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diff --git a/.gitattributes b/.gitattributes new file mode 100644 index 0000000..6833f05 --- /dev/null +++ b/.gitattributes @@ -0,0 +1,3 @@ +* text=auto +*.txt text +*.md text diff --git a/3777-h.zip b/3777-h.zip Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..32df2ac --- /dev/null +++ b/3777-h.zip diff --git a/3777-h/3777-h.htm b/3777-h/3777-h.htm new file mode 100644 index 0000000..e665540 --- /dev/null +++ b/3777-h/3777-h.htm @@ -0,0 +1,4998 @@ +<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Strict//EN" + "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-strict.dtd"> +<html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" xml:lang="en" lang="en"> +<head> +<meta name="generator" content= +"HTML Tidy for Mac OS X (vers 1st December 2004), see www.w3.org" /> +<meta http-equiv="content-type" content= +"text/html; charset=us-ascii" /> +<title>Tom Swift and His Electric Rifle, by Victor Appleton.</title> + +<style type="text/css"> +/*<![CDATA[*/ + <!-- + body {font-family:Georgia,serif;margin-left: 15%; margin-right: 15%;} + p {text-align: justify;} + h1,h2,h3,h4,h5,h6 {text-align: center;} + pre {font-family:Courier,monospaced;font-size: 0.8em;} + hr {width: 50%;} + hr.full {width: 100%;} + h3 {padding-top:1em;} + + ol {list-style-type:upper-roman;margin-left:10%;font-variant:small-caps;} + .returnTOC {text-align:right;font-size:.7em;} + a:link {color:blue; text-decoration:none} + a:visited {color:blue; text-decoration:none} + a:hover {color:red} + --> +/*]]>*/ +</style> +</head> +<body> + + +<pre> + +Project Gutenberg's Tom Swift and his Electric Rifle, 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 Electric Rifle + +Author: Victor Appleton + +Posting Date: January 16, 2009 [EBook #3777] +Release Date: February, 2003 +Last updated November 10, 2010 +Last updated: April 22, 2012 + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ASCII + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK TOM SWIFT AND HIS ELECTRIC RIFLE *** + + + + +Produced by This etext was produced by Charles Franks, +Greg Weeks, and the Online Distributed Proofreading Team. + + + + + + +</pre> + + +<h1>TOM SWIFT AND HIS ELECTRIC RIFLE</h1> +<h4>OR</h4> +<h2>Daring Adventures in Elephant Land</h2> +<h4>by</h4> +<h2>VICTOR APPLETON</h2> +<hr class="full" /> +<h2><a id="Contents" name="Contents"></a>CONTENTS</h2> +<ol> +<li><a href="#Ch_1">TOM WANTS EXCITEMENT</a></li> +<li><a href="#Ch_2">TRYING THE NEW GUN</a></li> +<li><a href="#Ch_3">A DIFFICULT TEST</a></li> +<li><a href="#Ch_4">BIG TUSKS WANTED</a></li> +<li><a href="#Ch_5">RUSH WORK</a></li> +<li><a href="#Ch_6">NEWS FROM ANDY</a></li> +<li><a href="#Ch_7">THE BLACK HAWK FLIES</a></li> +<li><a href="#Ch_8">OFF FOR AFRICA</a></li> +<li><a href="#Ch_9">ATTACKED BY A WHALE</a></li> +<li><a href="#Ch_10">OFF IN THE AIRSHIP</a></li> +<li><a href="#Ch_11">ANCHORED TO EARTH</a></li> +<li><a href="#Ch_12">AMONG THE NATIVES</a></li> +<li><a href="#Ch_13">ON THE ELEPHANT TRAIL</a></li> +<li><a href="#Ch_14">A STAMPEDE</a></li> +<li><a href="#Ch_15">LIONS IN THE NIGHT</a></li> +<li><a href="#Ch_16">SEEKING THE MISSIONARIES</a></li> +<li><a href="#Ch_17">SHOTS FROM ABOVE</a></li> +<li><a href="#Ch_18">NEWS OF THE RED PYGMIES</a></li> +<li><a href="#Ch_19">AN APPEAL FOR HELP</a></li> +<li><a href="#Ch_20">THE FIGHT</a></li> +<li><a href="#Ch_21">DRIVEN BACK</a></li> +<li><a href="#Ch_22">A NIGHT ATTACK</a></li> +<li><a href="#Ch_23">THE RESCUE</a></li> +<li><a href="#Ch_24">TWO OTHER CAPTIVES</a></li> +<li><a href="#Ch_25">THE ROGUE ELEPHANT—CONCLUSION</a></li> +</ol> +<h3>CHAPTER I</h3> +<h2><a id="Ch_1" name="Ch_1"></a>TOM WANTS EXCITEMENT</h2> +<p class="returnTOC"><a href="#Contents">Return to Table of +Contents</a></p> +<p>“Have you anything special to do to-night, Ned?” +asked Tom Swift, the well-known inventor, as he paused in front of +his chum’s window, in the Shopton National Bank.</p> +<p>“No, nothing in particular,” replied the bank clerk, +as he stacked up some bundles of bills. “Why do you +ask?”</p> +<p>“I wanted you to come over to the house for a +while.”</p> +<p>“Going to have a surprise party, or something like +that?”</p> +<p>“No, only I’ve got something I’d like to show +you.”</p> +<p>“A new invention?”</p> +<p>“Well, not exactly new. You’ve seen it before, but +not since I’ve improved it. I’m speaking of my new +electric rifle. I’ve got it ready to try, now, and I’d +like to see what you think of it. There’s a rifle range over +at the house, and we can practice some shooting, if you +haven’t anything else to do.”</p> +<p>“I haven’t, and I’ll be glad to come. What are +you doing in the bank, anyhow; putting away more of your wealth, +Tom?”</p> +<p>“Yes, I just made a little deposit. It’s some money +I got from the government for the patents on my sky racer, and +I’m salting it down here until Dad and I can think of a +better investment.”</p> +<p>“Good idea. Bring us all the money you can,” and the +bank clerk, who held a small amount of stock in the financial +institution, laughed, his chum joining in with him.</p> +<p>“Well, then. I’ll expect you over this +evening,” went on the youthful inventor, as he turned to +leave the bank.</p> +<p>“Yes, I’ll be there. Say, Tom, have you heard the +latest about Andy Foger?”</p> +<p>“No, I haven’t heard much since he left town right +after I beat him in the aeroplane race at Eagle Park.”</p> +<p>“Well, he’s out of town all right, and I guess for a +long time this trip. He’s gone to Europe.”</p> +<p>“To Europe, eh? Well, he threatened to go there after he +failed to beat me in the race, but I thought he was only +bluffing.”</p> +<p>“No, he’s really gone this time.”</p> +<p>“Well, I, for one, am glad of it. Did he take his +aeroplane along?”</p> +<p>“Yes, that’s what he went for. It seems that this +Mr. Landbacher, the German who really invented it, and built it +with money which Mr. Foger supplied, has an idea he can interest +the German or some other European government in the machine. Andy +wanted to go along with him, and as Mr. Foger financed the scheme, +I guess he thought it would be a good thing to have some one +represent him. So Andy’s gone.”</p> +<p>“Then he won’t bother me. Well, I must get along. +I’ll expect you over to-night,” and with a wave of his +hand Tom Swift hurried from the bank.</p> +<p>The young inventor jumped into his electric runabout which stood +outside the institution, and was about to start off when he saw a +newsboy selling papers which had just come in from New York, on the +morning train.</p> +<p>“Here, Jack, give me a TIMES,” called Tom to the +lad, and he tossed the newsboy a nickel. Then, after glancing at +the front page, and noting the headings, Tom started off his speedy +car, in which, on one occasion, he had made a great run, against +time. He was soon at home.</p> +<p>“Well, Dad, I’ve got the money safely put +away,” he remarked to an aged gentleman who sat in the +library reading a book. “Now we won’t have to worry +about thieves until we get some more cash in.”</p> +<p>“Well, I’m glad it’s coming in so +plentifully,” said Mr. Swift with a smile. “Since my +illness I haven’t been able to do much, Tom, and it all +depends on you, now.”</p> +<p>“Don’t let that worry you, Dad. You’ll soon be +as busy as ever,” for, following a serious operation for an +ailment of the heart, Mr. Swift, who was a veteran inventor, had +not been able to do much. But the devices of his son, especially a +speedy monoplane, which Tom invented, and sold to the United States +Government, were now bringing them in a large income. In fact with +royalties from his inventions and some gold and diamonds which he +had secured on two perilous trips, Tom Swift was quite wealthy.</p> +<p>“I’ll never be as busy as I once was,” went on +Mr. Swift, a little regretfully, “but I don’t know that +I care as long as you continue to turn out new machines, Tom. By +the way, how is the electric rifle coming on? I haven’t heard +you speak of it lately.”</p> +<p>“It’s practically finished, Dad. It worked pretty +well the time I took it when we went on the trip to the caves of +ice, but I’ve improved it very much since then. In fact +I’m going to give it a severe test to-night. Ned Newton is +coming over, and it may be that then we’ll find out something +about it that could be bettered. But I think not. It suits me as it +is.”</p> +<p>“So Ned is coming over to see it; eh? You ought to have +Mr. Damon here to bless it a few times.”</p> +<p>“Yes, I wish I did. And he may come along at any moment, +as it is. You never can tell when he is going to turn up. Mrs. +Baggert says you were out walking while I was at the bank, Dad. Do +you feel better after it?”</p> +<p>“Yes, I think I do, Tom. Oh, I’m growing stronger +every day, but it will take time. But now tell me something about +the electric gun.”</p> +<p>Thereupon the young inventor related to his father some facts +about the improvements he had recently made to the weapon. It was +dinner time when he had finished, and, after the meal Tom went out +to the shed where he built his aeroplanes and his airships, and in +which building he had fitted up a shooting gallery.</p> +<p>“I’ll get ready for the trial to-night,” he +said “I want to see what it will do to a dummy figure. Guess +I’ll make a sort of scarecrow and stuff it with straw. +I’ll get Eradicate to help me. Rad! I say, Rad! Where are +you?”</p> +<p>“Heah I is, Massa Tom! Heah I is,” called a colored +man as he came around the corner of a small stable where he kept +his mule Boomerang. “Was yo’-all callin’ +me?”</p> +<p>“Yes, Rad, I want you to help make a scarecrow.”</p> +<p>“A scarecrow, Massa Tom! Good land a’ massy! What +fo’ yo’ want ob a scarecrow? Yo’-all ain’t +raisin’ no corn, am yo’?”</p> +<p>“No, but I want something to shoot at when Ned Newton +comes over to-night.”</p> +<p>“Suffin t’ shoot at? Why Massa Tom! Good land +a’ massy! Yo’-all ain’t gwine t’ hab no +duel, am yo’?”</p> +<p>“No, Rad, but I want a life-size figure on which to try my +new electric gun. Here are some old clothes, and if you will stuff +them with rags and straw and fix them so they’ll stand up, +they’ll do first-rate. Have it ready by night, and set it up +at the far end of the shooting gallery.”</p> +<p>“All right, Massa Tom. I’ll jest do dat, fo’ +yo’,” and leaving the colored man to stuff the figure, +after he had showed him how, Tom went back into the house to read +the paper which he had purchased that morning.</p> +<p>He skimmed over the news, thinking perhaps he might see +something of the going abroad of Andy Foger with the German +aeroplane, but there was nothing.</p> +<p>“I almost wish I was going to Europe,” sighed Tom. +“I will certainly have to get busy at something, soon. I +haven’t had any adventure since I won the prize at the Eagle +Park aviation meet in my sky racer. Jove! That was some excitement! +I’d like to do that over again, only I shouldn’t want +to have Dad so sick,” for just before the race, Tom had saved +his father’s life by making a quick run in the aeroplane, to +bring a celebrated surgeon to the invalid’s aid.</p> +<p>“I certainly wish I could have some new adventures,” +mused Tom, as he turned the pages of the paper. “I could +afford to take a trip around the earth after them, too, with the +way money is coming in now. Yes, I do wish I could have some +excitement. Hello, what’s this! A big elephant hunt in +Africa. Hundreds of the huge creatures captured in a +trap—driven in by tame beasts. Some are shot for their tusks. +Others will be sent to museums.”</p> +<p>He was reading the headlines of the article that had attracted +his attention, and, as he read, he became more and more absorbed in +it. He read the story through twice, and then, with sparkling eyes, +he exclaimed:</p> +<p>“That’s just what I want. Elephant shooting in +Africa! My! With my new electric rifle, and an airship, what +couldn’t a fellow do over in the dark continent! I’ve a +good notion to go there! I wonder if Ned would go with me? Mr. +Damon certainly would. Elephant shooting in Africa! In an airship! +I could finish my new sky craft in short order if I wanted to. +I’ve a good notion to do it!”</p> +<h3>CHAPTER II</h3> +<h2><a id="Ch_2" name="Ch_2"></a>TRYING THE NEW GUN</h2> +<p class="returnTOC"><a href="#Contents">Return to Table of +Contents</a></p> +<p>While Tom Swift is thus absorbed in thinking about a chance to +hunt elephants, we will take the opportunity to tell you a little +more about him, and then go on with the story.</p> +<p>Many of you already know the young inventor, but those who do +not may be interested in hearing that he is a young American lad, +full of grit and ginger, who lives with his aged father in the town +of Shopton, in New York State. Our hero was first introduced to the +public in the book, “Tom Swift and His Motorcycle.”</p> +<p>In that volume it was related how Tom bought a motor-cycle from +a Mr. Wakefield Damon, of Waterford. Mr. Damon was an eccentric +individual, who was continually blessing himself, some one else, or +something belonging to him. His motor-cycle tried to climb a tree +with him, and that was why he sold it to Tom. The two thus became +acquainted, and their friendship grew from year to year.</p> +<p>After many adventures on his motor-cycle Tom got a motor-boat, +and had some exciting times in that. One of the things he and his +father and his chum, Ned Newton, did, was to rescue, from a burning +balloon that had fallen into Lake Carlopa, an aeronaut named John +Sharp. Later Tom and Mr. Sharp built an airship called the Red +Cloud, and with Mr. Damon and some others had a series of +remarkable fights.</p> +<p>In the Red Cloud they got on the track of some bank robbers, and +captured them, thus foiling the plans of Andy Foger, a town bully, +and one of Tom’s enemies, and putting to confusion the plot +of Mr. Foger, Andy’s father.</p> +<p>After many adventures in the air Tom and his friends, in a +submarine boat, invented by Mr. Swift, went under the ocean for +sunken treasure and secured a large part of it.</p> +<p>It was not long after this that Tom conceived the idea of a +powerful electric car, which proved, to be the speediest of the +road, and in it he won a great race, and saved from ruin a bank in +which his father and Mr. Damon were interested.</p> +<p>The sixth book of the series, entitled “Tom Swift and His +Wireless Message,” tells how, in testing a new electric +airship, which a friend of Mr. Damon’s had invented, Tom, the +inventor and Mr. Damon were lost on an island in the middle of the +ocean. There they found some castaways, among whom were Mr. and +Mrs. Nestor, parents of Mary Nestor of Shopton, a girl of whom Tom +was quite fond.</p> +<p>Tom Swift, after his arrival home, went on an expedition among a +gang of men known as the “Diamond Makers” who were +hidden in the Rocky Mountains. He was accompanied by Mr. Barcoe +Jenks, one of the castaways of Earthquake Island. They found the +diamond makers, and had some surprising adventures, barely escaping +with their lives.</p> +<p>This did not daunt Tom, however, and he once more started off on +an expedition in his airship the Red Cloud to Alaska, amid the +caves of ice. He was searching for a valley of gold, and though he +and his friends found it, they came to grief. The Fogers, father +and son, tried to steal the gold from them, and, failing in that, +incited the Eskimos against our friends. There was a battle, but +the forces of nature were even more to be dreaded than the terrible +savages.</p> +<p>The ice cave, in which the Red Cloud was stored, collapsed, +crushing the gallant craft, and burying it out of sight forever +under thousand of tons of the frozen bergs.</p> +<p>After a desperate journey Tom and his friends reached +civilization, with a large supply of gold. Tom regretted very much +the destruction of the airship, but he at once set to work on +another—a monoplane this time, instead of a combined +aeroplane and dirigible balloon. This new craft he called the +Humming-Bird and it was a “sky racer” of terrific +speed. In it, as we have said, Tom brought a specialist to operate +on his father, when, because of a broken railroad bridge, the +physician could not otherwise have gotten to Shopton. He and Tom +traveled through the air at the rate of over one hundred miles an +hour. Later, Tom took part in a big race for a ten-thousand-dollar +prize, and won, defeating Andy Foger, and a number of well-known +“bird-men” who used biplanes and monoplanes of a more +or less familiar type.</p> +<p>The government became interested in Tom’s craft, the +Humming-Bird, and, as told in the ninth book of this series, Tom +Swift and His Sky Racer, they secured some rights in the +invention.</p> +<p>And now Tom, who had done nothing for several months following +the great race—that is, nothing save to work on his new +rifle—Tom, we say, sighed for new adventures.