and Mr. Damon to guard the airship, Tom, Ned and Mr. +Nestor went to the African camp. There was a large party of men there, +and they seemed friendly enough. Probably winning the battle the day +before had put them in good humor, even though many of them were hurt. + +To Tom's delight he found one native who could speak a little English, +and of him they made inquiries as to what direction the Englishmen had +taken. The black talked for a while among his fellows, and then +reported to our friends that, late in the night, one of the porters, +hired by Montgomery and Kenneth, had come to camp to bid a brother +good-bye. This porter had said that his masters were in a hurry to get +away, and had started west. + +"That's it!" cried Mr. Nestor. "They're going to get somewhere so they +can make their way to the coast. They want to get out of Africa as fast +as they can." + +"And I'm going to get after 'em as fast as I can!" cried Tom grimly. +"Come on!" + +They hurried back to the airship, finding Koku and Mr. Damon peacefully +engaged in talk, no one having disturbed them. + +"Start the motor, Ned!" called his chum. "We'll see what luck we have!" + +Up into the air went the Flyer, her great propellers revolving rapidly. +Over the jungle she shot, and then, when he found that everything was +working well, and that the cleaned gas generator was operating as good +as when it was new, the young inventor slowed up, and brought the craft +down to a lower level. + +"For we don't want to run past these fellows, or shoot over their heads +in our hurry," Tom explained. "Ned, get out the binoculars. They're +easier to handle than the telescope. Then go up forward, and keep a +sharp lookout. There is something like a jungle trail below us, and it +looks to be the only one around here. They probably took that." Soon +after leaving the place where they had camped after the battle, Tom had +seen a rude path through the forest, and had followed that lead. + +On sped the Flyer, after the two Englishmen, while Tom thought +regretfully of his stolen camera. + + + + +CHAPTER XXI + +THE JUNGLE FIRE + + +"Well, Tom, I don't seem to see anything of them," remarked Ned that +afternoon, as he sat in the bow of the air craft, gazing from time to +time through the powerful glasses. + +"No, and I can't understand it, either," responded the young inventor, +who had come forward to relieve his chum. "They didn't have much the +start of us, and they'll have to travel very slowly. It isn't as if +they could hop on a train; and, even if they did, I could overtake them +in a short time. But they have to travel on foot through the jungle, +and can't have gone far." + +"Maybe they have bullock carts," suggested Mr. Damon. + +"The trail isn't wide enough for that," declared Tom. "We've come quite +a distance now, even if we have been running at low speed, and we +haven't seen even a black man on the trail," and he motioned to the +rude path below them. + +"They may have taken a boat and slipped down that river we crossed a +little while ago," suggested Ned. + +"That's so!" cried Tom. "Why didn't I think of it? Say! I'm going to +turn back." + +"Turn back?" + +"Yes, and go up and down the stream a way. We have time, for we can +easily run at top speed on the return trip. Then, if we don't see +anything of them on the water, we'll pick up the trail again. Put her +around, Ned, and I'll take the glasses for a while." + +The Flyer was soon shooting back over the same trail our friends had +covered, and, as Ned set the propellers going at top speed, they were +quickly hovering over a broad but shallow river, which cut through the +jungle. + +"Try it down stream first," suggested Tom, who was peering through the +binoculars. "They'd be most likely to go down, as it would be easier." + +Along over the stream swept the airship, covering several miles. + +"There's a boat!" suddenly exclaimed Mr. Nestor, pointing to a native +canoe below them. + +"Bless my paddle wheel! So it is!" cried Mr. Damon. "I believe it's +them, Tom!" + +"No, there are only natives in that craft," answered the young inventor +a moment later, as he brought the binoculars into focus. "I wish it +was them, though." + +A few more miles were covered down stream, and then Tom tried the +opposite direction. But all to no purpose. A number of boats were seen, +and several rafts, but they had no white men on them. + +"Maybe the Englishmen disguised themselves like natives, Tom," +suggested Ned. + +Our hero shook his head. + +"I could see everything in the boats, through these powerful glasses," +he replied, "and there was nothing like my camera. I'd know that a mile +off. No, they didn't take to this stream, though they probably crossed +it. We'll have to keep on the way we were going. It will soon be night, +and we'll have to camp. Then we'll take up the search to-morrow." + +It was just getting dusk, and Tom was looking about for a good place to +land in the jungle, when Ned, who was standing in the bow, cried: + +"I say, Tom, here's a native village just ahead. There's a good place +to stop, and we can stay there over night." + +"Good!" exclaimed Tom. "And, what's more, we can make some inquiries as +to whether or not the Englishmen have passed here. This is great! +Maybe we'll come out all right, after all! They can't travel at +night--or at least I don't believe they will--and if they have passed +this village we can catch them to-morrow. We'll go down." + +They were now over the native town, which was in a natural clearing in +the jungle. The natives had by this time caught sight of the big +airship over them, and were running about in terror. There was not a +man, woman or child in sight when the Flyer came down, for the +inhabitants had all fled in fright. + +"Not much of a chance to make inquiries of these folks," said Mr. +Nestor. + +"Oh, they'll come back," predicted Tom. "They are naturally curious, +and when they see that the thing isn't going to blow up, they'll gather +around. I've seen the same thing happen before." + +Tom proved a true prophet. In a little while some of the men began +straggling back, when they saw our friends walking about the airship, +as it rested on the ground. Then came the children, and then the women, +until the whole population was gathered about the airship, staring at +it wonderingly. Tom made signs of friendship, and was lucky enough to +find a native who knew a few French words. Tom was not much of a French +scholar, but he could frame a question as to the Englishmen. + +"Oui!" exclaimed the native, when he understood. Then he rattled off +something, which Tom, after having it repeated, and making signs to the +man to make sure he understood, said meant that the Englishmen had +passed through the village that morning. + +"We're on the right trail!" cried the young inventor. "They're only a +day's travel ahead of us. We'll catch them to-morrow, and get my camera +back." + +The natives soon lost all fear of the airship, and some of the chief +men even consented to come aboard. Tom gave them a few trifles for +presents, and won their friendship to such an extent that a great