</p> +<p>“Well, Tom, what is on your mind?” asked his father +at the supper table that evening. “What is worrying +you?”</p> +<p>“Nothing is worrying me, Dad.”</p> +<p>“You are thinking of something. I can see that. Are you +afraid your electric rifle won’t work as well as you hope, +when Ned comes over to try it?”</p> +<p>“No, it isn’t that, Dad. But I may as well tell you, +I guess. I’ve been reading in the paper about a big elephant +hunt in Africa, and I—”</p> +<p>“That’s enough, Tom! You needn’t say any +more,” interrupted Mr. Swift. “I can see which way the +wind is blowing. You want to go to Africa with your new +rifle.”</p> +<p>“Well, Dad, not exactly—that is—”</p> +<p>“Now, Tom, you needn’t deny it,” and Mr. Swift +laughed. “Well, I don’t blame you a bit. You have been +rather idle of late.”</p> +<p>“I would like to go, Dad,” admitted the young +inventor, “only I’d never think of it while you +weren’t well.”</p> +<p>“Don’t worry about me, Tom. Of course I will be +lonesome while you are gone, but don’t let that stand in the +way. If you want to go to Africa, you may start to-morrow, and take +your new rifle with you.”</p> +<p>“The rifle part would be all right, Dad, but if I went +I’d want to take an airship along, and it will take me some +little time to finish the Black Hawk, as I have named my new +craft.”</p> +<p>“Well, there’s no special hurry, is there?” +asked Mr. Swift. “The elephants in Africa are likely to stay +there for some time. If you want to go, why don’t you get +right to work on the Black Hawk and make the trip? I’d like +to go myself.”</p> +<p>“I wish you would, Dad,” exclaimed Tom eagerly.</p> +<p>“No, son, I couldn’t think of it. I want to stay +here and get well. Then I am going to resume work on my wireless +motor. Perhaps I’ll have it finished when you come back from +Africa with an airship load of elephants’ tusks.”</p> +<p>“Perhaps,” admitted the young inventor. “Well, +Dad, I’ll think of it. But now I’m going after my +rifle, and—”</p> +<p>Tom was interrupted by a ring of the front-door bell, and Mrs. +Baggert, the housekeeper, who was almost like a mother to the +youth, went to answer it.</p> +<p>“It’s Ned Newton, I guess,” murmured Tom, and, +a little later, his chum entered the room.</p> +<p>“Oh, I guess I’m early,” said Ned. +“Haven’t you had supper yet, Tom?”</p> +<p>“Yes, we’re just finished. Come on out and +we’ll try the gun.”</p> +<p>“And practice shooting elephants,” added Mr. Swift +with a laugh, as he mentioned to Ned the latest idea of Tom.</p> +<p>“Say! That would be great!” cried the bank clerk. +“I wish I could go!”</p> +<p>“Come along!” invited Tom cordially. +“We’ll have more fun than we did in the caves of +ice,” for Ned had gone on the voyage to Alaska.</p> +<p>The two youths went out to the shed where the rifle gallery had +been built. The new electric weapon was out there, and Eradicate +Sampson, the colored man, who was a sort of servant and +man-of-all-work about the Swift household, had set up the scarecrow +figure at the end of the gallery.</p> +<p>“Now we’ll try some shots,” said Tom, as he +took the gun out of the case. “Just turn on a few more +lights, will you, Mr. Jackson,” and the engineer, who was +employed by Tom and his father to aid them in their inventive work, +did as requested.</p> +<p>The gallery was now brilliantly illuminated, with the reflectors +throwing the beams on the big stuffed figure, which, save for a +face, looked very much like a human being, standing at the end of +the gallery.</p> +<p>“I don’t suppose you want to go down there and hold +it, while I shoot at it; do you, Rad?” asked Tom jokingly, as +he prepared the electric rifle for use.</p> +<p>“No indeedy, I don’t!” cried Eradicate. +“Yo’-all will hab t’ scuse me, Massa Tom. I think +I’ll be goin’ now.”</p> +<p>“What’s your hurry?” asked Ned, as he saw the +colored man hastily preparing to leave the improvised gallery.</p> +<p>“I spects I’d better fro’ down some mo’ +straw fo’ a bed fo’ my mule Boomerang!” exclaimed +Eradicate, as he hastily slid out of the door, and shut it after +him.</p> +<p>“Rad is nervous,” remarked Tom. “He +doesn’t like this gun. Well, it certainly does great +execution.”</p> +<p>“How does it work’” asked Ned, as he looked at +the curious gun. The electric weapon was not unlike an ordinary +heavy rifle in appearance save that the barrel was a little longer, +and the stock larger in every way. There were also a number of +wheels, levers, gears and gages on the stock.</p> +<p>“It works by electricity,” explained Tom.</p> +<p>“That is, the force comes from a powerful current of +stored electricity.”</p> +<p>“Oh, then you have storage batteries in the +stock?”</p> +<p>“Not exactly. There are no batteries, but the current is a +sort of wireless kind. It is stored in a cylinder, just as +compressed air or gases are stored, and can be released as I need +it.”</p> +<p>“And when it’s all gone, what do you do?”</p> +<p>“Make more power by means of a small dynamo.”</p> +<p>“And does it shoot lead bullets?”</p> +<p>“Not at all. There are no bullets used.”</p> +<p>“Then how does it kill?”</p> +<p>“By means of a concentrated charge of electricity which is +shot from the barrel with great force. You can’t see it, yet +it is there. It’s just as if you concentrated a charge of +electricity of five thousand volts into a small globule the size of +a bullet. That flies through space, strikes the object aimed at +and—well, we’ll see what it does in a minute. Mr. +Jackson, just put that steel plate up in front of the scarecrow; +will you?”</p> +<p>The engineer proceeded to put into place a section of steel +armor-plate before the stuffed figure.</p> +<p>“You don’t mean to say you’re going to shoot +through that, do you?” asked Ned in surprise.</p> +<p>“Surely. The electric bullets will pierce anything. +They’ll go through a brick wall as easily as the x-rays do. +That’s one valuable feature of my rifle. You don’t have +to see the object you aim at. In fact you can fire through a house, +and kill something on the other side.”</p> +<p>“I should think that would be dangerous.”</p> +<p>“It would be, only I can calculate exactly, by means of an +automatic arrangement, just how far the charge of electricity will +go. It stops short just at the limit of the range, and is not +effective beyond that. Otherwise, if I did not limit it and if I +fired at the scarecrow, through the piece of steel, and the bullet +hit the figure, it would go on, passing through whatever else was +in the way, until its power was lost. I use the term +‘bullet,’ though as I said, it isn’t properly +one.”</p> +<p>“By Jove, Tom, it certainly is a dangerous +weapon!”</p> +<p>“Yes, the range-limit idea is a new one. That’s what +I’ve been working on lately. There are other features of the +gun which I’ll explain later, particularly the power it has +to shoot out luminous bars of light. But now we’ll see what +it will do to the image.”</p> +<p>Tom took his place at the end of the range, and began to adjust +some valves and levers. In spite of the fact that the gun was +larger than an ordinary rifle, it was not as heavy as the United +States Army weapon.</p> +<p>Tom aimed at the armor-plate, and, by means of an arrangement on +the rifle, he could tell exactly when he was pointing at the +scarecrow, even though he could not see it.</p> +<p>“Here she goes!” he suddenly exclaimed.</p> +<p>Ned watched his chum. The young inventor pressed a small button +at the side of the rifle barrel, about where the trigger should +have been. There was no sound, no smoke, no flame and not the +slightest jar.</p> +<p>Yet as Ned watched he saw the steel plate move slightly. The +next instant the scarecrow figure seemed to fly all to pieces. +There was a shower of straw, rags and old clothes, which fell in a +shapeless heap at the end of the range.</p> +<p>“Say. I guess you did for that fellow, all right!” +exclaimed Ned.</p> +<p>“It looks so,” admitted Tom, with a note of pride in +his voice. “Now we’ll try another test.”</p> +<p>As he laid aside his rifle in order to help Mr. Jackson shift +the steel plate there was a series of yells outside the shed.</p> +<p>“What’s that?” asked Tom, in some alarm.</p> +<p>“Sounds like some one calling,” answered Ned.</p> +<p>“It is,” agreed Mr. Jackson. “Perhaps +Eradicate’s mule has gotten loose. I guess we’d +better—”</p> +<p>He did not finish, for the shouts increased in volume, and Tom +and Ned could hear some one yelling:</p> +<p>“I’ll have the law on you for this! I’ll have +you arrested, Tom Swift! What do you mean by trying to kill me? +Where are you? Don’t try to hide away, now. You were trying +to shoot me, and I’m not going to have it!”</p> +<p>Some one pounded on the door of the shed.</p> +<p>“It’s Barney Moker!” exclaimed Tom. “I +wonder what can have happened?”</p> +<h3>CHAPTER III</h3> +<h2><a id="Ch_3" name="Ch_3"></a>A DIFFICULT TEST</h2> +<p class="returnTOC"><a href="#Contents">Return to Table of +Contents</a></p> +<p>Tom Swift opened the door of the improvised rifle gallery and +looked out. By the light of a full moon, which shone down from a +cloudless sky, he saw a man standing at the portal. The man’s +face was distorted with rage, and he shook his fist at the young +inventor.</p> +<p>“What do you mean by shooting at me?” he demanded. +“What do you mean, I say? The idea of scaring honest folks +out of their wits, and making ’em think the end of the world +has come! What do you mean by it? Why don’t you answer me? I +say, Tom Swift, why don’t you answer me?”</p> +<p>“Because you don’t give me a chance, Mr. +Moker,” replied our hero.</p> +<p>“I want to know why you shot at me? I demand to +know!” and Mr. Moker, who was a sort of miserly town +character, living all alone in a small house, just beyond +Tom’s home, again shook his fist almost in the lad’s +face. “Why don’t you tell me? Why don’t you tell +me?” he shouted.</p> +<p>“I will, if you give me a chance!” fairly exploded +Tom. “If you can be cool for five minutes, and come inside +and tell me what happened I’ll be glad to answer any of your +questions, Mr. Moker. I didn’t shoot at you.”</p> +<p>“Yes, you did! You tried to shoot a hole through +me!”</p> +<p>“Tell me about it?” suggested Tom, as the excited +man calmed down somewhat. “Are you hurt?”</p> +<p>“No, but it isn’t your fault that I’m not. You +tried hard enough to hurt me. Here I am, sitting at my table +reading, and, all at once something goes through the side of the +house, whizzes past my ear, makes my hair fairly stand up on end, +and goes outside the other side of the house. What kind of bullets +do you use, Tom Swift? that’s what I want to know. They went +through the side of my house, and never left a mark. I demand to +know what kind they are.”</p> +<p>“I’ll tell you, if you’ll only give me a +chance,” went on Tom wearily. “How do you know it was +me shooting?”</p> +<p>“How do I know? Why, doesn’t the end of this +shooting gallery of yours point right at my house? Of course it +does; you can’t deny it!”</p> +<p>Tom did not attempt to, and Mr. Moker went on:</p> +<p>“Now what do you mean by it?”</p> +<p>“If any of the bullets from my electric gun went near you, +it was a mistake, and I’m sorry for it,” said Tom.</p> +<p>“Well, they did, all right,” declared the excited +man. “They went right past my ear.”</p> +<p>“I don’t see how they could,” declared Tom. +“I was trying my new electric rifle, but I had the limit set +for two hundred feet, the length of the gallery. That is, the +electrical discharge couldn’t go beyond that +distance.”</p> +<p>“I don’t know what it was, but it went through the +side of my house all the same,” insisted Mr. Moker. “It +didn’t make a hole, but it scorched the wall paper a +little.”</p> +<p>“I don’t see how it could,” declared Tom. +“It couldn’t possibly have gone over two hundred feet +with the gage set for that distance.” He paused suddenly, and +hurried over to where he had placed his gun. Catching up the weapon +he looked at the gage dial. Then he uttered an exclamation.</p> +<p>“I’m sorry to admit that you are right, Mr. +Moker!” he said finally. “I made a mistake. The gage is +set for a thousand feet instead of two hundred. I forgot to change +it. The charge, after passing through the steel plate, and the +scarecrow figure, destroying the latter, went on, and shot through +the side of your house.”</p> +<p>“Ha! I knew you were trying to shoot me!” exclaimed +the still angry man. “I’ll have the law on you for +this!”</p> +<p>“Oh, that’s all nonsense!” broke in Ned Newton +“Everybody knows Tom Swift wouldn’t try to shoot you, +or any one else, Mr. Moker.”</p> +<p>“Then why did he shoot at me?”</p> +<p>“That was a mistake,” explained Tom, “and I +apologize to you for it.”</p> +<p>“Humph! A lot of good that would do me, if I’d been +killed!” muttered the miser. “I’m going to sue +you for this. You might have put me in my grave.”</p> +<p>“Impossible!” exclaimed Tom.</p> +<p>“Why impossible?” demanded the visitor.</p> +<p>“Because I had so set the rifle that almost the entire +force of the electrical bullet was expended in blowing apart the +scarecrow figure I made for a test,” explained Tom. +“All that passed through your house was a small charge, and, +if it HAD hit you there would have been no more than a little +shock, such as you would feel in taking hold of an electric +battery.”</p> +<p>“How do I know this?” asked the man cunningly. +“You say so, but for all I know you may have wanted to kill +me.”</p> +<p>“Why?” asked Tom, trying not to laugh.</p> +<p>“Oh, so you might get some of my money. Of course I +ain’t got none,” the miser went on quickly, “but +folks thinks I’ve got a lot, and I have to be on the lookout +all the while, or they’d murder me for it.”</p> +<p>“I wouldn’t,” declared the young inventor. +“It was a mistake. Only part of the spent charge passed near +you. Why, if it had been a powerful charge you would never have +been able to come over here. I set the main charge to go off inside +the scarecrow, and it did so, as you can see by looking at +what’s left of it,” and he pointed to the pile of +clothes and rags.</p> +<p>“How do I know this?” insisted the miser with a leer +at the two lads.</p> +<p>“Because if the charge had gone off either before or after +it passed through the figure, it would not have caused such havoc +of the cloth and straw,” explained Tom. “First the +charge would have destroyed the steel plate, which it passed +through without even denting it. Why, look here, I will now fire +the rifle at short range, and set it to destroy the plate. See what +happens.”</p> +<p>He quickly adjusted the weapon, and aimed it at the plate, +which, had again been set up on the range. This time Tom was +careful to set the gage so that even a small part of the spent +charge would not go outside the gallery.</p> +<p>The young inventor pressed the button, and instantly the heavy +steel plate was bent, torn and twisted as though a small sized +cannon ball had gone through it.</p> +<p>“That’s what the rifle will do at short +range,” said Tom. “Don’t worry, Mr. Moker, you +didn’t have a narrow escape. You were in no danger at all, +though I apologize for the fright I caused you.”</p> +<p>“Humph! That’s an easy way to get out of it!” +exclaimed the miser. “I believe I could sue you for damages, +anyhow. Look at my scorched wall paper.”</p> +<p>“Oh, I’ll pay for that,” said Tom quickly, for +he did not wish to have trouble with the unpleasant man. +“Will ten dollars be enough?” He knew that the whole +room could be repapered for that, and he did not believe the +wall-covering was sufficiently damaged for such work to be +necessary.</p> +<p>“Well, if you’ll make it twelve dollars, I +won’t say anything more about it,” agreed the miser +craftily, “though it’s worth thirteen dollars, if it is +a penny. Give me twelve dollars, Tom Swift, and I won’t +prosecute you.”</p> +<p>“All right, twelve dollars it shall be,” responded +the young inventor, passing over the money, and glad to be rid of +the unpleasant character.</p> +<p>“And after this, just fire that gun of yours the other +way,” suggested Mr. Moker as he went out, carefully folding +the bills which Tom had handed him.</p> +<p>“Hum! that was rather queer,” remarked Ned, after a +pause.</p> +<p>“It sure was,” agreed his chum. “This rifle +will do more than I thought it would. I’ll have to be more +careful. I was sure I set the gage for two hundred feet. I’ll +have to invent some automatic attachment to prevent it being +discharged when the gage is set wrong.” Let us state here +that Tom did this, and never had another accident.</p> +<p>“Well, does this end the test?” asked Ned.</p> +<p>“No, indeed. I want you to try it, while I look on,” +spoke Tom. “We haven’t any more stuffed figures to fire +at, but I’ll set up some targets. Come on, try your luck at a +shot.”</p> +<p>“I’m afraid I might disturb Mr. Moker, or some of +the neighbors.”</p> +<p>“No danger. I’ve got it adjusted right now. Come on, +see if you can shatter this steel target,” and Tom set up a +small one at the end of the range.</p> +<p>Then, having properly fixed the weapon, Tom handed it to his +chum, and, taking his place in a protected part of the gallery, +prepared to watch the effect of the shot.</p> +<p>“Let her go!” cried Tom, and Ned pressed the +button.</p> +<p>The effect was wonderful. Though there was no noise, smoke nor +flame, the steel plate seemed to crumple up, and collapse as if it +had been melted in the fire. There was a jagged hole through the +center, but some frail boards back of it were not even +splintered.</p> +<p>“Good shot!” cried Tom enthusiastically. “I +had the distance gage right that time.”</p> +<p>“You sure did,” agreed Ned. “The electric +bullet stopped as soon as it did its work on the plate. +What’s next?”</p> +<p>“I’m going to try a difficult test,” explained +Tom. “You know I said the gun would shoot luminous +charges?”</p> + +<p>“Yes.”</p> +<p>“Well, I’m going to try that, now. I wish we had +another image to shoot at, but I’ll take a big dry-goods box, +and make believe it’s an elephant. Now, this is going to be a +hard test, such as we’d meet with, if we were hunting in +Africa. I want you to help me.”</p> +<p>“What am I to do?” asked Ned.</p> +<p>“I want you to go outside,” explained Tom, +“set up a dry-goods box against the side of the little hill +back of the shed, and not tell me where you put it. Then I’ll +go out, and, by means of the luminous charge, I’ll locate the +box, set the distance gage, and destroy it.”</p> +<p>“Well, you can see it anyhow, in the moonlight,” +objected Ned.</p> +<p>“No, the moon is under a cloud now,” explained Tom, +looking out of a window. “It’s quite dark, and will +give me just the test I want for my new electric rifle.”</p> +<p>“But won’t it be dangerous, firing in the dark? +Suppose you misjudge the distance, and the bullet, or charge, files +off and hits some one?”</p> +<p>“It can’t. I’ll set the distance gage before I +shoot. But if I should happen to make a mistake the charge will go +into the side of the hill, and spend itself there. There is no +danger. Go ahead, and set up the box, and then come and tell me. +Mr. Jackson will help you.”</p> +<p>Ned and the engineer left the gallery. As Tom had said, it was +very dark now, and if Tom could see in the night to hit a box some +distance away, his weapon would be all that he claimed for it.</p> +<p>“This will do,” said the engineer, as he pointed to +a box, one of several piled up outside the shed. The two could +hardly see to make their way along, carrying it to the foot of the +hill, and they stumbled several times. But at last it was in +position, and then Ned departed to call Tom, and have him try the +difficult test—that of hitting an object in the dark.</p> +<h3>CHAPTER IV</h3> +<h2><a id="Ch_4" name="Ch_4"></a>BIG TUSKS WANTED</h2> +<p class="returnTOC"><a href="#Contents">Return to Table of +Contents</a></p> +<p>“Well, are you all ready for me?” asked the young +inventor, as he took up his curious weapon, and followed Ned out +into the yard. It was so dark that they had fairly to stumble +along.</p> +<p>“Yes, we’re ready,” answered Ned. “And +you’ll be a good one, Tom, if you do this stunt. Now stand +here” he went on, as he indicated a place as well as he +could in the dark. “The box is somewhere in that direction,” +and he waved his hand vaguely. “I’m not going to tell +you any more, and let’s see you find it.”</p> +<p>“Oh, I will, all right—or, rather, my electric rifle +will,” asserted Tom.</p> +<p>The inventor of the curious and terrible weapon took his +position. Behind him stood Ned and Mr. Jackson, and just before Tom +was ready to fire, his father came stalking through the darkness, +calling to them.</p> +<p>“Are you there, Tom?”</p> +<p>“Yes Dad, is anything the matter?”</p> +<p>“No, but I thought I’d like to see what luck you +have. Rad was saying you were going to have a test in the +dark.”</p> +<p>“I’m about ready for it,” replied Tom. +“I’m going to blow up a box that I can’t see. You +know how it’s done, Dad, for you helped me in perfecting the +luminous charge, but it’s going to be something of a novelty +to the others. Here we go, now!”</p> +<p>Tom raised his rifle, and aimed it in the dark. Ned Newton, +straining his eyes to see, was sure the young inventor was pointing +the gun at least twenty feet to one side of where the box was +located, but he said nothing, for from experiences in the past, he +realized that Tom knew what he was doing.</p> +<p>There was a little clicking sound, as the youth moved some gear +wheel on his gun. Then there came a faint crackling noise, like +some distant wireless apparatus beginning to flash a message +through space.</p> +<p>Suddenly a little ball of purplish light shot through the +darkness and sped forward like some miniature meteor. It shed a +curious illuminating glow all about, and the ground, and the +objects on it were brought into relief as by a lightning flash.</p> +<p>An instant later the light increased in intensity, and seemed to +burst like some piece of aerial fireworks. There was a bright +glare, in which Ned and the others could see the various buildings +about the shed. They could see each other’s faces, and they +looked pale and ghastly in the queer glow. They could see the box, +brought into bold relief, where Ned and the engineer had placed +it.</p> +<p>Then, before the light had died away, they witnessed a curious +sight. The heavy wooden box seemed to dissolve, to collapse and to +crumple up like one of paper, and ere the last rays of the +illuminating bullet faded, the watchers saw the splinters of wood +fall back with a clatter in a little heap on the spot where the +dry-goods case had been.</p> +<p>A silence followed, and the darkness was all the blacker by +contrast with the intense light. At length Tom spoke, and he could +not keep from his voice a note of triumph.</p> +<p>“Well, did I do it?” he asked.</p> +<p>“You sure did!” exclaimed Ned heartily.</p> +<p>“Fine!” cried Mr. Swift.</p> +<p>“Golly! I wouldn’t gib much fo’ de hide ob any +burglar what comed around heah!” muttered Eradicate Sampson. +“Dat box am knocked clean into nuffiness, Massa +Tom.”</p> +<p>“That’s what I wanted to do,” explained the +lad. “And I guess this will end the test for +tonight.”</p> +<p>“But I don’t exactly understand it,” spoke +Ned, as they all moved toward the Swift home, Eradicate going to +the stable to see how his mule was. “Do you have two kinds of +bullets, Tom, one for night and one for the daytime?”</p> +<p>“No,” answered Tom, “there is only one kind of +bullet, and, as I have said, that isn’t a bullet at all. That +is, you can’t see it, or handle it, but you can feel it. +Strictly speaking, it is a concentrated discharge of wireless +electricity directed against a certain object. You can’t see +it any more than you can see a lightning bolt, though that is +sometimes visible as a ball of fire. My electric rifle bullets are +similar to a discharge of lightning, except that they are +invisible.”</p> +<p>“But we saw the one just now,” objected Ned.</p> +<p>“No, you didn’t see the bullet,” said Tom.</p> +<p>“You saw the illuminating flash which I send out just +before I fire, to reveal the object I am to hit. That is another +part of my rifle and is only used at night.”</p> +<p>“You see I shoot out a ball of electrical fire which will +disclose the target, or the enemy at whom I am firing. As soon as +that is discharged the rifle automatically gets ready to shoot the +electric charge, and I have only to press the proper button, and +the ‘bullet,’ as I call it, follows on the heels of the +ball of light. Do you see?”</p> +<p>“Perfectly,” exclaimed Ned with a laugh. “What +a gun that would be for hunting, since most all wild beasts come +out only at night.”</p> +<p>“That was one object in making this invention,” said +Tom. “I only hope I get a chance to use it now.”</p> +<p>“I thought you were going to Africa after +elephants,” spoke Mr. Swift.</p> +<p>“Well, I did think of it,” admitted Tom, “but +I haven’t made any definite plans. But come into the house, +Ned, and I’ll show you more in detail how my rifle +works.”</p> +<p>Thereupon the two chums spent some time going into the mysteries +of the new weapon. Mr. Swift and Mr. Jackson were also much +interested, for, though they had seen the gun previously and had +helped Tom perfect it, they had not yet tired of discussing its +merits.</p> +<p>Ned stayed quite late that night, and promised to come over the +next day, and watch Tom do some more shooting.</p> +<p>“I’ll show you how to use it, too,” promised +the young inventor, and he was as good as his word, initiating Ned +into the mysteries of the electric rifle, and showing him to store +the charges of death-dealing electricity in the queer-looking +stock.</p> +<p>For a week after that Tom and Ned practiced with the terrible +gun, taking care not to have any more mishaps like the one that had +marked the first night. They were both good shots with ordinary +weapons and it was not long before they had equaled their record +with the new instrument.</p> +<p>It was one warm afternoon, when Tom was out in the meadow at one +side of his house, practicing with his rifle on some big boxes he +had set up for targets, that he saw an elderly man standing close +to the fence watching him. When Tom blew to pieces a particularly +large packing-case, standing a long distance away from it, the +stranger called to the youth.</p> +<p>“I beg your pardon,” he said, “but is that a +dynamite gun you are using?”</p> +<p>“No, it’s an electric rifle,” was the +answer.</p> +<p>“Would you mind telling me something about it?” went +on the elderly man, and as Tom’s weapon was now fully +protected by patents, the young inventor cordially invited the +stranger to come nearer and see how it worked.</p> +<p>“That’s the greatest thing I ever saw!” +exclaimed the man enthusiastically when Tom had blown up another +box, and had told of the illumination for night firing. “The +most wonderful weapon I ever heard of! What a gun it would be in my +business.”</p> +<p>“What is your trade?” asked Tom curiously, for he +had noted that the man, while aged, was rugged and hearty, and his +skin was tanned a leathery brown, showing that he was much in the +open air.</p> +<p>“I’m a hunter,” was the reply, “a hunter +of big game, principally elephants, hippos and rhinoceroses. +I’ve just finished a season in Africa, and I’m going +back there again soon. I came on to New York to get a new elephant +gun. I’ve got a sister living over in Waterford, and +I’ve been visiting her. I went out for a stroll to-day, and +I came farther than I intended. That’s how I happened to be +passing here.”</p> +<p>“A sister in Waterford, eh?” mused Tom, wondering +whether the elephant hunter had met Mr. Damon. “And how soon +are you going hack to Africa, Mr.—er—” and Tom +hesitated.</p> +<p>“Durban is my name, Alexander Durban,” said the old +man. “Why, I am to start back in a few weeks. I’ve got +an order for a pair of big elephant tusks—the largest I can +get for a wealthy New York man,— and I’m anxious to +fulfil the contract. The game isn’t what it once was. +There’s more competition and the elephants are scarcer. So +I’ve got to hustle.”</p> +<p>“I got me a new gun. But my! it’s nothing to what +yours is. With that weapon I could do about as I pleased. I could +do night hunting, which is hard in the African jungle. Then I +wouldn’t have any trouble getting the big tusks I’m +after. I could get a pair of them, and live easy the rest of my +life. Yes, I wouldn’t ask anything better than a gun like +yours. But I s’pose they cost like the mischief?” He +looked a question at Tom.</p> +<p>“This is the only one there is,” was the lad’s +answer. “But I am very glad to have met you, Mr. Durban. +Won’t you come into the house? I’m sure my father will +be glad to see you, and I have something I’d like to talk to +you about,” and Tom, with many wild ideas in his head, led +the old elephant hunter toward the house.</p> +<p>The dream of the young inventor might come true after all.</p> +<h3>CHAPTER V</h3> +<h2><a id="Ch_5" name="Ch_5"></a>RUSH WORK</h2> +<p class="returnTOC"><a href="#Contents">Return to Table of +Contents</a></p> +<p>Mr. Swift made the African hunter warmly welcome, and listened +with pride to the words of praise Mr. Durban bestowed on Tom +regarding the rifle.</p> +<p>“Yes, my boy has certainly done wonders along the +inventive line,” said Mr. Swift.</p> +<p>“Not half as much as you have, Dad,” interrupted the +lad, for Tom was a modest youth.</p> +<p>“You should see his sky racer,” went on the old +inventor.</p> +<p>“Sky racer? What’s that?” asked Mr. Durban. +“Is it another kind of gun or cannon?”</p> +<p>“It’s an aeroplane—an airship,” +explained Mr. Swift.</p> +<p>“An airship!” exclaimed the old elephant hunter. +“Say, you don’t mean that you make balloons, do +you?”</p> +<p>“Well, they’re not exactly balloons,” replied +Tom, as he briefly explained what an aeroplane was, for Mr. Durban, +having been in the wilds of the jungle so much, had had very little +chance to see the wonders and progress of civilization.</p> +<p>“They are better than balloons,” went on Tom, +“for they can go where you want them to.”</p> +<p>“Say! That’s the very thing!” cried the old +hunter enthusiastically. “If there’s one thing more +than another that is needed in hunting in Africa it’s an +airship. The travel through the jungle is something fierce, and +that, more than anything else, interferes with my work. I +can’t cover ground enough, and when I do get on the track of +a herd of elephants, and they get away, it’s sometimes a week +before I can catch up to them again.”</p> +<p>“For, in spite of their size, elephants can travel very +fast, and once they get on the go, nothing can stop them. An +airship would be the very thing to hunt elephants with in +Africa—an airship and this electric rifle. I wonder why you +haven’t thought of going, Tom Swift.”</p> +<p>“I have thought of it,” answered the young inventor, +“and that’s why I asked you in. I want to talk about +it.”</p> +<p>“Do you mean you want to go?” demanded the old man +eagerly.</p> +<p>“I certainly do!”</p> +<p>“Then I’m your man! Say, Tom Swift, I’d be +proud to have you go to Africa with me. I’d be proud to have +you a member of my hunting party, and, though I don’t like to +boast, still if you’ll ask any of the big-game people +they’ll tell you that not every one can accompany Aleck +Durban.”</p> +<p>Tom realized that he was speaking to an authority and a most +desirable companion, should he go to Africa, and he was very glad +of the chance that had made him acquainted with the veteran +hunter.</p> +<p>“Will you go with me?” asked Mr. Durban. “You +and your electric gun and your airship? Will you come to Africa to +hunt elephants, and help me get the big tusks I’m +after?”</p> +<p>“I will!” exclaimed Tom.</p> +<p>“Then we’ll start at once. There’s no need of +delaying here any longer.”</p> +<p>“Oh, but I haven’t an airship ready,” said the +young inventor. The face of the old hunter expressed his +disappointment.</p> +<p>“Then we’ll have to give up the scheme,” he +said ruefully.</p> +<p>“Not at all,” Tom told him. “I have all the +material on hand for building a new airship. I have had it in mind +for some time, and I have done some work on it. I stopped it to +perfect my electric rifle, but, now that is done, I’ll tackle +the Black Hawk again, and rush that to completion.”-</p> +<p>“The Black Hawk?” repeated Mr. Durban, +wonderingly.</p> +<p>“Yes, that’s what I will name my new craft. The RED +CLOUD was destroyed, and so I thought I’d change the color +this time, and avoid bad luck.”</p> +<p>“Good!” exclaimed the hunter. “When do you +think you can have it finished?”</p> +<p>“Oh, possibly in a month—perhaps sooner, and then we +will go to Africa and hunt elephants!”</p> +<p>“Bless my ivory paper cutter!” exclaimed a voice in +the hall just outside the library. “Bless my fingernails! But +who’s talking about going to Africa?”</p> +<p>The old hunter looked at Tom and his father in surprise, but the +young inventor laughing and going to the door, called out:</p> +<p>“Come on in, Mr. Damon. I didn’t hear you ring. +There is some one here from your town.”</p> +<p>“Is it my wife?” asked the odd gentleman who was +always blessing something. “She said she was going to her +mother’s to spend a few weeks, and so I thought I’d +come over here and see if you had anything new on the program. The +first thing I hear is that you are going to Africa. And so +there’s some one from Waterford in there, eh? Is it my +wife?”</p> +<p>“No,” answered Tom with another laugh. “Come +on in Mr. Damon.”