feast +was hastily gotten up in honor of the travelers. Big fires were +lighted, and fowls by the score were roasted. + +"Say, I'm glad we struck this place!" exclaimed Ned, as he sat on the +ground with the others, eating roast fowl. "This is all to the chicken +salad!" + +"Things are coming our way at last," remarked Tom. "We'll start the +first thing in the morning. I wish I had my camera now. I'd take a +picture of this scene. Dad would enjoy it, and so would Mrs. Baggert. +Oh, I almost wish I was home again. But if I get my camera I've got a +lot more work ahead of me." + +"What kind?" asked Ned. + +"I don't know. I'm to stop in Paris for the next instructions from Mr. +Period. He is keeping in touch with the big happenings of the world, +and he may send us to Japan, to get some earthquake pictures." + +The night was quiet after the feast, and in the morning Tom and his +friends sailed off in their airship, leaving behind the wondering and +pleased natives, for our hero handed out more presents, of small value +to him, but yet such things as the blacks prized highly. + +Once more they were flying over the trail, and they put on more speed +now, for they were fairly sure that the men they sought were ahead of +them about a day's travel. This meant perhaps twenty miles, and Tom +figured that he could cover fifteen in a hurry, and then go over the +remaining five slowly, so as not to miss his quarry. + +"Say, don't you smell something?" asked Ned a little later, when the +airship had been slowed down. "Something like smoke?" + +"Humph! I believe I do get an odor of something burning," admitted Tom, +sniffing the atmosphere. + +"Bless my pocket book!" exclaimed Mr. Damon, "look down there, boys!" +He pointed below, and, to the surprise of the lads, and no less of +himself, he saw many animals hurrying back along the jungle trail. + +There were scores of deer, leaping along, here and there a tawny lion, +and one or two tigers. Off to one side a rhinoceros crashed his way +through the tangle, and occasionally an elephant was seen. + +"That's queer," cried Ned. "And they're not paying any attention to +each other, either." + +"Something is happening," was Mr. Nestor's opinion. "Those animals are +running away from something." + +"Maybe it's an elephant drive," spoke Tom. "I think--" + +But he did not finish. The smell of smoke suddenly became stronger, +and, a moment later, as the airship rose higher, in response to a +change in the angle of the deflecting rudder, which Ned shifted, all on +board saw a great volume of black smoke rolling toward the sky. + +"A jungle fire!" cried Tom. "The jungle is burning! That's why the +animals are running back this way." + +"We'd better not go on!" shouted Ned, choking a bit, as the smoke +rolled nearer. + +"No, we've got to turn back!" decided Tom. "Say, this will stop the +Englishmen! They can't go on. We'll go back to the village we left, and +wait for them. They're trapped!" And then he added soberly: "I hope my +camera doesn't get burnt up!" + + + + +CHAPTER XXII + +A DANGEROUS COMMISSION + + +"Look at that smoke!" yelled Ned, as he sent the airship about in a +great circle on the backward trail. + +"And there's plenty of blaze, too," added Tom. "See the flames eating +away! This stuff is as dry as tinder for there hasn't been any rain for +months." + +"Much hot!" was the comment of the giant, when he felt the warm wind of +the fire. + +"Bless my fountain pen!" gasped Mr. Damon, as he looked down into the +jungle. "See all those animals!" + +The trail was now thick with deer, and many small beasts, the names of +which Tom did not know. On either side could be heard larger brutes, +crashing their way forward to escape the fire behind them. + +"Oh, if you only had your camera now!" cried Ned. "You could get a +wonderful picture, Tom." + +"What's the use of wishing for it. Those Englishmen have it, and--" + +"Maybe they're using it!" interrupted Ned. "No, I don't think they +would know how to work it. Do you see anything of them, Ned?" + +"Not a sight. But they'll surely have to come back, just as you said, +unless they got ahead of the fire. They can't go on, and it would be +madness to get off the trail in a jungle like this." + +"I don't believe they could have gotten ahead of the fire," spoke Tom. +"They couldn't travel fast enough for that, and see how broad the blaze +is." + +They were now higher up, well out of the heat and smoke of the +conflagration, and they could see that it extended for many miles along +the trail, and for a mile or so on either side of it. + +"We're far enough in advance, now, to go down a bit, I guess," said +Tom, a little later. "I want to get a good view of the path, and I +can't do that from up here. I have an idea that--" + +Tom did not finish, for as the airship approached nearer the ground, he +caught up a pair of binoculars, and focussed them on something on the +trail below. + +"What is it?" cried Ned, startled by something in his chum's manner. + +"It's them! The Englishmen!" cried Tom. "See, they are racing back +along the trail. Their porters have deserted them. But they have my +camera! I can see it! I'm going down, and get it! Ned, stand by the +wheel, and make a quick landing. Then we'll go up again!" + +Tom handed the glasses to his chum, and Ned quickly verified the young +inventor's statement. There were the two rascally Englishmen. The fire +was still some distance in the rear, but was coming on rapidly. There +were no animals to be seen, for they had probably gone off on a side +trail, or had slunk deeper into the jungle. Above the distant roar of +the blaze sounded the throb of the airship's motor. The Englishmen +heard it, and looked up. Then, suddenly, they motioned to Tom to +descend. + +"That's what I'm going to do," he said aloud, but of course they could +not hear him. + +"They're waiting for us!" cried Ned. "I wonder why?" for the rascals +had come to a halt, setting down the packs they carried on the trail. +One of the things they had was undoubtedly Tom's camera. + +"They probably want us to save their lives," said Tom. "They know they +can't out-run this fire. They've given up! We have them now!" + +"Are you going to save them?" asked Mr. Damon. + +"Of course. I wouldn't let my worst enemy run the chances of danger in +that terrible blaze. I'd save them even if they had smashed my camera. +I'll go down, and get them, and take them back to the native village, +but that's as far as I will carry them. They'll have to get away as +best they can, after that." + +It was the work of but a few minutes to lower the airship to the trail. +Fortunately it widened a bit at this point, or Tom could never have +gotten his craft down through the trees. + +"Hand up that camera!" ordered our hero curtly, when he had stopped +near the Englishmen. + +"Yes, my dear chap," spoke the tall Britisher, "but will you oblige us, +by taking us--" + +"Hand up the camera first!" sharply ordered Tom again. + +They passed it to him. + +"I know we treated you beastly mean," went on Kenneth, "but, my dear +chap--" + +"Get aboard," was all Tom said, and when the