</p> +<p>“Bless my toothpick!” exclaimed the odd gentleman, +as he saw the grizzled elephant hunter sitting between Tom and Mr. +Swift. “I have seen you somewhere before, my dear +sir.”</p> +<p>“Yes,” admitted Mr. Durban, “if you’re +from Waterford you have probably seen me traveling about the +streets there. I’m stopping with my sister, Mrs. Douglass, +but I can’t stand it to be in the house much, so I’m +out of doors, wandering about a good bit of the time. I miss my +jungle. But we’ll soon be in Africa, Tom Swift and +me.”</p> +<p>“Is it possible, Tom?” asked Mr. Damon. “Bless +my diamond mines! but what are you going to do next?”</p> +<p>“It’s hard to say,” was the answer. “But +you came just in time. Mr. Damon. I’m going to rush work on +the Black Hawk, my newest airship, and we’ll leave for +elephant land inside of a month, taking my new electric rifle +along. Will you come?”</p> +<p>“Bless my penknife! I never thought of such a thing. +I—I—guess— no, I don’t know about +it—yes, I’ll go!” he suddenly exclaimed. +“I’ll go! Hurrah for the elephants!” and he +jumped up and shook hands in turn with Mr. Durban, to whom he had +been formally introduced, and with Tom and Mr. Swift.</p> +<p>“Then it’s all settled but the details,” +declared the youth, “and now I’ll call in Mr. Jackson, +and we’ll talk about how soon we can have the airship +ready.”</p> +<p>“My, but you folks are almost as speedy as a herd of the +big elephants themselves!” exclaimed Mr. Durban, and with the +advent of the engineer the talk turned to things mechanical among +Tom and Mr. Jackson and Mr. Damon, while Mr. Durban told Mr. Swift +hunting stories which the old inventor greatly enjoyed.</p> +<p>The next day Tom engaged two machinists who had worked for him +building airships before, and in the next week rush work began on +the new Black Hawk. Meanwhile Mr. Durban was a frequent visitor at +Tom’s home, where he learned to use the new rifle, declaring +it was even more wonderful than he had at first supposed.</p> +<p>“That will get the elephants!” he exclaimed. It did, +as you shall soon learn, and it also was the means of saving +several lives in the wilds of the African jungle.</p> +<h3>CHAPTER VI</h3> +<h2><a id="Ch_6" name="Ch_6"></a>NEWS FROM ANDY</h2> +<p class="returnTOC"><a href="#Contents">Return to Table of +Contents</a></p> +<p>Tom Swift’s former airship, the Red Cloud, had been such a +fine craft, and had done such good service that he thought, in +building a successor, that he could do no better than to follow the +design of the skyship which had been destroyed in the ice caves. +But, on talking with the old elephant hunter, and learning +something of the peculiarities of the African jungle the young +inventor decided on certain changes.</p> +<p>In general the Black Hawk would be on the lines of the Red Cloud +but it would be smaller and lighter and would also be capable of +swifter motion.</p> +<p>“You want it so that it will rise and descend quickly and +at sharp angles,” said Mr. Durban.</p> +<p>“Why,” inquired Tom.</p> +<p>“Because in Africa, at least in the part where we will go, +there are wide patches of jungle and forest, with here and there +big open places. If you are skimming along close to the ground, in +an open place, in pursuit of a herd of elephants and they should +suddenly plunge into the forest, you would want to be able to rise +above the trees quickly.”</p> +<p>“That’s so,” admitted Tom. “Then +I’ll have to use a smaller gas bag than we had on the other +ship, for the air resistance to that big one made us go slowly at +times.”</p> +<p>“Will it be as safe with a small bag?” Mr. Damon +wanted to know.</p> +<p>“Yes, for I will use a more powerful gas, so that we will +be more quickly lifted,” said the young inventor. “I +will also retain the aeroplane feature, so that the Black Hawk will +be a combined biplane and dirigible balloon. But it will have many +new features. I have the plans all drawn for a new style of gas +generating apparatus, and I think it can be made in +time.”</p> +<p>There were busy days about the Swift home. Mrs. Baggert, the +housekeeper, was in despair. She said the good meals she got ready +were wasted, because no one would come to table when they were +ready. She would ring the bell, and announce that dinner would be +served in five minutes.</p> +<p>Then Tom would shout from his workshop that he could not leave +until he had inserted a certain lever in place. Mr. Jackson would +positively decline to sit down until he had screwed fast some part +of a machine. Even Mr. Swift, who, because of his recent illness, +was not allowed to do much, would often delay his meal to test some +new style of gears.</p> +<p>As for Mr. Damon, it was to be expected that he would be +eccentric as he always was. He was not an expert mechanic, but he +knew something of machinery and was of considerable help to Tom in +the rush work on the airship. He would hear the dinner bell ring, +and would exclaim:</p> +<p>“Bless my napkin ring! I can’t come now. I have to +fix up this electrical register first.”</p> +<p>And so it would go. Eradicate and Boomerang, his mule, were the +only ones who ate regularly, and they always insisted on stopping +at exactly twelve o’clock to partake of the noonday meal.</p> +<p>“‘Cause ef I didn’t,” explained the +colored man, “dat contrary mule ob mine would lay down in de +dust ob de road an’ not move a step, lessen’ he got his +oats. So dat’s why we has t’ eat, him an’ +me.”</p> +<p>“Well, I’m glad there’s some one who’s +got sense,” murmured Mrs. Baggert. Eradicate and Boomerang +were of great service in the hurried work that followed, for the +colored man in his cart brought from town, or from the freight +depot, many things that Tom needed.</p> +<p>The young inventor was very enthusiastic about his proposed +trip, and at night, after a hard day’s work in the shop, he +would read books on African hunting, or he would sit and listen to +the stories told by Mr. Durban. And the latter knew how to tell +hunting tales, for he had been long in his dangerous calling, and +had had many narrow escapes.</p> +<p>“And there are other dangers than from elephants and wild +beasts in Africa,” he said.</p> +<p>“Bless my toothbrush!” exclaimed Mr. Damon. +“Do you mean cannibals, Mr. Durban?”</p> +<p>“Some cannibals,” was the reply. “But +they’re not the worst. I mean the red pygmies. I hope we +don’t get into their clutches.”</p> +<p>“Red pygmies!” repeated Tom, wonderingly.</p> +<p>“Yes, they’re a tribe of little creatures, about +three feet high, covered with thick reddish hair, who live in the +central part of Africa, near some of the best elephant-hunting +ground. They are wild, savage and ferocious, and what they lack +individually in strength, they make up in numbers. They’re +like little red apes, and woe betide the unlucky hunter who falls +into their merciless hands. They treat him worse than the cannibals +do.”</p> +<p>“Then we’ll look out for them,” said Tom. +“But I fancy my electric rifle will make them give us a wide +berth.”</p> +<p>“It’s a great gun,” admitted the old hunter +with a shake of his head, “but those red pygmies are terrible +creatures. I hope we don’t get them on our trail. But tell +me, Tom, how are you coming on with the airship? for I don’t +know much about mechanics, and to me it looks as if it would never +be put together. It’s like one of those queer puzzles +I’ve seen ’em selling in the streets of +London.”</p> +<p>“Oh, it’s nearer ready than it looks to be,” +said Tom. “We’ll have it assembled, and ready for a +trial in about two weeks more.”</p> +<p>Work on the Black Hawk was rushed more than ever in the next few +days, another extra machinist being engaged. Then the craft began +to assume shape and form, and with the gas bag partly inflated and +the big planes stretching out from either side, it began to look +something like the ill-fated Red Cloud.</p> +<p>“It’s going to be a fine ship!” cried Tom +enthusiastically, one day, as he went to the far side of the ship +to get a perspective view of it. “We’ll make good time +in this.”</p> +<p>“Are you going to sail all the way to Africa—across +the ocean—in her?” asked Mr. Durban, in somewhat +apprehensive tones.</p> +<p>“Oh, no,” replied Tom. “I believe she would be +capable of taking us across the ocean, but there is no need of +running any unnecessary risks. I want to get her safely to Africa, +and have her do stunts in elephant land.”</p> +<p>“Then what are your plans?” asked the hunter.</p> +<p>“We’ll put her together here,” said Tom, +“give her a good try-out to see that she works well, and then +pack her up for shipment to the African coast by steamer. +We’ll go on the same ship, and when we arrive we’ll put +the Black Hawk together again, and set sail for the +interior.”</p> +<p>“Good idea,” commented Mr. Durban. “Now, if +you’ve no objections, I’m going to do a little practice +with the electric rifle.”</p> +<p>“Go ahead,” assented Tom. “There comes Ned +Newton; he’ll be glad of a chance for a few shots while I +work on this new propeller motor. It just doesn’t suit +me.”</p> +<p>The bank clerk, who had arranged to go to Africa with Tom, was +seen advancing toward the aeroplane shed. In his hand Ned held a +paper, and as he saw Tom he called out:</p> +<p>“Have you heard the news?”</p> +<p>“What news?” inquired the young inventor.</p> +<p>“About Andy Foger. He and his aeroplane are +lost!”</p> +<p>“Lost!” cried Tom, for in spite of the mean way the +bully had treated him our hero did not wish him any harm.</p> +<p>“Well, not exactly lost,” went on Ned, as he held +out the paper to Tom, “but he and his sky-craft have +disappeared.”</p> +<p>“Disappeared?”</p> +<p>“Yes. You know he and that German, Mr. Landbacher, went +over to Europe to give some aviation exhibitions. Well, I see by +this paper that they went to Egypt, and were doing a high-flying +stunt there, when a gale sprang up, they lost control of the +aeroplane and it was swept out of sight.”</p> +<p>“In which direction; out to sea?”</p> +<p>“No, toward the interior of Africa.”</p> +<p>“Toward the interior of Africa!” cried Tom. +“And that’s where we’re going in a couple of +weeks. Andy in Africa!”</p> +<p>“‘Maybe we’ll see him there,” suggested +Ned.</p> +<p>“Well, I certainly hope we do not!” exclaimed Tom, +as he turned back to his work, with an undefinable sense of fear in +his heart.</p> +<h3>CHAPTER VII</h3> +<h2><a id="Ch_7" name="Ch_7"></a>THE BLACK HAWK FLIES</h2> +<p class="returnTOC"><a href="#Contents">Return to Table of +Contents</a></p> +<p>It was with no little surprise that the news of the plight that +was said to have befallen Andy Foger was received by Tom and his +associates. The newspaper had quite an account of the affair, and, +even allowing the usual discount for the press dispatches, it +looked as if the former bully was in rather distressing +circumstances.</p> +<p>“He won’t have to be carried very far into Africa to +be in a bad country,” said the old hunter. “Of course, +some parts of the continent are all right, and for me, I like it +all, where there’s hunting to be had. But I guess your young +friend Foger won’t care for it.”</p> +<p>“He’s no friend of ours,” declared Ned, as Tom +was reading the newspaper account. “Still, I don’t wish +him any bad luck, and I do hope he doesn’t become the captive +of the red pygmies.”</p> +<p>“So do I,” echoed the old hunter fervently. There +was no news of Andy in the papers the next day, though there were +cable dispatches speculating on what might have happened to him and +the airship. In Shopton the dispatches created no little comment, +and it was said that Mr. Foger was going to start for Africa at +once to rescue his son. This, however, could not be confirmed.</p> +<p>Meanwhile Tom and his friends were very busy over the Black +Hawk. Every hour saw the craft nearer completion, for the young +inventor had had much experience in this sort of work now, and knew +just how to proceed.</p> +<p>To Mr. Damon were intrusted certain things which he could well +attend to, and though he frequently stopped to bless his necktie or +his shoelaces, still he got along fairly well.</p> +<p>There would be no necessity of purchasing supplies in this +country, for they could get all they needed in the African city of +Majumba, on the western coast, where they planned to land. There +the airship would be put together, stocked with provisions and +supplies, and they would begin their journey inland. They planned +to head for Buka Meala, crossing the Congo River, and then go into +the very interior of the heart of the dark continent.</p> +<p>As we have described in detail, in the former books of this +series, the construction of Tom Swift’s airship, the Red +Cloud, and as the Black Hawk was made in a similar manner to that, +we will devote but brief space to it now. As the story proceeds, +and the need arises for a description of certain features, we will +give them to you, so that you will have a clear idea of what a +wonderful craft it was.</p> +<p>Sufficient to say that there was a gas bag, made of a light but +strong material, and capable of holding enough vapor, of a new and +secret composition, to lift the airship with its load. This was the +dirigible-balloon feature of the craft, and with the two powerful +propellers, fore and aft (in which particular the Black Hawk +differed from the Red Cloud which had two forward +propellers);—with these two powerful wooden screws, as we +have said, the new ship could travel swiftly without depending on +the wing planes.</p> +<p>But as there is always a possibility of the gas bag being +punctured, or the vapor suddenly escaping from one cause or +another, Tom did not depend on this alone to keep his craft afloat. +It was a perfect aeroplane, and with the gas bag entirely empty +could be sent scudding along at any height desired. To enable it to +rise by means of the wings, however, it was necessary to start it +in motion along the ground, and for this purpose wheels were +provided.</p> +<p>There was a large body or car to the craft, suspended from +beneath the gas bag, and in this car were the cabins, the living, +sleeping and eating apartments, the storerooms and the engine +compartment.</p> +<p>This last was a marvel of skill, for it contained besides the +gas machine, and the motor for working the propellers, dynamos, +gages, and instruments for telling the speed and height, motors for +doing various pieces of work, levers, wheels, cogs, gears, tanks +for storing the lifting gas, and other features of interest.</p> +<p>There were several staterooms for the use of the young captain +and the passengers, an observation and steering tower, a +living-room, where they could all assemble as the ship was sailing +through the air, and a completely equipped kitchen.</p> +<p>This last was Mr. Damon’s special pride, as he was a sort +of cook, and he liked nothing better than to get up a meal when the +craft was two or three miles high, and scudding along at +seventy-five miles an hour.</p> +<p>In addition there were to be taken along many scientific +instruments, weapons of defense and offense, in addition to the +electric rifle, and various other objects which will be spoken of +in due time.</p> +<p>“Well,” remarked Tom Swift one afternoon, following +a hard day’s work in the shop, “I think, if all goes +well, and we have good weather, I’ll give the Black Hawk a +trial tomorrow.”</p> +<p>“Do you think it will fly?” asked Ned.</p> +<p>“There is no telling,” was the answer of the young +inventor. “These things are more or less guesswork, even when +you make two exactly alike. As far as I can tell, we have now a +better craft than the Red Cloud was, but it remains to be seen how +she will behave.”</p> +<p>They worked late that night, putting the finishing touches on +the Black Hawk, and in the morning the new airship was wheeled out +of the shed, and placed on the level starting ground, ready for the +trial flight.</p> +<p>Only the bare machinery was in her, as yet, and the gas bag had +not been inflated as Tom wanted to try the plane feature first. But +the vapor machine was all ready to start generating the gas +whenever it was needed. Nor was the Black Hawk painted and +decorated as she would be when ready to be sent to Africa. On the +whole, she looked rather crude as she rested there on the bicycle +wheels, awaiting the starting of the big propellers. As the stores +and supplies were not yet in, Tom took aboard, in addition to Mr. +Damon, Ned, his father, Mr. Jackson and Mr. Durban, some bags of +sand to represent the extra weight that would have to be +carried.</p> +<p>“If she’ll rise with this load she’ll +do,” announced the young inventor, as he went carefully over +the craft, looking to see that everything was in shape.</p> +<p>“If she does rise it will be a new experience for +me,” spoke the old elephant hunter. “I’ve never +been in an airship before. It doesn’t seem possible that we +can get up in the air with this machine.”