rascals, with fearful +glances back into the burning jungle, did so, our hero sent his craft +high into the air again. + +"Where are you taking us, my dear chap?" asked the tall rascal. + +"Don't 'dear chap' me!" retorted Tom. "I don't want to talk to you. I'm +going to drop you at the native village." + +"But that will burn!" cried the Englishman. + +"The wind is changing," was our hero's answer. "The fire won't get to +the village. You'll be safe. Have you damaged my camera?" he asked as +he began to examine it, while Ned managed the ship. + +"No, my dear chap. You mustn't think too hard of us. We were both down +on our luck, and a chap offered us a big sum to get on your trail, and +secure the camera. He said you had filched it from him, and that he had +a right to it. Understand, we wouldn't have taken it had we known--" + +"Don't talk to me!" interrupted Tom, as he saw that his apparatus had +not been damaged. "The man who hired you was a rascal--that's all I'll +say. Put on a little more speed, Ned. I want to get rid of these 'dear +chaps' and take some pictures of the jungle fire." + +As Tom had said, the wind had changed, and was blowing the flames away +off to one side, so that the native village would be in no danger. It +was soon reached, and the Africans were surprised to see Tom's airship +back again. But he did not stay long, descending only to let the +Englishmen alight. They pleaded to be taken to the coast, making all +sorts of promises, and stating that, had they known that Turbot and +Eckert (for whom they admitted they had acted) were not telling the +truth, they never would have taken Tom's camera. + +"Don't leave us here!" they pleaded. + +"I wouldn't have you on board my airship another minute for a fortune!" +declared Tom, as he signalled to Ned to start the motor. Then the Flyer +ascended on high, leaving the plotters and started back for the fire, +of which Tom got a series of fine moving pictures. + +A week later our friends were in Paris, having made a quick trip, on +which little of incident occurred, though Tom managed to get quite a +number of good views on the way. + +He found a message awaiting him, from Mr. Period. + +"Well, where to now?" asked Ned, as his chum read the cablegram. + +"Great Scott!" cried our hero. "Talk about hair-raising jobs, this +certainly is the limit!" + +"Why, what's the matter?" + +"I've got to get some moving pictures of a volcano in action," was the +answer. "Say, if I'd known what sort of things 'Spotty' wanted, I'd +never have consented to take this trip. A volcano in action, and maybe +an earthquake on the side! This is certainly going some!" + + + + +CHAPTER XXIII + +AT THE VOLCANO + + +"And you've got to snap-shot a volcano?" remarked Ned to his chum, +after a moment of surprised silence. "Any particular one? Is it +Vesuvius? If it is we haven't far to go. But how does Mr. Period know +that it's going to get into action when we want it to?" + +"No, it isn't Vesuvius," replied Tom. "We've got to take another long +trip, and we'll have to go by steamer again. The message says that the +Arequipa volcano, near the city of the same name, in Peru, has started +to 'erupt,' and, according to rumor, it's acting as it did many years +ago, just before a big upheaval." + +"Bless my Pumice stones!" cried Mr. Damon. "And are you expected to get +pictures of it shooting out flames and smoke, Tom?" + +"Of course. An inactive volcano wouldn't make much of a moving picture. +Well, if we go to Peru, we won't be far from the United States, and we +can fly back home in the airship. But we've got to take the Flyer +apart, and pack up again." + +"Will you have time?" asked Mr. Nestor. "Maybe the volcano will get +into action before you arrive, and the performance will be all over +with." + +"I think not," spoke Tom, as he again read the cablegram. "Mr. Period +says he has advices from Peru to the effect that, on other occasions, +it took about a month from the time smoke was first seen coming from +the crater, before the fireworks started up. I guess we've got time +enough, but we won't waste any." + +"And I guess Montgomery and Kenneth won't be there to make trouble for +us," put in Ned. "It will be some time before they get away from that +African town, I think." + +They began work that day on taking the airship apart for transportation +to the steamer that was to carry them across the ocean. Tom decided on +going to Panama, to get a series of pictures on the work of digging +that vast canal. On inquiry he learned that a steamer was soon to sail +for Colon, so he took passage for his friends and himself on that, also +arranging for the carrying of the parts of his airship. + +It was rather hard work to take the Flyer apart, but it was finally +done, and, in about a week from the time of arriving in Paris, they +left that beautiful city. The pictures already taken were forwarded to +Mr. Period, with a letter of explanation of Tom's adventures thus far, +and an account of how his rivals had acted. + +Just before sailing, Tom received another message from his strange +employer. The cablegram read: + + +"Understand our rivals are also going to try for volcano pictures. +Can't find out who will represent Turbot and Eckert, but watch out. Be +suspicious of strangers." + + +"That's what I will!" cried Tom. "If they get my camera away from me +again, it will be my own fault." + +The voyage to Colon was not specially interesting. They ran into a +terrific storm, about half way over, and Tom took some pictures from +the steamer's bridge, the captain allowing him to do so, but warning +him to be careful. + +"I'll take Koku up there with me," said the young inventor, "and if a +wave tries to wash me overboard he'll grab me." + +And it was a good thing that he took this precaution, for, while a wave +did not get as high as the bridge, one big, green roller smashed over +the bow of the vessel, staggering her so that Tom was tossed against +the rail. He would have been seriously hurt, and his camera might have +been broken, but for the quickness of the giant. + +Koku caught his master, camera and all, in a mighty arm, and with the +other clung to a stanchion, holding Tom in safety until the ship was on +a level keel once more. + +"Thanks, Koku!" gasped Tom. "You always seem to be around when I need +you." The giant grinned happily. + +The storm blew out in a few days, and, from then on, there was pleasant +sailing. When Tom's airship had been reassembled at Colon, it created +quite a sensation among the small army of canal workers, and, for their +benefit, our hero gave several flying exhibitions. + +He then took some of the engineers on a little trip, and in turn, they +did him the favor of letting him get moving pictures of parts of the +work not usually seen. + +"And now for the volcano!" cried Tom one morning, when having shipped +to Mr. Period the canal pictures, the Flyer was sent aloft, and her +nose pointed toward Arequipa. "We've got quite a run before us." + +"How long?" asked Ned. + +"About two thousand miles. But I'm going to speed her up to the limit." +Tom was as good as his word, and soon the