</p> +<p>“Maybe we won’t,” spoke Tom, who was always a +little diffident about a new piece of machinery.</p> +<p>“Well, if it doesn’t do it the first time, it will +the second, or the fifty-second,” declared Ned Newton. +“Tom Swift doesn’t give up until he +succeeds.”</p> +<p>“Stop it! You’ll make me blush!” cried the +Black Hawk’s owner as he tried the different gages and levers +to see that they were all right.</p> +<p>After what seemed like a long time he gave the word for those +who were to make the trial trip to take their places. They did so, +and then, with Mr. Jackson, Tom went to the engine room. There was +a little delay, due to the fact that some adjustment was necessary +on the main motor. But at last it was fixed.</p> +<p>“Are you all ready?” called Tom.</p> +<p>“All ready,” answered Mr. Damon. The old elephant +hunter sat in a chair, nervously gripping the arms, and with a grim +look on his tanned face. Mr. Swift was cool, as Ned, for they had +made many trips in the air. Outside were Eradicate Sampson and Mrs. +Baggert.</p> +<p>“Here we go!” suddenly cried Tom, and he yanked over +the lever that started the main motor and propellers. The Black +Hawk trembled throughout her entire length. She shivered and shook. +Faster and faster whirled the great wooden screws. The motor hummed +and throbbed.</p> +<p>Slowly the Black Hawk moved across the ground. Then she gathered +speed. Now she was fairly rushing over the level space. Tom Swift +tilted the elevation rudder, and with a suddenness that was +startling, at least to the old elephant hunter, the new airship +shot upward on a steep slant.</p> +<p>“The Black Hawk flies!” yelled Ned Newton. +“Now for elephant land and the big tusks!”</p> +<p>“Yes, and perhaps for the red pygmies, too,” added +Tom in a low voice. Then he gave his whole attention to the +management of his new machine, which was rapidly mounting upward, +with a speed rivalling that of his former big craft.</p> +<h3>CHAPTER VIII</h3> +<h2><a id="Ch_8" name="Ch_8"></a>OFF FOR AFRICA</h2> +<p class="returnTOC"><a href="#Contents">Return to Table of +Contents</a></p> +<p>Higher and higher went the Black Hawk, far above the earth, +until the old elephant hunter, looking down, said in a voice which +he tried to make calm and collected, but which trembled in spite of +himself:</p> +<p>“Of course I’m not an expert at this game, Tom +Swift, but it looks to me as if we’d never get down. +Don’t you think we’re high enough?”</p> +<p>“For the time being, yes,” answered the young +inventor. “I didn’t think she’d climb so far +without the use of the gas. She’s doing well.”</p> +<p>“Bless my topknot, yes!” exclaimed Mr. Damon. +“She beats the Red Cloud, Tom. Try her on a straight-away +course.”</p> +<p>Which the youth did, pointing the nose of the craft along +parallel to the surface of the earth, and nearly a mile above it. +Then, increasing the speed of the motor, and with the big +propellers humming, they made fast time.</p> +<p>The old elephant hunter grew more calm as he saw that the +airship did not show any inclination to fall, and he noted that Tom +and the others not only knew how to manage it, but took their flight +as much a matter of course as if they were in an automobile +skimming along on the surface of the ground.</p> +<p>Tom put his craft through a number of evolutions, and when he +found that she was in perfect control as an aeroplane, he started +the gas machine, filled the big black bag overhead, and, when it +was sufficiently buoyant, he shut off the motor, and the Black Hawk +floated along like a balloon.</p> +<p>“That’s what we’ll do if our power happens to +give out when we get over an African jungle, with a whole lot of +wild elephants down below, and a forest full of the red pygmies +waiting for us,” explained Tom to Mr. Durban.</p> +<p>“And I guess you’ll need to do it, too,” +answered the hunter. “I don’t know which I fear worse, +the bad elephants wild with rage, as they get some times, or the +little red men who are as strong as gorillas, and as savage as +wolves. It would be all up with us if we got into their hands. But +I think this airship will be just what we need in Africa. I’d +have been able to get out of many a tight place if I had had one on +my last trip.”</p> +<p>While the Black Hawk hung thus, up the air, not moving, save as +the wind blew her, Tom with his father and Mr. Jackson made an +inspection of the machinery to find out whether it had been +strained any. They found that it had worked perfectly, and soon the +craft was in motion again, her nose this time being pointed toward +the earth. Tom let out some of the gas, and soon the airship was on +the ground in front of the shed she had so recently left.</p> +<p>“She’s all right,” decided the young inventor +after a careful inspection. “I’ll give her a couple +more trials, put on the finishing touches and then we’ll be +ready for our trip to Africa. Have you got everything arranged to +go, Ned?”</p> +<p>“Sure. I have a leave of absence from the bank, thanks to +your father and Mr. Damon, most of my clothes are packed, +I’ve bought a gun and I’ve got a lot of quinine in case +I get a fever.”</p> +<p>“Good!” cried the elephant hunter. +“You’ll do all right, I reckon. I’m glad I met +you young fellows. Well, I’ve lived through my first trip in +the air, which is more than I expected when I started.”</p> +<p>They discussed their plans at some length, for, now that the +airship had proved all that they had hoped for, it would not be +long ere they were under way. In the days that followed Tom put the +finishing touches on the craft, arranged to have it packed up for +shipment, and spent some time practicing with his electric rifle. +He got to be an expert shot, and Mr. Durban, who was a wonder with +the ordinary rifle, praised the young inventor highly.</p> +<p>“There won’t be many of the big tuskers get away from +you, Tom Swift,” he said. “And that reminds me, I got a +letter the other day, from the firm I collect ivory for, stating +that the price had risen because of a scarcity, and urging me to +hurry back to Africa and get all I could. It seems that war has +broken out among some of the central African tribes, and they are +journeying about in the jungle, on the war path here and there, and +have driven the elephants into the very deepest wilds, where the +ordinary hunters can’t get at them.”</p> +<p>“Maybe we won’t have any luck, either,” +suggested Ned.</p> +<p>“Oh, yes, we will,” declared the hunter. “With +our airship, the worst forest of the dark continent won’t +have any terrors for us, for we can float above it. And the fights +of the natives won’t have any effect. In a way, this will be +a good thing, for with the price of ivory soaring, we can make more +money than otherwise. There’s a chance for us all to get a +lot of money.”</p> +<p>“Bless my piano keys!” exclaimed Mr. Damon, +“if I can get just one elephant, and pull out his big ivory +teeth, I’ll be satisfied. I want a nice pair of tusks to set +up on either side of my fireplace for ornaments.”</p> +<p>“A mighty queer place for such-like ornaments,” said +Mr. Durban in a low voice. Then he added: “Well, the sooner +we get started the better I’ll like it, for I want to get +that pair of big tusks for a special customer of mine.”</p> +<p>“I’ll give the Black Hawk one more trial flight, and +then take her apart and ship her,” decided Tom, and the final +flight, a most successful one, took place the following day.</p> +<p>Then came another busy season when the airship was taken apart +for shipment to the coast of Africa by steamer. It was put into big +boxes and crates, and Eradicate and his mule took them to the +station in Shopton.</p> +<p>“Don’t you want to come to Africa with us, +Rad?” asked Tom, when the last of the cases had been sent +off. “You’ll find a lot of your friends +there.”</p> +<p>“No, indeedy, I doan’t want t’ go,” +answered the colored man, “though I would like to see dat +country.”</p> +<p>“Then why don’t you come?”</p> +<p>“Hu! Yo’ think, Massa Tom, dat I go anywhere dat I +might meet dem little red men what Massa Durban talk about? No, +sah, dey might hurt mah mule Boomerang.”</p> +<p>“Oh, I wasn’t going to take the mule along,” +said Tom, wondering how the creature might behave in the +airship.</p> +<p>“Not take Boomerang? Den I SUTTINLY ain’t +goin,” and Eradicate walked off, highly offended, to give +some oats to his faithful if somewhat eccentric steed.</p> +<p>After the airship had been sent off there yet remained much for +Tom Swift to do. He had to send along a number of special tools and +appliances with which to put the ship together again, and also some +with which to repair the craft in case of accident. So that this +time was pretty well occupied. But at length everything was in +readiness, and with his electric rifle knocked down for +transportation, and with his baggage, and that of the others, all +packed, they set off one morning to take the train for New York, +where they would get a steamer for Africa.</p> +<p>Numerous good-bys had been said, and Tom had made a farewell +call on Mary Nestor, promising to bring her some trophy from +elephant land, though he did not quite know what it would be.</p> +<p>Mr. Damon, as the train started, blessed everything he could +think of. Mr. Swift waved his hand and wished his son and the +others good luck, feeling a little lonesome that he could not make +one of the party. Ned was eager with excitement, and anticipation +of what lay before him. Tom Swift was thinking of what he could +accomplish with his electric rifle, and of the wonderful sights he +would see, and, as for the old elephant hunter, he was very glad to +be on the move again, after so many weeks of idleness, for he was a +very active man.</p> +<p>Their journey to New York was uneventful, and they found that +the parts of the airship had safely arrived, and had been taken +aboard the steamer. The little party went aboard themselves, after +a day spent in sight-seeing, and that afternoon the Soudalar, which +was the vessel’s name, steamed away from the dock at high +tide.</p> +<p>“Off for Africa!” exclaimed Tom to Ned, as they +stood at the rail, watching the usual crowd wave farewells. +“Off for Africa, Ned.”</p> +<p>As Tom spoke, a gentleman who had been standing near him and his +chum, vigorously waving his hand to some one on the pier, turned +quickly. He looked sharply at the young inventor for a moment, and +then exclaimed:</p> +<p>“Well, if it isn’t Tom Swift! Did I hear you say you +were going to Africa?”</p> +<p>Tom looked at the gentleman with rather a puzzled air for a +moment. The face was vaguely familiar, but Tom could not recall +where he had seen it. Then it came to him in a flash.</p> +<p>“Mr. Floyd Anderson!” exclaimed our hero. “Mr. +Anderson of—”</p> +<p>“Earthquake Island!” exclaimed the gentleman +quickly, as he extended his hand. “I guess you remember that +place, Tom Swift.”</p> +<p>“Indeed I do. And to think of meeting you again, and on +this African steamer,” and Tom’s mind went back to the +perilous days when his wireless message had saved the castaways of +Earthquake Island, among whom were Mr. Anderson and his wife.</p> +<p>“Did I hear you say you were going to Africa?” asked +Mr. Anderson, when he had been introduced to Ned, and the others in +Tom’s party.</p> +<p>“That’s where we’re bound for,” answered +the lad. “We are going to elephant land. But where are you +going, Mr. Anderson?”</p> +<p>“Also to Africa, but not on a trip for pleasure or profit +like yourselves. I have been commissioned by a missionary society +to rescue two of its workers from the heart of the dark +continent.”</p> +<p>“Rescue two missionaries?” exclaimed Tom, +wonderingly.</p> +<p>“Yes, a gentleman and his wife, who, it is reported, have +fallen into the hands of a race known as the red pygmies, who hold +them captives!”</p> +<h3>CHAPTER IX</h3> +<h2><a id="Ch_9" name="Ch_9"></a>ATTACKED BY A WHALE</h2> +<p class="returnTOC"><a href="#Contents">Return to Table of +Contents</a></p> +<p>Surprise at Mr. Anderson’s announcement held Tom silent +for a moment. That the gentleman whom he had been the means of +rescuing, among others, from Earthquake Island, should be met with +so unexpectedly, was quite a coincidence, but when it developed +that he was bound to the same part of the African continent as were +Tom and his friends, and when he said he hoped to rescue some +missionaries from the very red pygmies so feared by the old +elephant hunter—this was enough to startle any one.</p> +<p>“I see that my announcement has astonished you,” +said Mr. Anderson, as he noted the look of surprise on the face of +the young inventor.</p> +<p>“It certainly has! Why, that’s where we are bound +for, in my new airship. Come down into our cabin, Mr. Anderson, and +tell us all about it. Is your wife with you?”</p> +<p>“No, it is too dangerous a journey on which to take her. I +have little hope of succeeding, for it is now some time since the +unfortunate missionaries were captured, but I am going to do my +best, and organize a relief expedition when I get to +Africa.”</p> +<p>Tom said nothing at that moment, but he made up his mind that if +it was at all possible he would lend his aid, that of his airship, +and also get his friends to assist Mr. Anderson. They went below to +a special cabin that had been reserved for Tom’s party, and +there, as the ship slowly passed down New York Bay, Mr. Anderson +told his story.</p> +<p>“I mentioned to you, when we were on Earthquake +Island,” he said to Tom, “that I had been in Africa, +and had done some hunting. That is not my calling, as it is that of +your friend, Mr. Durban, but I know the country pretty well. +However, I have not been there in some time.”</p> +<p>“My wife and I are connected with a church in New York +that, several years ago, raised a fund and sent two missionaries, +Mr. and Mrs. Jacob Illingway, to the heart of Africa. They built up +a little mission there, and for a time all went well, and they did +good work among the natives.”</p> +<p>“They are established in a tribe of friendly black men, of +simple nature, and, while the natives did not become Christianized +to any remarkable extent, yet they were kind to the missionaries. +Mr. and Mrs. Illingway used frequently to write to members of our +church, telling of their work. They also mentioned the fact that +adjoining the country of the friendly blacks there was a tribe of +fierce little red men,—red because of hair of that color all +over their bodies.”</p> +<p>“That’s right,” agreed Mr. Durban, shaking his +head solemnly. “They’re red imps, too!”</p> +<p>“Mr. Illingway often mentioned in his letters,” went +on Mr. Anderson, “that there were frequent fights between the +pygmies and the race of blacks, but the latter had no great fear of +their small enemies. However, it seems that they did not take +proper precautions, for not long ago there was a great battle, the +blacks were attacked by a large force of the red pygmies, who +overwhelmed them by numbers, and finally routed them, taking +possession of their country.”</p> +<p>“What became of the missionaries?” asked Ned +Newton.</p> +<p>“I’ll tell you,” said Mr. Anderson. “For +a long time we heard nothing, beyond the mere news of the fight, +which we read of in the papers. The church people were very anxious +about the fate of Mr. and Mrs. Illingway, and were talking of +sending a special messenger to inquire about them, when a cablegram +came from the headquarters of the society in London.”</p> +<p>“It seems that one of the black natives, named Tomba, who +was a sort of house servant to Mr. and Mrs. Illingway, escaped the +general massacre, in which all his friends were killed. He made his +way through the jungle to a white settlement, and told his story, +relating how the two missionaries had been carried away captive by +the pygmies.”</p> +<p>“A terrible fate,” commented Mr. Durban.</p> +<p>“Yes, they might better be dead, from all the accounts we +can hear,” went on Mr. Anderson.</p> +<p>“Bless my Sunday hat! Don’t say that!” +exclaimed Mr. Damon. “Maybe we can save them, Mr. +Anderson.”</p> +<p>“That is what I am going to try to do, though it may be +too late. As soon as definite news was received, our church held a +meeting, raised a fund, and decided to send me off to find Mr. and +Mrs. Illingway, if alive, or give them decent burial, if I could +locate their bones. The reason they selected me was because I had +been in Africa, and knew the country.”</p> +<p>“I made hurried arrangements, packed up, said good-by to +my wife, and here I am. But to think of meeting you, Tom Swift! And +to hear that you are also going to Africa. I wish I could command +an airship for the rescue. It might be more easily +accomplished!”