Flyer was shooting along at +her best rate, reeling off mile after mile, just below the clouds. + +It was a wild and desolate region over which the travelers found +themselves most of the time, though the scenery was magnificent. They +sailed over Quito, that city on the equator, and, a little later, they +passed above the Cotopaxi and Chimbarazo volcanoes. But neither of them +was in action. The Andes Mountains, as you all know, has many volcanoes +scattered along the range. Lima was the next large city, and there Tom +made a descent to inquire about the burning mountain he was shortly to +photograph. + +"It will soon be in action," the United States counsel said. "I had a +letter from a correspondent near there only yesterday, and he said the +people in the town were getting anxious. They are fearing a shower of +burning ashes, or that the eruption may be accompanied by an +earthquake." + +"Good!" cried Tom. "Oh, I don't mean it exactly that way," he hastened +to add, as he saw the counsel looking queerly at him. "I meant that I +could get pictures of both earthquake and volcano then. I don't wish +the poor people any harm." + +"Well, you're the first one I ever saw who was anxious to get next door +to a volcano," remarked the counsel. "Hold on, though, that's not quite +right. I heard yesterday that a couple of young fellows passed through +here on their way to the same place. Come to think of it, they were +moving picture men, also." + +"Great Scott!" cried Tom. "Those must be my rivals, I'll wager. I must +get right on the job. Thanks for the information," and hurrying from +the office he joined his friends on the airship, and was soon aloft +again. + +"Look, Tom, what's that?" cried Ned, about noon the next day when the +Flyer, according to their calculations must be nearing the city of +Arequipa. "See that black cloud over there. I hope it isn't a tornado, +or a cyclone, or whatever they call the big wind storms down here." + +Tom, and the others, looked to where Ned pointed. There was a column of +dense smoke hovering in the air, lazily swirling this way and that. The +airship was rapidly approaching it. + +"Why that--" began Tom, but before he could complete the sentence the +smoke was blown violently upward. It became streaked with fire, and, a +moment later, there was the echo of a tremendous explosion. + +"The volcano!" cried Tom. "The Arequipa volcano! We're here just in +time, for she's in eruption now! Come on, Ned, help me get out the +camera! Mr. Damon, you and Mr. Nestor manage the airship! Put us as +close as you dare! I'm going to get some crackerjack pictures!" + +Once more came a great report. + +"Bless my toothpick!" gasped Mr. Damon. "This is awful!" And the +airship rushed on toward the volcano which could be plainly seen now, +belching forth fire, smoke and ashes. + + + + +CHAPTER XXIV + +THE MOLTEN RIVER + + +"Whew!" gasped Ned, as he stood beside Tom in the bow of the airship. +"What's that choking us, Tom?" + +"Sulphur, I guess, and gases from the volcano. The wind blew 'em over +this way. They're not dangerous, as long as there is no carbonic acid +gas given off, and I don't smell any of that, yet. Say, Ned, it's +erupting all right, isn't it?" + +"I should say so!" cried his chum. + +"Put us a little to one side, Mr. Damon," called Tom to his friend, who +was in the pilot house. "I can't get good pictures through so much +smoke. It's clearer off to the left." + +"Bless my bath robe!" cried the odd man. "You're as cool about it, Tom, +as though you were just in an ordinary race, at an aeroplane meet." + +"And why shouldn't I be?" asked our hero with a laugh, as he stopped +the mechanism of the camera until he should have a clearer view of the +volcano. "There's not much danger up here, but I want to get some views +from the level, later, and then--" + +"You don't get me down there!" interrupted Mr. Nestor, with a grim +laugh. + +They were now hovering over the volcano, but high enough up so that +none of the great stones that were being thrown out could reach them. +The column of black smoke, amid which could be seen the gleams of the +molten fires in the crater, rolled toward them, and the smell of +sulphur became stronger. + +But when, in accordance with Tom's suggestion, the airship had been +sent over to one side, they were clear of the vapor and the noxious +gas. Then, too, a better view could be had of the volcano below them. + +"Hold her down!" cried Tom, as he got in a good position, and the +propellers were slowed down so that they just overcame the influence of +a slight wind. Thus the Flyer hovered in the air, while below her the +volcano belched forth red-hot rocks, some of them immense in size, and +quantities of hot ashes and cinders. Tom had the camera going again +now, and there was every prospect of getting a startling and wonderful, +as well as rare series of moving pictures. + +"Wow! That was a big one!" cried Ned, as an unusually large mass of +rocks was thrown out, and the column of fire and smoke ascended nearly +to the hovering craft. A moment later came an explosion, louder than +any that had preceded. "We'd better be going up; hadn't we Tom?" his +chum asked. + +"A little, yes, but not too far. I want to get as many near views as I +can." + +"Bless my overshoes!" gasped Mr. Damon, as he heard Tom say that. Then +he sent some of the vapor from the generating machine into the gas bag, +and the Flyer arose slightly. + +Ned looked in the direction of the town, but could not see it, on +account of the haze. Then he directed his attention to the terrifying +sight below him. + +"It's a good thing it isn't very near the city," he said to Tom, who +was engaged in watching the automatic apparatus of the camera, to see +when he would have to put in a fresh film. "It wouldn't take much of +this sort of thing to destroy a big city. But I don't see any streams +of burning lava, such as they always say come out of a volcano." + +"It isn't time for that yet," replied Tom. "The lava comes out last, +after the top layer of stones and ashes have been blown out. They are a +sort of stopper to the volcano, I guess, like the cork of a bottle, +and, when they're out of the way, the red-hot melted rock comes out. +Then there's trouble. I want to get pictures of that." + +"Well, keep far enough away," advised Mr. Nestor, who had come forward. +"Don't take any chances. I guess your rivals won't get here in time to +take any pictures, for they can't travel as fast as we did." + +"No," agreed the young inventor, "unless some other party of them were +here ahead of us. They'll have their own troubles, though, making +pictures anything like as good as we're getting." + +"There goes another blast!" cried Ned, as a terrific explosion sounded, +and a shower of hot stuff was thrown high into the air. "If I lived in +Arequipa I'd be moving out about now." + +"There isn't much danger I guess, except from showers of burning ashes, +and volcanic dust," spoke Mr. Nestor, "and the wind is blowing it away +from the town. If it continues this way the people will be saved." + +"Unless there is so much of the red-hot lava that it will bury the +city," suggested Tom. "I hope that doesn't happen," and he could not +repress a shudder as he looked down on the awful scene below him. + +After that last explosion the volcano appeared to subside somewhat, +though great clouds of smoke and tongues of fire leaped upward. + +"I've got to put in a new reel of film!" suddenly exclaimed Tom. "While +I stop the camera, Mr. Damon, I think you and Mr. Nestor might put the +airship down to the ground. I want some views on the level." + +"What! Go down to earth with this awful volcano spouting fire?" cried +Mr. Damon. "Bless my comb and brush!" + +"We can get well down the side of the mountain," said Tom. "I won't go +into any danger, much less ask any one else to do so, and I certainly +don't want my ship damaged. We can land down there," he said, pointing +to a spot on the side of the volcanic mountain, that was some distance +removed from the mouth of the crater. "It won't take me long to get one +reel of views, and then I'll come up again." + +The two men finally gave in to Tom's argument, that there was +comparatively little danger, for they admitted that they could quickly +rise up at the first sign of danger, and accordingly the Flyer +descended. Tom quickly had a fresh reel of film inserted, and started +his camera to working, standing it on a tripod some distance from the +airship. + +Once more the volcano was "doing its prettiest," as Tom expressed it. +He glanced around, as another big explosion took place, to see if any +other picture men were on hand, but the terrible mountain seemed +deserted, though of course someone might be on the other side. + +"What's that?" suddenly cried Ned, looking apprehensively at his chum. +At the same time Tom jumped to his feet, for he had been kneeling near +the camera. + +"Bless my--" began Mr. Damon, but he got no farther, for suddenly the +solid ground began to tremble and shake. + +"An earthquake!" shouted Mr. Nestor. "Come, Tom! Get back to the ship!" +The young inventor and Ned had been the only ones to leave it, as it +rested on a spur of the mountain. + +As Tom and Ned leaped forward to save the camera which was toppling to +one side, there came a great fissure in the side of the volcano, and a +stream of molten rock, glowing white with heat, gushed out. It was a +veritable river of melted stone, and it was coming straight for the two +lads. + +"Run! Run!" cried Mr. Nestor. "We have everything ready for a quick +flight. Run, Tom! Ned!" + +The lads leaped for the Flyer, the molten rock coming nearer and +nearer, and then with a cry Koku sprang overboard and made a dash +toward his master. + + + + +CHAPTER XXV + +THE EARTHQUAKE--CONCLUSION + + +"Here, Mr. Tom. Me carry you an' Ned. You hold picture machine!" cried +the giant. "Me run faster." + +As he spoke he lifted Ned up under one arm, and caught Tom in the +other. For they were but as children to his immense strength. Tom held +on to his camera, and, thus laden down, Koku ran as he had never run +before, toward the waiting airship. + +"Come on! Come on!" shouted Mr. Damon, for he could see what Tom, Ned +and Koku could not, that the stream of lava was nearing them rapidly. + +"It's hot!" cried Ned, as a wave of warm air fanned his cheek. + +"I should say so!" cried Tom. "The volcano is full of red-hot melted +stone." + +There came a sickening shake of the earth. Koku staggered as he ran on, +but he kept his feet, and did not fall. Again came a tremendous +explosion, and a shower of fine ashes sifted over the airship, and on +Koku and his living burdens. + +"This is the worst ever!" gasped Tom. "But I've got some dandy +pictures, if we ever get away from here alive to develop them." + +"Hurry, Koku! Hurry!" begged Mr. Nestor. "Bless my shoe laces!" yelled +Mr. Damon, who was fairly jumping up and down on the deck of the Flyer. +"I'll never go near a volcano again!" + +Once more the ground shook and trembled, as the earthquake rent it. +Several cracks appeared in Koku's path, but he leaped over them with +tremendous energy. A moment later he had thrust Tom and Ned over the +rail, to the deck, and leaped aboard himself. + +"Let her go!" cried Tom. "I'll do the rest of my moving picture work, +around volcanoes and earthquakes, from up in the air!" + +The Flyer shot upward, and scarcely a moment too soon, for, an instant +after she left the ground, the stream of hot, burning and bubbling lava +rolled beneath her, and those on board could feel the heat of it +ascending. + +"Say, I'm glad we got out of that when we did," gasped Ned, as he +looked down. "You're all right, Koku." + +"That no trouble," replied the giant with a cheerful grin. "Me carry +four fellows like you," and he stretched out his big arms. Tom had at +once set his camera to working again, taking view after view. + +It was a terrifying but magnificent sight that our friends beheld, for +the earth was trembling and heaving. Great fissures opened in many +places. Into some of them streams of lava poured, for now the volcano +had opened in several places, and from each crack the melted rocks +belched out. The crater, however, was not sending into the air such +volumes of smoke and ashes as before, as most of the tremendous energy +had passed, or was being used to spout out the lava. + +The earthquake was confined to the region right about the volcano, or +there might have been a great loss of life in the city. As it was, the +damage done was comparatively slight. + +Tom continued to take views, some showing the earth as it was twisted +and torn, and other different aspects of the crater. Then, as suddenly +as the earthquake had begun, it subsided, and the volcano was less +active. + +"My! I'm glad to see that!" exclaimed Mr. Damon. "I've had about enough +of horrors!" + +"And I have too," added Tom. "I'm on my last roll of film, and I can't +take many more pictures. But I guess I have all Mr. Period needs, and +we'll start for home, as soon as I finish the next roll. But I'm going +to save that for a night view. That will be a novelty." + +The volcano became active again after dark, and presented a magnificent +though terrifying aspect. As the airship hovered above it, Tom got some +of his best pictures, and then, as the last bit of film slipped along +back of the lens, the airship was headed north. + +"Now for Shopton!" cried Tom. "Our trip is ended." + +"It's too had you didn't have more film," said Ned. "I thought you had +plenty." + +"Well, I used more than I counted on, but there are enough pictures as +it is." + +"Plenty," agreed Mr. Nestor. "I'm sure our company will be very well +satisfied with them, Tom. We can't get home any too soon to suit me. +I've had enough excitement." + +"And we didn't see anything of those other fellows whom we heard +about," spoke Mr. Damon, as the big airship flew on. + +"No," said Tom. "But I'm not worrying about them." + +They made another stop in Lima, on their homeward trip, to renew their +supply of gasolene, and there learned that the rival picture men had +arrived at the volcano too late to see it in operation. This news came +to a relative of one of the two men