</p> +<p>“That’s just what I was going to propose!” +exclaimed Tom. “We are going to the land of the red pygmies, +and while I have promised to help Mr. Durban in getting ivory, and +while I want to try my electric rifle on big game, still we can do +both, I think. You can depend on us, Mr. Anderson, and if the Black +Hawk can be of any service to you in the rescue, count us +in!”</p> +<p>“Gosh!” cried the former castaway of Earthquake +Island. “This is the best piece of luck I could have! Now +tell me all about your plans.” which Tom and the others did, +listening in turn, to further details about the missionaries.</p> +<p>Just how they would go to work to effect the rescue, or how they +could locate the particular tribe of little red men who had Mr. and +Mrs. Illingway, they did not know.</p> +<p>“We may be able to get hold of this Tomba,” said Mr. +Durban. “If not I guess between Mr. Anderson and myself we +can get on the trail, somehow. I’m anxious to get to the +coast, see the airship put together again, and start for the +interior.”</p> +<p>“So am I,” declared Tom, as he got out his electric +rifle, and began to put it together, for he wanted to show Mr. +Anderson how it worked.</p> +<p>They had a pleasant and uneventful voyage for two weeks. The +weather was good, and, to tell the truth, it was rather monotonous +for Tom and the others, who were eager to get into activity again. +Then came a storm, which, while it was not dangerous, yet gave them +plenty to think and talk about for three days. Then came more calm +weather, when the Soudalar plowed along over gently heaving +billows.</p> +<p>They were about a week from their port of destination, which was +Majumba, on the African coast, when, one afternoon, as Tom and the +others were in their cabin, they heard a series of shouts on deck, +and the sound of many feet running to and fro.</p> +<p>“Something has happened!” exclaimed the young +inventor.</p> +<p>Tom raced for the companionway, and was soon on deck, followed +by Mr. Durban and the others. They saw a crowd of sailors and +passengers leaning over the port rail.</p> +<p>“What’s the matter?” asked Tom, of the second +mate, who was just passing.</p> +<p>“Fight between a killer and a whale,” was the reply. +“The captain has ordered the ship to lay-to so it can be +watched.”</p> +<p>Tom made his way to the rail. About a quarter of a mile away +there could be observed a great commotion in the ocean. Great +bodies seemed to be threshing about, beating the water to foam, +and, with the foam could be seen bright blood mingled. Occasionally +two jets of water, as from some small fountain, would shoot +upward.</p> +<p>“He’s blowing hard!” exclaimed one of the +sailors. “I guess he’s about done for!”</p> +<p>“Which one?” asked Tom.</p> +<p>“The whale,” was the reply. “The killer has +the best of the big fellow,” and the sailor quickly explained +how the smaller killer fish, by the peculiarity of its attack, and +its great ferocity, often bested its larger antagonist.</p> +<p>The battle was now at its height, and Tom and the others were +interested spectators. At times neither of the big creatures could +be seen, because of the smother of foam in which they rolled and +threshed about. The whale endeavored to sound, or go to the bottom, +but the killer stuck to him relentlessly.</p> +<p>Suddenly, however, as Tom looked, the whale, by a stroke of his +broad tail, momentarily stunned his antagonist. Instantly realizing +that he was free the great creature, which was about ninety feet +long, darted away, swimming on the surface of the water, for he +needed to get all the air possible.</p> +<p>Quickly acquiring momentum, the whale came on like a locomotive, +spouting at intervals, the vapor from the blowholes looking not +unlike steam from some submarine boat.</p> +<p>“He looks to be heading this way,” remarked Mr. +Durban to Tom.</p> +<p>“He is,” agreed the young inventor, “but I +guess he’ll dive before he gets here. He only wants to get +away from the killer. Look, the other one is swimming this way, +too!”</p> +<p>“Bless my harpoon, but he sure is!” called Mr. +Damon. “They’ll renew the fight near here.”</p> +<p>But he was mistaken, for the killer, after coming a little +distance after the whale, suddenly turned, hesitated for a moment, +and then disappeared in the depths of the ocean.</p> +<p>The whale, however, continued to come on, speeding through the +water with powerful strokes. There was an uneasy movement among +some of the passengers.</p> +<p>“Suppose he strikes the ship,” suggested one +woman.</p> +<p>“Nonsense! He couldn’t,” said her husband.</p> +<p>“The old man had better get under way, just the +same,” remarked a sailor near Tom, as he looked up at the +bridge where the captain was standing.</p> +<p>The “old man,” or commander, evidently thought the +same thing, for, after a glance at the oncoming leviathan, which +was still headed directly for the vessel, he shoved the lever of +the telegraph signal over to “full speed ahead.”</p> +<p>Hardly had he done so than the whale sank from sight.</p> +<p>“Oh, I’m so glad!” exclaimed the woman who had +first spoken of the possibility of the whale hitting the ship, +“I am afraid of those terrible creatures.”</p> +<p>“They’re as harmless as a cow, unless they get +angry,” said her husband.</p> +<p>Slowly the great ship began to move through the water. Tom and +his friends were about to go back to their cabin, for they thought +the excitement over, when, as the young inventor turned from the +rail, he felt a vibration throughout the whole length of the +steamer, as if it had hit on a sand-bar.</p> +<p>Instantly there was a jangling of bells in the engine room, and +the Soudalar lost headway.</p> +<p>“What’s the matter?” asked several +persons.</p> +<p>They were answered a moment later, for the big whale, even +though grievously wounded in his fight with the killer, had risen +not a hundred feet away from the ship, and was coming toward it +with the speed of an express train.</p> +<p>“Bless my blubber!” cried Mr. Damon. “We must +have hit the whale, or it hit us under the water and now it’s +going to attack us!”</p> +<p>He had no more than gotten the words out of his mouth ere the +great creature of the deep came on full tilt at the vessel, struck +it a terrific blow which made it tremble from stem to stern, and +careen violently.</p> +<p>There was a chorus of frightened cries, sailors rushed to and +fro, the engine-room bells rang violently, and the captain and +mates shouted hoarse orders.</p> +<p>“Here he comes again!” yelled Mr. Durban, as he +hurried to the side of the ship. “The whale takes us for an +enemy, I guess, and he’s going to ram us again!”</p> +<p>“And if he does it many times, he’ll start the +plates and cause a leak that won’t be stopped in a +hurry!” cried a sailor as he rushed past Tom.</p> +<p>The young inventor looked at the oncoming monster for a moment, +and then started on the run for his cabin.</p> +<p>“Here! Where are you going?” cried Mr. Damon, but +Tom did not answer.</p> +<h3>CHAPTER X</h3> +<h2><a id="Ch_10" name="Ch_10"></a>OFF IN THE AIRSHIP</h2> +<p class="returnTOC"><a href="#Contents">Return to Table of +Contents</a></p> +<p>As Tom Swift hurried down the companionway he again felt the +ship careen as the whale struck it a powerful blow, and he was +almost knocked off his feet. But he kept on.</p> +<p>Below he found some frightened men and women, a number of whom +were adjusting life preservers about them, under the impression +that the ship had struck a rock and was going down. They had not +been up on deck, and did not know of the battle between the killer +and the whale, nor what followed.</p> +<p>“Oh, I know we’re sinking!” cried one timid +woman. “What has happened?” she appealed to Tom.</p> +<p>“It will be all right in a little while,” he assured +her.</p> +<p>“But what is it? I want to know. Have we had a +collision.”</p> +<p>“Yes, with a whale,” replied Tom, as he grabbed up +something from his stateroom, and again rushed up on deck. As he +reached it the whale came on once more, and struck the ship another +terrific blow. Then the monster sank and could be seen swimming +back, just under the surface of the water, getting ready to renew +the attack.</p> +<p>“He’s going to ram us again!” cried Mr. Damon. +“Bless my machine oil! Why doesn’t the captain do +something?”</p> +<p>At that moment the commander cried from the bridge:</p> +<p>“Send a man below, Mr. Laster, to see if we are making any +water. Then tell half a dozen of the sailors to get out the rifles, +and see if they can’t kill the beast. He’ll put us in +Davy Jones’s locker if he keeps this up! Lively now, +men!”</p> +<p>The first mate, Mr. Laster, called out the order. A sailor went +below to see if the ship was leaking much, and the captain rang for +full speed ahead. But the Soudalar was slow in getting under way +again, and, even at top speed she was no match for the whale, which +was again rushing toward the vessel.</p> +<p>“Quick with those rifles!” cried the captain. +“Fire a volley into the beast!”</p> +<p>“There’s no need!” suddenly called Mr. Damon, +who had caught sight of Tom Swift, and the object which the lad +carried.</p> +<p>“No need?” demanded the commander. “Why, has +the whale sunk, or made off?”</p> +<p>“No,” answered the eccentric man, “the whale +is still coming on, but Tom Swift will fix him. Get there, Tom, and +let him have a good one!”</p> +<p>“What sort of a gun is that?” demanded the commander +as the young inventor took his place at the rail, which was now +almost deserted.</p> +<p>Tom did not answer. Bracing himself against the rolling and +heaving of the vessel, which was now under about half speed, Tom +aimed his electric rifle at the oncoming leviathan. He looked at +the automatic gage, noted the distance and waiting a moment until +the crest of a wave in front of the whale had subsided, he pressed +the button.</p> +<p>If those watching him expected to hear a loud report, and see a +flash of flame, they were disappointed. There was absolutely no +sound, but what happened to the whale was most surprising.</p> +<p>The great animal stopped short amid a swirl of foam, and the +next instant it seemed to disintegrate. It went all to pieces, just +as had the dummy figure which Tom on one occasion fired at with his +rifle and as had the big packing-cases. The whale appeared to +dissolve, as does a lump of sugar in a cup of hot tea, and, five +seconds after Tom Swift had fired his electric gun, there was not a +sign of the monster save a little blood on the calm sea.</p> +<p>“What—what happened?” asked the captain in +bewilderment. “Is—is that monster gone?”</p> +<p>“Completely gone!” cried Mr. Damon. “Bless my +powder horn, Tom, but I knew you could do it!”</p> +<p>“Is that a new kind of whale gun, firing an explosive +bullet?” inquired the commander, as he came down off the +bridge and shook hands with Tom. “If it is, I’d like to +buy one. We may be rammed again by another whale.”</p> +<p>“This is my new, electric rifle,” explained the +young inventor modestly, “and it fires wireless charges of +electricity instead of bullets. I’m sorry I can’t let +you have it, as it’s the only one I have. But I guess no more +whales will ram us. That one was evidently crazed by the attack of +the killer, and doubtless took us for another of its +enemies.”</p> +<p>Sailors and passengers crowded around Tom, eager to shake his +hand, and to hear about the gun. Many declared that he had saved +the ship.</p> +<p>This was hardly true, for the whale could not have kept up its +attacks much longer. Still he might have done serious damage, by +causing a leak, and, while the Soudalar was a stanch craft, with +many water-tight compartments, still no captain likes to be a week +from land with a bad leak, especially if a storm comes up. Then, +too, there was the danger of a panic among the passengers, had the +attacks been kept up, so, though Tom wanted to make light of his +feat, the others would not let him.</p> +<p>“You’re entitled to the thanks of all on +board,” declared Captain Wendon, “and I’ll see +that the owners hear of what you did. Well, I guess we can go on, +now. I’ll not stop again to see a fight between a killer and +a whale.”</p> +<p>The steamer resumed her way at full speed, and the sailor, who +had gone below, came up to report that there was only a slight +leak, which need not cause any uneasiness.</p> +<p>Little was talked of for the next few days but the killing of +the whale, and Tom had to give several exhibitions of his electric +rifle, and explain its workings. Then, too, the story of his +expedition became known, and also the object of Mr. +Anderson’s quest, and Tom’s offer of aid to help rescue +the missionaries, so that, altogether, our hero was made much of +during the remainder of the voyage.</p> +<p>“Well, if your gun will do that to a whale, what will it +do to an elephant?” asked Mr. Durban one morning, when they +were within a day’s steaming of their port. “I’m +afraid it’s almost too strong, Tom. It will leave +nothing—not even the tusks to pick up.”</p> +<p>“Oh, I can regulate the power,” declared the lad. +“I used full force on the whale, just to see what it would +do. It was the first time I’d tried it on anything alive. I +can so regulate the charge that it will kill even an elephant, and +leave scarcely a mark on the beast.”</p> +<p>“I’d like to see it done,” remarked the old +hunter.</p> +<p>“I’ll show you, if we sight any sharks,” +promised Tom. He was able to keep his word for that afternoon a +school of the ugly fish followed the steamer for the sake of the +food scraps thrown overboard. Tom took his position in the stern, +and gave an exhibition of shooting with his electric gun that +satisfied even Mr. Durban, exacting as he was.</p> +<p>For the lad, by using his heaviest charges, destroyed the +largest sharks so that they seemed to instantly disappear in the +water, and from that he toned down the current until he could kill +some of the monsters so easily and quickly that they seemed to +float motionless on the surface, yet there was no life left in them +once the electric charge touched them.</p> +<p>“We’ll use the light charges when we’re +killing elephants for their tusks,” said Tom, “and the +heavy ones when we’re in danger from a rush of the +beasts.”</p> +<p>He little knew how soon he would have to put his plan into +effect.</p> +<p>They arrived safely at Majumba, the African coast city, and for +two days Tom was kept busy superintending the unloading of the +parts of his airship. But it was safely taken ashore, and he and +his friends hired a disused warehouse in which to work at +reassembling the Black Hawk.</p> +<p>Tom had everything down to a system, and, in less than a week +the aircraft was once more ready to be sent aloft. It was given a +try-out, much to the astonishment of the natives, and worked +perfectly. Then Tom and his friends busied themselves laying in a +stock of provisions and stores for the trip into the interior.</p> +<p>They made inquiries about the chances of getting ivory and were +told that they were good if they went far enough into the jungle +and forests, for the big beasts had penetrated farther and farther +inland.</p> +<p>They also tried to get some news regarding the captive +missionaries, but were unsuccessful nor could they learn what had +become of Tomba, who had brought the dire news to civilization.</p> +<p>“It’s too soon to hope for anything yet,” said +Mr. Anderson. “Wait until we get near the country of the red +pygmies.”</p> +<p>“And then it may be too late,” said Tom in a low +voice.</p> +<p>It was two weeks after their arrival in Majumba that Tom +announced that all was in readiness. The airship was in perfect +working order, it was well stocked with food, arms, articles and +trinkets with which to trade among the natives, spare parts for the +machinery, special tools and a good supply of the chemicals needed +to manufacture the lifting gas.</p> +<p>Of course Tom did not leave behind his electric weapon and Mr. +Durban and the others took plenty of ammunition for the ordinary +rifles which they carried.</p> +<p>One morning, after cabling to his father that they were about to +start, Tom gave a last careful look to his airship, tested the +motor and dynamos, took a hasty survey of the storeroom, to see +that nothing had been forgotten, and gave the word to get +aboard.</p> +<p>They took their places in the cabin. Outside a crowd of natives, +and white traders of many nationalities had gathered. Tom pulled +the starting lever. The Black Hawk shot across a specially prepared +starting ground, and, attaining sufficient momentum, suddenly arose +into the air.</p> +<p>There was a cheer from the watching crowd, and several +superstitious blacks, who saw the airship for the first time, ran +away in terror.</p> +<p>Up into the blue atmosphere Tom took his craft. He looked down +on the city over which he was flying. Then he pointed the prow of +the Black Hawk toward the heart of the dark continent.