who lived in Lima. + +"Then our views of the earthquake and the smoking mountain will be the +only ones, and your company can control the rights," said Tom to Mr. +Nestor, who agreed with him. + +In due time, and without anything out of the ordinary happening the +Flyer reached Shopton, where Tom found a warm welcome awaiting him, not +only from his father, but from a certain young lady, whose name I do +not need to mention. + +"And so you got everything you went after, didn't you, Tom," exclaimed +Mr. Period, a few days later, when he had come from New York to get the +remainder of the films. + +"Yes, and some things I didn't expect," replied Tom. "There was--" + +"Yes! Yes! I know!" interrupted the odd picture man. "It was that +jungle fire. That's a magnificent series. None better. And those +scoundrels took your camera; eh?" + +"Yes. Could you connect them with Turbot and Eckert?" asked Tom. + +"No, but I'm sure they were acting for them just the same. I had no +legal evidence to act on, however, so I had to let it go. Turbot and +Eckert won't be in it when I start selling duplicates of the films you +have. And these last ought to be the best of all. I didn't catch that +fellow when I raced after him on the dock. He got away, and has steered +clear of me since," finished Mr. Period. + +"And our rivals didn't secure any views like ours," said Tom. + +"I'm glad of it," spoke Mr. Period. "Turbot and Eckert bribed one of my +men, and so found out where I was sending messages to you. They even +got a copy of my cablegram. But it did them no good." + +"Were all the films clear that I sent you?" asked our hero. + +"Every one. Couldn't be better. The animal views were particularly +fine. You must have had your nerve with you to get some of 'em." + +"Oh, Tom always has his nerve," laughed Ned. + +"Well, how soon will you be ready to start out again?" asked the +picture man, as he packed up the last of the films which Tom gave him. +"I'd like to get some views of a Japanese earthquake, and we haven't +any polar views. I want some of them, taken as near the North Pole as +you can get." + +Tom gently shook his head. + +"What! You don't mean to say you won't get them for me?" cried Mr. +Period. "With that wonderful camera of yours you can get views no one +else ever could." + +"Then some one else will have to take them," remarked the young +inventor. "I'll lend you the camera, and an airship, and you can go +yourself, Mr. Period. I'm going to stay home for a while. I did what I +set out to do, and that's enough." + +"I'm glad you'll stay home, Tom," said his father. "Now perhaps I'll +get my gyroscope finished." + +"And I, my noiseless airship," went on our hero. "No, Mr. Period, +you'll have to excuse me this time. Why don't you go yourself?" he +asked. "You would know just what kind of pictures you wanted." + +"No, I'm a promoter of the moving picture business, and I sell films, +but I don't know how to take them," was the answer. "Besides +I--er--well, I don't exactly care for airships, Tom Swift," he finished +with a laugh. "Well, I can't thank you enough for what you did for me, +and I've brought you a check to cover your expenses, and pay you as I +agreed. All the same I'm sorry you won't start for Japan, or the North +Pole." + +"Nothing doing," said Tom with a laugh; and Mr. Period departed. + +"Have you any idea what you will do next?" asked Ned, a day or so +later, when he and Tom were in the workshop. + +"I can't tell until I finish my noiseless airship," was the answer. +"Then something may happen." + +Something did, as I shall have the pleasure of telling you about in the +next volume of this series, to be called, "Tom Swift and His Great +Searchlight; or, On the Border for Uncle Sam," and in it will be given +an account of a great lantern our hero made, and how he baffled the +smugglers with it. + +"Oh, Tom, weren't you dreadfully frightened when you saw that burning +river of lava coming toward you?" asked Mary Nestor, when the young +inventor called on her later and told her some of his adventures. "I +should have been scared to death." + +"Well, I didn't have time to get scared," answered Tom. "It all +happened so quickly, and then, too I was thinking of my camera. Next I +knew Koku grabbed me, and it was all over." + +"But those wild beasts! Didn't they frighten you, especially when the +rhinoceros charged you?" + +"If you won't let it get out, I'll make a confession to you," said Tom, +lowering his voice. "I was scared stiff that time, but don't let Ned +know it." + +"I won't," promised Mary with a laugh. And now, when Tom is in such +pleasant company, we will take leave of him for a while, knowing that, +sooner or later, he will be seeking new adventures as exciting as those +of the past. + + + + +THE END + + + +----------------------------------------------------------------- + +THE TOM SWIFT SERIES + +By VICTOR APPLETON 12mo. CLOTH. UNIFORM STYLE OF BINDING. COLORED +WRAPPERS. + + +These spirited tales convey In a realistic way the wonderful advances +in land and sea locomotion. Stories like these are impressed upon the +memory and their reading is productive only of good. + +TOM SWIFT AND HIS MOTOR CYCLE + Or Fun and Adventure on the Road + +TOM SWIFT AND HIS MOTOR BOAT + Or The Rivals of Lake Carlopa + +TOM SWIFT AND HIS AIRSHIP + Or The Stirring cruise of the Red Cloud + +TOM SWIFT AND HIS SUBMARINE BOAT + Or Under the Ocean for Sunken Treasure + +TOM SWIFT AND HIS ELECTRIC RUNABOUT + Or The Speediest car on the Road + +TOM SWIFT AND HIS WIRELESS MESSAGE + Or The castaways of Earthquake Island + +TOM SWIFT AMONG THE DIAMOND MAKERS + Or The Secret of Phantom Mountain + +TOM SWIFT IN THE CAVES OF ICE + Or The Wreck of the Airship + +TOM SWIFT AND HIS SKY RACER + Or The Quickest Flight on Record + +TOM SWIFT AND HIS ELECTRIC RIFLE + Or Daring Adventures In Elephant Land + +TOM SWIFT IN THE CITY OF GOLD + Or Marvelous Adventures Underground + +TOM SWIFT AND HIS AIR GLIDER + Or Seeking the Platinum Treasure + +TOM SWIFT IN CAPTIVITY + Or A Daring Escape by Airship + +TOM SWIFT AND HIS WIZARD CAMERA + Or The Perils of Moving Picture Taking + +TOM SWIFT AND HIS GREAT SEARCHLIGHT + Or On the Border for Uncle Sam + +TOM SWIFT AND HIS GIANT CANNON + Or The Longest Shots on Record + +TOM SWIFT AND HIS PHOTO TELEPHONE + Or The Picture that Saved a Fortune + +TOM SWIFT AND HIS AERIAL WARSHIP + Or The Naval Terror of the Seas + +TOM SWIFT AND HIS BIG TUNNEL + Or The Hidden city of the Andes + + +THE BUNNY BROWN SERIES + +By LAURA LEE HOPE + +Author of the Popular "Bobbsey Twins" Books + +wrapper and text illustrations drawn by + +FLORENCE ENGLAND NOSWORTHY 12mo. DURABLY BOUND. ILLUSTRATED. UNIFORM +STYLE OF BINDING + + +These stories by the author of the "Bobbsey Twins" Books are eagerly +welcomed by the little folks from about five to ten years of age. Their +eyes fairly dance with delight at the lively doings of inquisitive +little Bunny Brown and his cunning, trustful sister Sue. + +Bunny was a lively little boy, very inquisitive. When he did anything, +Sue followed his leadership. They had many adventures, some comical in +the