</p> +<p>“Off for the interior!” he murmured. “I wonder +if we’ll ever get out again?”</p> +<p>No one could answer. They had to take their chances with the +dangers and terrors of elephant land, and with the red pygmies. Yet +Tom Swift was not afraid.</p> +<h3>CHAPTER XI</h3> +<h2><a id="Ch_11" name="Ch_11"></a>ANCHORED TO EARTH</h2> +<p class="returnTOC"><a href="#Contents">Return to Table of +Contents</a></p> +<p>With the voyage on the steamer, their arrival in Africa, the +many strange sights of the city of Majumba, and the refitting of +the airship, our friends had hardly had time to catch their breath +since Tom Swift’s determination to go elephant hunting. Now, +as the Black Hawk was speeding into the interior, they felt, for +the first time in many weeks, that they “could take it +easy,” as Ned Newton expressed it.</p> +<p>“Thank goodness,” said the bank clerk, “I can +sit down and look at something for a while,” and he gazed out +of the main cabin windows down at the wild country over which they +were then flying.</p> +<p>For, so swiftly had the airship moved that it was hardly any +time at all before it had left Majumba far behind, and was scudding +over the wilderness.</p> +<p>“Bless my camera,” exclaimed Mr. Damon, who had +brought along one of the picture machines, “bless my camera! +I don’t call that much to look at,” and he pointed to +the almost impenetrable forest over which they then were.</p> +<p>“No, it isn’t much of a view,” said the old +elephant hunter, “but wait. You’ll soon see all you +want to. Africa isn’t all like this. There are many strange +sights before us yet. But, Tom Swift, tell us how the airship is +working in this climate. Do you find any difficulty managing +it?”</p> +<p>“Not at all,” answered Tom, who was in the cabin +then, having set the automatic steering apparatus in the pilot +house, and come back to join the others. “It works as well as +it did in good old York State. Of course I can’t tell what +affect the continual hot and moist air will have on the gas bag, +but I guess we’ll make out all right.”</p> +<p>“I certainly hope so,” put in Mr. Anderson. +“It would be too bad to be wrecked in the middle of Africa, +with no way to get out.”</p> +<p>“Oh, you needn’t worry about that,” said Ned +with a laugh. “If the airship should smash, Tom would build +another out of what was left, and we’d sail away as good as +before.”</p> +<p>“Hardly that,” answered the young inventor.</p> +<p>“But we won’t cross a bridge until we hear it +coming, as Eradicate would say. Hello, that looks like some sort of +native village.”</p> +<p>He pointed ahead to a little clearing in the forest, where a +number of mud and grass huts were scattered about. As they came +nearer they could see the black savages, naked save for a loin +cloth, running about in great excitement, and pointing upward.</p> +<p>“Yes, that’s one of the numerous small native +villages we’ll see from now on,” said Mr. Durban. +“Many a night have I spent in those same grass huts after a +day’s hunting. Sometimes, I’ve been comfortable, and +again not. I guess we’ve given those fellows a +scare.”</p> +<p>It did seem so, for by this time the whole population, including +women and children, were running about like mad. Suddenly, from +below there sounded a deep booming noise, which came plainly to the +ears of the elephant hunters through the opened windows of the +airship cabin.</p> +<p>“Hark! What’s that?” cried Tom, raising his +hand for silence.</p> +<p>“Bless my umbrella! it sounds like thunder,” said +Mr. Damon.</p> +<p>“No, it’s one of their war drums,” explained +Mr. Durban. “The natives make large ones out of hollow trees, +with animal skins stretched over the ends, and they beat them to +sound a warning, or before going into battle. It makes a great +noise.”</p> +<p>“Do you think they want to fight us?” asked Ned, +looking anxiously at Tom, and then toward where his rifle stood in +a corner of the cabin.</p> +<p>“No, probably that drum was beaten by some of the native +priests,” explained the hunter. “The natives are very +superstitious, and likely they took us for an evil spirit, and +wanted to drive us away.”</p> +<p>“Then we’ll hustle along out of their sight,” +said Tom, as he went to the pilot house to increase the speed of +the airship, for he had been letting it drift along slowly to +enable the adventurers to view the country over which they were +passing. A few minutes later, under the increased force of the +machinery, the Black Hawk left the native village, and the crowd of +frightened blacks, far behind.</p> +<p>The travelers passed over a succession of wild stretches of +forest or jungle, high above big grassy plains, over low but rugged +mountain ranges, and big rivers. Now and then they would cross some +lake, on the calm surface of which could be made out natives, in +big canoes, hollowed out from trees. In each case the blacks showed +every appearance of fright at the sight of the airship throbbing +along over their heads.</p> +<p>On passing over the lake, Ned Newton looked down and cried out +excitedly:</p> +<p>“Look! Elephants! They’re in swimming, and the +natives are shooting them! Now’s our chance, Tom!”</p> +<p>Mr. Anderson and Mr. Durban, after a quick glance, drew back +laughing.</p> +<p>“Those are hippopotami!” exclaimed the old elephant +man. “Good hunting, if you don’t care what you shoot, +but not much sport in it. It will be some time yet before we see +any elephants, boys.”</p> +<p>Ned was rather chagrined at his mistake, but the African +travelers told him that any one, not familiar with the country, +would have made it, especially in looking down from a great +height.</p> +<p>They sailed along about half a mile above the earth, Tom +gradually increasing the speed of the ship, as he found the +machinery to be working well. Dinner was served as they were +crossing a high grassy plateau, over which could be seen bounding a +number of antelopes.</p> +<p>“Some of those would go good for a meal,” said Mr. +Durban, after a pause during which he watched the graceful +creatures.</p> +<p>“Then we’ll go down and get some for supper,” +decided Tom, for in that hot climate it was impossible to carry +fresh meat on the airship.</p> +<p>Accordingly, the Black Hawk was sent down, and came to rest in a +natural clearing on the edge of the jungle. After waiting until the +fierce heat of noonday was over, the travelers got out their rifles +and, under the leadership of Mr. Durban and Mr. Anderson, who was +also an experienced hunter, they set off.</p> +<p>Game was plentiful, but as they could only eat a comparatively +small quantity, and as it would not keep, they only shot what they +needed. Tom had his electric rifle, but hesitated to use it, as Mr. +Durban and Mr. Anderson had each already bowled over a fine +buck.</p> +<p>However, a chance came most unexpectedly, for, as they were +passing along the banks of a little stream, which was almost hidden +from view by thick weeds and rank grass, there was a sudden +commotion in the bushes, and a fierce wild buffalo sprang out at +the party.</p> +<p>There are few animals in Africa more dreaded by hunters than the +wild buffalo, for the beast, with its spreading sharp horns is a +formidable foe, and will seldom give up the attack until utterly +unable to move. They are fierce and relentless.</p> +<p>“Look out!” yelled Mr. Durban. “To cover, +everybody! If that beast gets after you it’s no fun! You and +I will fire at him, Mr. Anderson!”</p> +<p>Mr. Durban raised his rifle, and pulled the trigger, but, for +some reason, the weapon failed to go off. Mr. Anderson quickly +raised his, but his foot slipped in a wet place and he fell. At +that moment the buffalo, with a snort of rage, charged straight for +the fallen man.</p> +<p>“Tom! your electric rifle!” yelled Ned Newton, but +he need not have done so, for the young inventor was on the +alert.</p> +<p>Taking instant aim, and adjusting his weapon for the heaviest +charge, Tom fired at the advancing beast. The result was the same +as in the case of the whale, the buffalo seemed to melt away. And +it was stopped only just in time, too, for it was close to the +prostrate Mr. Anderson, who had sprained his ankle slightly, and +could not readily rise.</p> +<p>It was all over in a few seconds, but it was a tense time while +it lasted.</p> +<p>“You saved my life again, Tom Swift,” said Mr. +Anderson, as he limped toward our hero. “Once on Earthquake +Island, and again now. I shan’t forget it,” and he +shook hands with the young inventor.</p> +<p>The others congratulated Tom on his quick shot, and Mr. Damon, +as usual blessed everything in sight, and the electric rifle +especially.</p> +<p>They went back to the airship, taking the fresh meat with them, +but on account of the injury to Mr. Anderson’s ankle could +not make quick progress, so that it was almost dusk when they +reached the craft.</p> +<p>“Well, we’ll have supper, and then start off,” +proposed Tom, “I don’t think it would be wise to remain +on the ground so near the jungle.”</p> +<p>“No’ it’s safer in the air,” agreed Mr. +Durban. The meal was much enjoyed, especially the fresh meat, and, +after it was over, Tom took his place in the pilot house to start +the machinery, and send the airship aloft.</p> +<p>The motor hummed and throbbed, and the gas hissed into the bag, +for the ground was not level enough to permit of a running start by +means of the planes. Lights gleamed from the Black Hawk and the big +search-lantern in front cast a dazzling finger of light into the +black forest.</p> +<p>“Well, what are you waiting for?” called Ned, who +heard the machinery in motion, but who could not feel the craft +rising. “Why don’t you go up, Tom?”</p> +<p>“I’m trying to,” answered the young inventor. +“Something seems to be the matter.” He pulled the speed +lever over a few more notches, and increased the power of the gas +machine. Still the Black Hawk did not rise.</p> +<p>“Bless my handkerchief box!” cried Mr. Damon, +“what’s the matter?”</p> +<p>“I don’t know,” answered Tom. “We seem +to be held fast.”</p> +<p>He further increased the speed of the propellers, and the gas +machine was set to make vapor at its fullest capacity, and force it +into the bag. Still the craft was held to the earth.</p> +<p>“Maybe the gas has no effect in this climate,” +called Ned.</p> +<p>“It can’t be that,” replied Tom. “The +gas will operate anywhere. It worked all right today.”</p> +<p>Suddenly she airship moved up a little way, and then seemed to +be pulled down again, hitting the ground with a bump.</p> +<p>“Something is holding us!” cried Tom. +“We’re anchored to earth! I must see what it is!” +and, catching up his electric rifle, he dashed out of the +cabin.</p> +<h3>CHAPTER XII</h3> +<h2><a id="Ch_12" name="Ch_12"></a>AMONG THE NATIVES</h2> +<p class="returnTOC"><a href="#Contents">Return to Table of +Contents</a></p> +<p>For a moment after Tom’s departure the others stared +blankly at one another. They could hear the throbbing and hum of +the machinery, and feel the thrill of the anchored airship. But +they could not understand what the trouble was.</p> +<p>“We must help Tom!” cried Ned Newton at length as he +caught up his rifle. “Maybe we are in the midst of a herd of +elephants, and they have hold of the ship in their +trunks.”</p> +<p>“It couldn’t be!” declared Mr. Durban, yet +they soon discovered that Ned’s guess was nearer the truth +then any of them had suspected at the time.</p> +<p>“We must help him, true enough!” declared Mr. +Anderson, and he and the others followed Ned out on deck.</p> +<p>“Where are you Tom?” called his chum.</p> +<p>“Here.” was the answer. “I’m on the +forward deck.”</p> +<p>“Do you see anything?”</p> +<p>“No, it’s too dark. Turn the search-light this +way.”</p> +<p>“I will,” shouted Mr. Damon, and a moment later the +gleam of the powerful lantern brought Tom clearly into view, as he +stood on the small forward observation platform in the bow of the +Black Hawk.</p> +<p>An instant later the young inventor let out a startled cry.</p> +<p>“What is it?” demanded Mr. Durban.</p> +<p>“An immense snake!” shouted Tom. “It’s +wound around a tree, and partly twined around the ship! +That’s why we couldn’t go up! I’m going to shoot +it.”</p> +<p>They looked to where he pointed, and there, in the glare of the +light, could be seen an immense python, fully twenty-five feet +long, the forward part of its fat ugly body circled around the +slender prow of the airship, while the folds of the tail were about +a big tree.</p> +<p>Tom Swift raised his electric rifle, took quick aim, and, having +set it to deliver a moderate charge, pressed the button. The result +was surprising, for the snake being instantly killed the folds +uncoiled and the ship shot upward, only, instead of rising on an +even keel, the bow pointed toward the sky, while the stern was +still fast to the earth. Tilted at an angle of forty-five degrees +the Black Hawk was in a most peculiar position, and those standing +on the deck began to slide along it.</p> +<p>“There’s another snake at the stern!” cried +Mr. Damon as he grasped a brace to prevent falling off. +“Bless my slippers! it’s the mate of the one you +killed! Shoot the other one, Tom!”</p> +<p>The young inventor needed no urging. Making his way as best he +could to the stern of the airship, he killed the second python, +which was even larger than the first, and in an instant the Black +Hawk shot upward, this time level, and as it should be. Things on +board were soon righted, and the travelers could stand upright. +High above the black jungle rose the craft, moving forward under +the full power of the propellers, until Tom rushed into the engine +room, and reduced speed.</p> +<p>“Well, talk about things happening!” exclaimed Ned, +when they had somewhat recovered from the excitement. “I +should say they were beginning with a vengeance!”</p> +<p>“That’s the way in Africa,” declared Mr. +Durban. “It’s a curious country. Those pythons +generally go in pairs, but it’s the first time I ever knew +them to tackle an airship. They probably stay around here where +there is plenty of small game for them, and very likely they merely +anchored to our craft while waiting for a supper to come +along.”</p> +<p>“It was a very odd thing,” said Tom. “I +couldn’t imagine what held us. After this I’ll see that +all is clear before I try to go up. Next time we may be held by a +troop of baboons and it strains the machinery to have it pull +against dead weight in that way.”</p> +<p>However, it was found no harm had resulted from this experience, +and, after reducing the gas pressure, which was taking them too +high, Tom set the automatic rudders.</p> +<p>“We’ll keep on at slow speed through the +night,” he explained, “and in the morning we’ll +be pretty well into the interior. Then we can lay our course for +wherever we want to go. Where had we better head for?”</p> +<p>“I don’t want to interfere with your plans,” +said Mr. Anderson, “but I would like to rescue those +missionaries. But the trouble is, I don’t know just where to +look for them. We couldn’t get much of a line in Majumba on +where the country of the red pygmies is located. What do you think +about it, Mr. Durban?”</p> +<p>“As far as elephant hunting goes we can probably do as +well in the pygmy land as anywhere else,” answered the +veteran, “and perhaps it will be well to head for that place. +If we run across any elephant herds in the meanwhile, we can stop, +get the ivory, and proceed.”</p> +<p>They discussed this plan at some length, and agreed that it was +the best thing to do. Mr. Durban had a map of the country around +the center of Africa, and he marked on it, as nearly as he could, +the location of the pygmies’ country, while Mr. Anderson also +had a chart, showing the location of the mission which had been +wiped out of existence. It was in the midst of a wild and desolate +region.</p> +<p>“We’ll do the best we can,” declared Tom, +“and I think we’ll succeed. We ought to be there in +about a week, if we have no bad luck.”</p> +<p>All that night the Black Hawk flew on over Africa, covering mile +after mile, passing over jungle, forest, plains, rivers and lakes, +and, doubtless, over many native villages, though they could not be +seen.</p> +<p>Morning found the travelers above a great, grassy plain, dotted +here and there with negro settlements which were separated by +rivers, lakes or thin patches of forest.</p> +<p>“Well, we’ll speed up a bit,” decided Tom +after breakfast, which was eaten to the weird accompaniment of +hundreds of native warning-drums, beaten by the superstitious +blacks.</p> +<p>Tom went to the engine room, and turned on more speed. He was +about to go back to the pilot house, to set the automatic steering +apparatus to coincide with the course mapped out, when there was a +crash of metal, an ominous snapping and buzzing sound, followed by +a sudden silence.