extreme. + + BUNNY BROWN AND HIS SISTER SUE + BUNNY BROWN AND HIS SISTER SUE ON GRANDPA'S FARM + BUNNY BROWN AND HIS SISTER SUE PLAYING CIRCUS + BUNNY BROWN AND HIS SISTER SUE AT CAMP REST-A-WHILE + BUNNY BROWN AND HIS SISTER SUE AT AUNT LU'S CITY HOME + BUNNY BROWN AND HIS SISTER SUE IN THE BIG WOODS + BUNNY BROWN AND HIS SISTER SUE ON AN AUTO TOUR + BUNNY BROWN AND HIS SISTER SUE AND THEIR SHETLAND PONY + BUNNY BROWN AND HIS SISTER SUE GIVING A SHOW + BUNNY BROWN AND HIS SISTER SUE AT CHRISTMAS TREE COVE + + +THE BOBBSEY TWINS BOOKS + +For Little Men and Women + +By LAURA LEE HOPE + +Author of "The Bunny Brown" Series. Etc. 12mo. DURABLY BOUND. +ILLUSTRATED. UNIFORM STYLE OF BINDING + + +Copyright publications which cannot be obtained elsewhere. Books that +charm the hearts of the little ones, and of which they never tire. + + THE BOBBSEY TWINS + THE BOBBSEY TWINS IN THE COUNTRY + THE BOBBSEY TWINS AT THE SEASHORE + THE BOBBSEY TWINS AT SCHOOL + THE BOBBSEY TWINS AT SNOW LODGE + THE BOBBSEY TWINS ON A HOUSEBOAT + THE BOBBSEY TWINS AT MEADOW BROOK + THE BOBBSEY TWINS AT HOME + THE BOBBSEY TWINS IN A GREAT CITY + THE BOBBSEY TWINS ON BLUEBERRY ISLAND + THE BOBBSEY TWINS ON THE DEEP BLUE SEA + THE BOBBSEY TWINS IN THE GREAT WEST + + +THE MOVING PICTURE GIRLS SERIES + +By LAURA LEE HOPE + +Author of "The Bobbsey Twins Series." + +12mo. BOUND IN CLOTH. ILLUSTRATED. UNIFORM STYLE OF BINDING + +The adventures of Ruth and Alice DeVere. Their father, a widower, is an +actor who has taken up work for the "movies." Both girls wish to aid +him in his work and visit various localities to act in all sorts of +pictures. + +THE MOVING PICTURE GIRLS + Or First Appearance in Photo Dramas. + +Having lost his voice, the father of the girls goes into the movies and +the girls follow. Tells how many "parlor dramas" are filmed. + +THE MOVING PICTURE GIRLS AT OAK FARM + Or Queer Happenings While Taking Rural Plays. + +Full of fun in the country, the haps and mishaps of taking film plays, +and giving an account of two unusual discoveries. + +THE MOVING PICTURE GIRLS SNOWBOUND + Or The Proof on the Film. + +A tale of winter adventures in the wilderness, showing how the +photo-play actors sometimes suffer. + +THE MOVING PICTURE GIRLS UNDER THE PALMS + Or Lost in the Wilds of Florida. + +How they went to the land of palms, played many parts in dramas before +the camera; were lost, and aided others who were also lost. + +THE MOVING PICTURE GIRLS AT ROCKY RANCH + Or Great Days Among the Cowboys. + +All who have ever seen moving pictures of the rest west will want to +know just how they are made. This volume gives every detail and is full +of clean fun and excitement. + +THE MOVING PICTURE GIRLS AT SEA + Or a Pictured Shipwreck that Became Real. + +A thrilling account of the girls' experiences on the water. + +THE MOVING PICTURE GIRLS IN WAR PLAYS + Or The Sham Battles at Oak Farm. + +The girls play important parts in big battle scenes and have plenty of +hard work along with considerable fun. + + +THE OUTDOOR CHUMS SERIES + +By CAPTAIN QUINCY ALLEN + +The outdoor chums are four wide-awake lads, sons of wealthy men of a +small city located on a lake. The boys love outdoor life, and are +greatly interested in hunting, fishing, and picture taking. They have +motor cycles, motor boats, canoes, etc., and during their vacations go +everywhere and have all sorts of thrilling adventures. The stories give +full directions for camping out, how to fish, how to hunt wild animals +and prepare the skins for stuffing, how to manage a canoe, how to swim, +etc. Full of the spirit of outdoor life. + +THE OUTDOOR CHUMS + Or The First Tour of the Rod, Gun and Camera Club. + +THE OUTDOOR CHUMS ON THE LAKE + Or Lively Adventures on Wildcat Island. + +THE OUTDOOR CHUMS IN THE FOREST + Or Laying the Ghost of Oak Ridge. + +THE OUTDOOR CHUMS ON THE GULF + Or Rescuing the Lost Balloonists. + +THE OUTDOOR CHUMS AFTER BIG GAME. + Or Perilous Adventures in the Wilderness. + +THE OUTDOOR CHUMS ON A HOUSEBOAT + Or The Rivals of the Mississippi. + +THE OUTDOOR CHUMS IN THE BIG WOODS + Or The Rival Hunters at Lumber Run. + +THE OUTDOOR CHUMS AT CABIN POINT + Or The Golden Cup Mystery. + +12mo. Averaging 240 pages. Illustrated. Handsomely bound in Cloth. + + +THE GIRLS OF CENTRAL HIGH SERIES + +By GERTRUDE W. MORRISON + +12mo. BOUND IN CLOTH. ILLUSTRATED. UNIFORM STYLE OF BINDING. + +Here is a series full of the spirit of high school life of today. The +girls are real flesh-and-blood characters, and we follow them with +interest in school and out. There are many contested matches on track +and field, and on the water, as well as doings in the classroom and on +the school stage. There it plenty of fun and excitement, all clean, +pure and wholesome. + +THE GIRLS OF CENTRAL HIGH + Or Rivals for all Honors. + +A stirring tale of high school life, full of fun, with a tomb of +mystery and a strange initiation. + +THE GIRLS OF CENTRAL HIGH ON LAKE LUNA + Or The Crew That Won. + +Telling of water sports and fun galore, and of fine times in camp. + +THE GIRLS OF CENTRAL HIGH AT BASKETBALL + Or The Great Gymnasium Mystery. + +Here we have a number of thrilling contests at basketball and in +addition, the solving of a mystery which had bothered the high school +authorities for a long while. + +THE GIRLS OF CENTRAL HIGH ON THE STAGE + Or The Play That Took the Prize. + +How the girls went In for theatricals and how one of them wrote a play +which afterward was made over for the professional stage and brought in +some much-needed money. + +THE GIRLS OF CENTRAL HIGH ON TRACK AND FIELD + Or The Girl Champions of the School League + +This story takes in high school athletics In their most approved and +up-to-date fashion. Full of fun and excitement. + +THE GIRLS OF CENTRAL HIGH IN CAMP + Or The Old Professor's Secret + +The girls went camping on Acorn Island and had a delightful time at +boating, swimming and picnic parties. + + + +THE BOYS OF COLUMBIA HIGH SERIES + +By GRAHAM B. FORBES + +Never was there a cleaner, brighter, more manly boy than Frank Allen, +the hero of this series of boys' tales, and never was there a better +crowd of lads to associate with than the students of the School. All +boys will read these stories with deep interest. The rivalry between +the towns along the river was of the keenest, and plots and counterplot +to win the champions, at baseball, at football, at boat racing, at +track athletics, and at ice hockey, were without number. Any lad +reading one volume of this series will surely want the others. + +THE BOYS OF COLUMBIA HIGH + Or The All Around Rivals of the School + +THE BOYS OF COLUMBIA HIGH ON THE DIAMOND + Or Winning Out by Pluck + +THE BOYS OF COLUMBIA HIGH ON THE RIVER + Or The Boat Race Plot that Failed + +THE BOYS OF COLUMBIA HIGH ON THE GRIDIRON + Or The Struggle for the Silver Cup + +THE BOYS OF COLUMBIA HIGH ON THE ICE + Or Out for the Hockey Championship + +THE BOYS OF COLUMBIA HIGH IN TRACK ATHLETICS + Or A Long Run that Won + +THE BOYS OF COLUMBIA HIGH IN WINTER SPORTS + Or Stirring Doings on Skates and Iceboats + +12mo. Illustrated. Handsomely bound In cloth, with cover design and +wrappers in color. + + +THE MOVING PICTURE BOYS SERIES + +By VICTOR APPLETON + +12mo. BOUND IN CLOTH. ILLUSTRATED. UNIFORM STYLE OF BINDING. + + +Moving pictures and photo plays are famous the world over, and in this +line of books the reader is given a full description of how the films +are made--the scenes of little dramas, indoors and out, trick pictures +to satisfy the curious, soul-stirring pictures of city affairs, life in +the Wild West, among the cowboys and Indians, thrilling rescues along +the seacoast, the daring of picture hunters in the jungle among savage +beasts, and the great risks run in picturing conditions in a land of +earthquakes. The volumes teem with adventures and will be found +interesting from first chapter to last. + +THE MOVING PICTURE BOYS + Or Perils of a Great City Depicted. + +THE MOVING PICTURE BOYS IN THE WEST + Or Taking Scenes Among the Cowboys and Indians. + +THE MOVING PICTURE BOYS ON THE COAST + Or Showing the Perils of the Deep. + +THE MOVING PICTURE BOYS IN THE JUNGLE + Or Stirring Times Among the Wild Animals. + +THE MOVING PICTURE BOYS IN EARTHQUAKE LAND + Or Working Amid Many Perils. + +THE MOVING PICTURE BOYS AND THE FLOOD + Or Perilous Days on the Mississippi. + +THE MOVING PICTURE BOYS AT PANAMA + Or Stirring Adventures Along the Great Canal. + +THE MOVING PICTURE BOYS UNDER THE SEA + Or The Treasure of the Lost Ship. + + +THE OUTDOOR GIRLS SERIES + +By LAURA LEE HOPE Author of the "Bobbsey Twin Books" and "Bunny Brown" +Series. + + +These tales take in the various adventures participated in by several +bright, up-to-date girls who love outdoor life. They are clean and +wholesome, free from sensationalism, absorbing from the first chapter +to the last. + +THE OUTDOOR GIRLS OF DEEPDALE + Or Camping and Tramping for Fun and Health. + +Telling bow the girls organized their Camping and Tramping Club, how +they went on a tour, and of various adventures which befell them. + +THE OUTDOOR GIRLS AT RAINBOW LAKE + Or Stirring Cruise of the Motor Boat Gem. + +One of the girls becomes the proud possessor of a motor boat and +invites her club members to take a trip down the river to Rainbow Lake, +a beautiful sheet of water lying between the mountains. + +THE OUTDOOR GIRLS IN A MOTOR CAR + Or The Haunted Mansion of Shadow Valley. + +One of the girls has learned to run a big motor ear, and she invited +the club to go on a tour to visit some distant relatives. On the way +they stop at a deserted mansion and make a surprising discovery. + +THE OUTDOOR GIRLS IN A WINTER CAMP + Or Glorious Days on Skates and Ice Boats. + +In this story, the scene is shifted to a winter season. The girls have +some jolly times skating and ice boating, and visit a hunters ramp in +the big woods. + +THE OUTDOOR GIRLS IN FLORIDA + Or Wintering in the Sunny South. + +The parents of one of the girls have bought an orange grove in Florida, +and her companions are invited to visit the place. They take a trip +into the interior, where several unusual things happen. + +THE OUTDOOR GIRLS AT OCEAN VIEW + Or The Box that Was Found in the Sand. + +The girls have great fun and solve a mystery while on an outing along +the New England coast. + +THE OUTDOOR GIRLS ON PINE ISLAND + Or A Cave and What it Contained. + +A bright, healthful story, full of good times at a bungalow camp on +Pine Island. + + + +CHARMING BOOKS FOR GIRLS + + +WHEN PATTY WENT TO COLLEGE, By Jean Webster. Illustrated by C. D. +Williams. + +One of the best stories of life in a girl's college that has ever been +written. It is bright, whimsical and entertaining, lifelike, laughable +and thoroughly human. + +JUST PATTY, By Jean Webster. Illustrated by C. M. Relyea. + +Patty is full of the joy of living, fun-loving, given to ingenious +mischief for its own sake, with a disregard for pretty convention which +is an unfailing source of joy to her fellows. + +THE POOR LITTLE RICH GIRL, By Eleanor Gates. With four full page +illustrations. + +This story relates the experience of one of those unfortunate children +whose early days are passed in the companionship of a governess, seldom +seeing either parent, and famishing for natural love and tenderness. A +charming play as dramatized by the author. + +REBECCA OF SUNNYBROOK FARM, By Kate Douglas Wiggin. + +One of the most beautiful studies of childhood--Rebecca's artistic, +unusual and quaintly charming qualities stand out midst a circle of +austere New Englanders. The stage version is making a phenomenal +dramatic record. + +NEW CHRONICLES OF REBECCA, By Kate Douglas Wiggin. Illustrated by F. +C. Yohn. + +Additional episodes in the girlhood of this delightful heroine that +carry Rebecca through various stages to her eighteenth birthday. + +REBECCA MARY, By Annie Hamilton Donnell. Illustrated by Elizabeth +Shippen Green. + +This author possesses the rare gift of portraying all the grotesque +little joys and sorrows and scruples of this very small girl with a +pathos that is peculiarly genuine and appealing. + +EMMY LOU: Her Book and Heart, By George Madden Martin, illustrated by +Charles Louis Hinton. + +Emmy Lou is irresistibly lovable, because she is so absolutely real. +She is just a bewitchingly innocent, hugable little maid. The book is +wonderfully human. + + + + +BOOKS BY VICTOR APPLETON + +THE TOM SWIFT SERIES + +TOM SWIFT AND HIS MOTOR-CYCLE + Or Fun and Adventures on the Road + +TOM SWIFT AND HIS MOTOR-BOAT + Or The Rivals of Lake Carlopa + +TOM SWIFT AND HIS AIRSHIP + Or the Stirring Cruise of the Red cloud + +TOM SWIFT AND HIS SUBMARINE BOAT + Or Under the Ocean for Sunken Treasure + +TOM SWIFT AND HIS ELECTRIC RUNABOUT + Or the Speediest Car on the Road + +TOM SWIFT AND HIS WIRELESS MESSAGE + Or the castaways of Earthquake Island + +TOM SWIFT AMONG THE DIAMOND MAKERS + Or the Secret of Phantom Mountain + +TOM SWIFT IN THE CAVES OF ICE + Or the Wreck of the Airship + +TOM SWIFT AND HIS SKY RACER + Or The Quickest Flight on Record + +TOM SWIFT AND HIS ELECTRIC RIFLE + Or Daring Adventures in Elephant Land + +TOM SWIFT IN THE CITY OF GOLD + Or Marvelous Adventures Underground + +TOM SWIFT AND HIS AIR GLIDER + Or Seeking the Platinum Treasure + +TOM SWIFT IN CAPTIVITY + Or A Daring Escape by Airship + +TOM SWIFT AND HIS WIZARD CAMERA + Or Thrilling Adventures While Taking Moving Pictures + +TOM SWIFT AND HIS GREAT SEARCHLIGHT + Or On the Border for Uncle Sam + + + + + + + + + +End of Project Gutenberg's Tom Swift and his Wizard Camera, by Victor Appleton + +*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK TOM SWIFT AND HIS WIZARD CAMERA *** + +***** This file should be named 1283.txt or 1283.zip ***** +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: + https://www.gutenberg.org/1/2/8/1283/ + +Produced by Anthony Matonac + +Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions +will be renamed. + +Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no +one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation +(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without +permission and without paying copyright royalties. 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