</p> +<p>“What’s that?” cried Ned, who was in the motor +compartment with his chum.</p> +<p>“Something’s gone wrong!” exclaimed the young +inventor, as he sprang back toward the engine. The propellers had +ceased revolving, and as there was no gas in the bag at that time, +it having been decided to save the vapor for future needs, the +Black Hawk began falling toward the earth.</p> +<p>“We’re going down!” yelled Ned.</p> +<p>“Yes, the main motor has broken!” exclaimed Tom. +“We’ll have to descend to repair it.”</p> +<p>“Say!” yelled Mr. Damon, rushing in, +“we’re right over a big African village! Are we going +to fall among the natives?”</p> +<p>“It looks that way,” admitted Tom grimly, as he +hastened to the pilot house to shift the wings so that the craft +could glide easily to the ground.</p> +<p>“Bless my shoe blacking!” cried the eccentric man as +he heard the beating of drums, and the shouts of the savages.</p> +<p>A little later the airship had settled into the midst of a crowd +of Africans, who swarmed all about the craft.</p> +<h3>CHAPTER XIII</h3> +<h2><a id="Ch_13" name="Ch_13"></a>ON AN ELEPHANT TRAIL</h2> +<p class="returnTOC"><a href="#Contents">Return to Table of +Contents</a></p> +<p>“Get ready with your guns, everybody!” cried the old +elephant hunter, as he prepared to leave the cabin of the Black +Hawk. “Tom Swift, don’t forget your electric rifle. +There’ll be trouble soon!”</p> +<p>“Bless my cartridge belt!” gasped Mr. Damon. +“Why? What will happen?”</p> +<p>“The natives,” answered Mr. Durban. +“They’ll attack us sure as fate! See, already +they’re getting out their bows and arrows, and blowguns! +They’ll pierce the gas bag in a hundred places!”</p> +<p>“If they do, it will be a bad thing for us,” +muttered Tom. “We can’t have that happen.”</p> +<p>He followed the old elephant hunter outside, and Mr. Anderson, +Ned Newton and Mr. Damon trailed after, each one with a gun, while +Tom had his electric weapon. The airship rested on its wheels on +some level ground, just in front of a large hut, surrounded by a +number of smaller ones. All about were the natives, tall, gaunt +black men, hideous in their savagery, wearing only the loin cloth, +and with their kinky hair stuck full of sticks, bones and other odd +objects they presented a curious sight.</p> +<p>Some of them were dancing about, brandishing their +weapons—clubs spears, bows, and arrows, or the long, slender +blowguns, consisting merely of a hollow reed. Women and children +there were, too, also dancing and leaping about, howling at the +tops of their voices. Above the unearthly din could be heard the +noise of the drums and tom-toms, while, as the adventurers drew up +in front of their airship, there came a sort of chant, and a line +of natives, dressed fantastically in the skins of beasts, came +filing out of the large hut.</p> +<p>“The witch-doctors!” exclaimed Tom, who had read of +them in African travel books.</p> +<p>“Are they going to attack us?” cried Ned.</p> +<p>“Bless my hymn book! I hope not!” came from Mr. +Damon. “We wouldn’t have any chance at all in this +horde of black men. I wish Eradicate Sampson and his mule Boomerang +were here. Maybe he could talk their language, and tell them that +we meant no harm.”</p> +<p>“If there’s any talking to be done, I guess our guns +will have to do it,” said Tom grimly.</p> +<p>“I can speak a little of their language,” remarked +Mr. Durban, “but what in the world are the beggars up to, +anyhow? I supposed they’d send a volley of arrows at us, +first shot, but they don’t seem to be going to do +that.”</p> +<p>“No, they’re dancing around us,” said Tom.</p> +<p>“That’s it!” exclaimed Mr. Anderson. “I +have it! Why didn’t I think of it before? The natives are +welcoming us!”</p> +<p>“Welcoming us?” repeated Ned.</p> +<p>“Yes,” went on the missionary seeker. “They +are doing a dance in our honor, and they have even called out the +witch-doctors to do us homage.”</p> +<p>“That’s right,” agreed Mr. Durban, who was +listening to the chanting of the natives dressed in animal skins. +“They take us for spirits from another land, and are making +us welcome here. Listen, I’ll see if I can make out what else +they are saying.”</p> +<p>The character of the shouts and chants changed abruptly, and the +dancing increased in fervor, even the children throwing themselves +wildly about. The witch-doctors ran around like so many maniacs, +and it looked as much like an American Indian war dance as anything +else.</p> +<p>“I’ve got it!” shouted Mr. Durban, for he had +to call loudly to be heard above the din. “They are asking us +to make it rain. It seems there has been a dry spell here, and +their own rain-makers and witch-doctors haven’t been able to +get a drop out of the sky. Now, they take it that we have come to +help them. They think we are going to bring rain.”</p> +<p>“And if we don’t, what will happen?” asked +Tom.</p> +<p>“Maybe they won’t be quite so glad to see us,” +was the answer.</p> +<p>“Well, if they don’t mean war, we might as well put +up our weapons,” suggested Mr. Anderson. “If +they’re going to be friendly, so much the better, and if it +should happen to rain while we’re here, they’d think we +brought it, and we could have almost anything we wanted. Perhaps +they have a store of ivory hidden away, Mr. Durban. Some of these +tribes do.”</p> +<p>“It’s possible, but the chances for rain are very +small. How long will we have to stay here, Tom Swift?” asked +the elephant hunter anxiously.</p> +<p>“Well, perhaps I can get the motor mended in two or three +days,” answered the young inventor.</p> +<p>“Then we’ll have to stay here in the +meanwhile,” decided Mr. Durban. “Well, we’ll make +the best of it. Ha, here comes the native king to do us +honor,” and, as he spoke there came toward the airship a +veritable giant of a black man, wearing a leopard skin as a royal +garment, while on his head was a much battered derby hat, probably +purchased at a fabulous price from some trader. The king, if such +he could be called, was accompanied by a number of attendants and +witch-doctors. In front walked a small man, who, as it developed, +was an interpreter. The little cavalcade advanced close to the +airship, and came to a halt. The king made a low bow, either to the +craft or to the elephant hunters drawn up in front of it. His +attendants followed his example, and then the interpreter began to +speak.</p> +<p>Mr. Durban listened intently, made a brief answer to the little +man, and then the elephant hunter’s face lighted up.</p> +<p>“It’s all right,” he said to Tom and the +others. “The king takes us for wonderful spirits from another +land. He welcomes us, says we can have whatever we want, and he +begs us to make it rain. I have said we will do our best, and I +have asked that some food be sent us. That’s always the first +thing to do. We’ll be allowed to stay here in peace until Tom +can mend the ship, and then we’ll hit the air trail +again.”</p> +<p>The talk between Mr. Durban and the interpreter continued for +some little time longer. Then the king went back to his hut, +refusing, as Mr. Durban said, an invitation to come aboard and see +how a modern airship was constructed. The natives, too, seemed +anxious to give the craft a wide berth.</p> +<p>The excitement had quieted down now, and, in a short time a +crowd of native women came toward the airship, bearing, in baskets +on their heads, food of various kinds. There were bananas, some +wild fruits, yams, big gourds of goats’ milk, some boiled and +stewed flesh of young goats, nicely cooked, and other things, the +nature of which could only be guessed at.</p> +<p>“Shall we eat this stuff, or stick to Mr. Damon’s +cooking?” asked Tom.</p> +<p>“Oh, you’ll find this very good,” explained +Mr. Durban. “I’ve eaten native cookery before. Some of +it is excellent and as this appears to be very good, Mr. Damon can +have a vacation while we are here.”</p> +<p>The old elephant hunter proved the correctness of his statement +by beginning to eat, and soon all the travelers were partaking of +the food left by the native women. They placed it down on the +ground at a discreet distance from the airship, and hurriedly +withdrew. But if the women and men were afraid, the children were +not, and they were soon swarming about the ship, timidly touching +the sides with their little black fingers, but not venturing on +board.</p> +<p>Tom, with Ned and Mr. Damon to help him, began work on the motor +right after dinner. He found the break to be worse than he had +supposed, and knew that it would take at least four days to repair +it.</p> +<p>Meanwhile the airship continued to be a source of wonder to the +natives. They were always about it, save at night, but their +admiration was a respectful one. The king was anxious for the rain-making +incantations to begin, but Mr. Durban put him off.</p> +<p>“I don’t want to deceive these simple +natives,” he said, “and for our own safety we +can’t pretend to make rain, and fail. As soon as we have a +chance we’ll slip away from here.”</p> +<p>But an unexpected happening made a change in their plans. It was +on the afternoon of their third day in the native village, and Tom +and his assistants were working hard at the motor. Suddenly there +seemed to be great excitement in the vicinity of the king’s +hut. A native had rushed into the village from the jungle, +evidently with some news, for presently the whole place was in a +turmoil.</p> +<p>Once more the king and his attendants filed out toward the +airship. Once more the interpreter talked to Mr. Durban, who +listened eagerly.</p> +<p>“By Jove! here’s our chance!” he cried to Tom, +when the little man had finished.</p> +<p>“What is it?” asked the young inventor.</p> +<p>“A runner has just come in with news that a large herd of +wild elephants is headed this way. The king is afraid the big +beasts will trample down all their crops, as often occurs, and he +begs us to go out and drive the animals away. It’s just what +we want. Come on, Tom, and all of you. The airship will be safe +here, for the natives think that to meddle with it would mean death +or enchantment for then. We’ll get on our first elephant +trail!”</p> +<p>The old hunter went into the cabin for his big game gun, while +Tom hastened to get out his electric rifle. Now he would have a +chance to try it on the powerful beasts which he had come to Africa +to hunt.</p> +<p>Amid the excited and joyous shouts of the natives, the hunters +filed out of the village, led by the dusky messenger who had +brought the news of the elephants. And, as Tom and the others +advanced, they could hear a distant trumpeting, and a crashing in +the jungle that told of the near presence of the great animals.</p> +<h3>CHAPTER XIV</h3> +<h2><a id="Ch_14" name="Ch_14"></a>A STAMPEDE</h2> +<p class="returnTOC"><a href="#Contents">Return to Table of +Contents</a></p> +<p>“Look to your guns, everybody!” cautioned Mr. +Durban. “It’s no joke to be caught in an elephant herd +with an unloaded rifle. Have you plenty of ammunition, Mr. +Damon?”</p> +<p>“Ammunition? Bless my powder bag, I think I have enough +for all the elephants I’ll kill. If I get one of the big +beasts I’ll be satisfied. Bless my piano keys! I think I see +them, Tom!”</p> +<p>He pointed off through the thick jungle. Surely something was +moving there amid the trees; great slate-colored bodies, massive +forms and waving trunks! The trumpeting increased, and the crashing +of the underbrush sounded louder and nearer.</p> +<p>“There they are!” cried Tom Swift joyously.</p> +<p>“Now for my first big game!” yelled Ned Newton.</p> +<p>“Take it easy,” advised Mr. Anderson. +“Remember to aim for the spot I mentioned to you as being the +best, just at the base of the skull. If you can’t make a head +shot, or through the eye, try for the heart. But with the big +bullets we have, almost any kind of a shot, near a vital spot, will +answer.”</p> +<p>“And Tom can fire at their TOES and put them out of +business,” declared Ned, who was eagerly advancing. +“How about it, Tom?”</p> +<p>“Well, I guess the electric rifle will come up to +expectations. Say, Mr. Durban, they seem to be heading this +way!” excitedly cried Tom, as the herd of big beasts suddenly +turned and changed their course.</p> +<p>“Yes, they are,” admitted the old elephant hunter +calmly. “But that won’t matter. Take it easy. Kill all +you can.”</p> +<p>“But we don’t want to put too many out of +business,” said Tom, who was not needlessly cruel, even in +hunting.</p> +<p>“I know that,” answered Mr. Durban. “But this +is a case of necessity. I’ve got to get ivory, and we have to +kill quite a few elephants to accomplish this. Besides the brutes +will head for the village and the natives’ grain fields, and +trample them down, if they’re not headed back. So all +together now, we’ll give them a volley. This is a good place! +There they are. All line up now. Get ready!”</p> +<p>He halted, and the others followed his example. The natives had +come to a stop some time before, and were huddled together in the +jungle back of our friends, waiting to see the result of the white +men’s shots.</p> +<p>Tom, Ned, Mr. Damon, and the two older hunters were on an +irregular line in the forest. Before them was the mass of elephants +advancing slowly, and feeding on the tender leaves of trees as they +came on. They would reach up with their long trunks, strip off the +foliage, and stuff it into their mouths. Sometimes, they even +pulled up small trees by the roots for the purpose of stripping +them more easily.</p> +<p>“Jove! There are some big tuskers in that bunch!” +cried Mr. Durban. “Aim for the bulls, every one, don’t +kill the mothers or little ones.” Tom now saw that there were +a number of baby Elephants in the herd, and he appreciated the +hunter’s desire to spare them and their mothers.</p> +<p>“Here we go!” exclaimed Mr. Durban, as he saw that +Tom and the others were ready. “Aim! Fire!”</p> +<p>There were thundering reports that awoke the echoes of the +jungle, and the sounds of the rifles were followed by shrill +trumpets of rage. When the smoke blew away three elephants were +seen prostrate, or, rather two, and part of another one. The last +was almost blown to pieces by Tom Swift’s electric rifle; for +the young inventor had used a little too heavy charge, and the big +beast had been almost annihilated.</p> +<p>Mr. Durban had dropped his bull with a well-directed shot, and +Mr. Anderson had a smaller one to his credit.</p> +<p>“I guess I missed mine,” said Ned ruefully.</p> +<p>“Bless my dress-suit case!” exclaimed Mr. Damon. +“So did I!”</p> +<p>“One of you hit that fellow!” cried Mr. Durban. +“He’s wounded.”</p> +<p>He pointed to a fair-sized bull who was running wildly about, +uttering shrill cries of anger. The other beasts had gathered in a +compact mass, with the larger bulls, or tuskers, on the outside, to +protect the females and young.</p> +<p>“I’ll try a shot at him,” said Tom, and +raising his electric, gun, he took quick aim. The elephant dropped +in his tracks, for this time the young inventor had correctly +adjusted the power of the wireless bullet.</p> +<p>“Good!” cried Mr. Durban. “Give them some +more! This is some of the best ivory I’ve seen +yet!”</p> +<p>As he spoke he fired, and bowled over another magnificent +specimen. Ned Newton, determined to make a record of at least one, +fired again, and to his delight, saw a big fellow drop.</p> +<p>“I got him!” he yelled.</p> +<p>Mr. Anderson also got another, and then Mr. Damon, blessing +something which his friends could not make out, fired at one of the +largest bulls in the herd.</p> +<p>“You only nipped him!” exclaimed Mr. Durban when the +smoke had drifted away. “I guess I’ll put him out of +his misery!”</p> +<p>He raised his weapon and pulled the trigger but no report +followed. He uttered an exclamation of dismay.</p> +<p>“The breech-action has jammed!” he exclaimed. +“Drop him, Tom. He’s scented us, and is headed this +way. The whole herd will follow in a minute.”</p> +<p>Already the big brute wounded by Mr. Damon had trumpeted out a +cry of rage and defiance. It was echoed by his mates. Then, with +upraised trunk, he darted forward, followed by a score of big +tuskers.</p> +<p>But Tom had heard and understood. The leading beast had not +taken three steps before he dropped under the deadly and certain +fire of the young inventor.</p> +<p>“Bless my wishbone!” cried Mr. Damon when he saw how +effective the electric weapon was.</p> +<p>There was a shout of joy from the natives in the rear. They saw +the slain creatures and knew there would be much fresh meat and +feasting for them for days to come.</p> +<p>Suddenly Mr. Durban cried out: “Fire again, Tom! Fire +everybody! The whole herd is coming this way. If we don’t +stop them they’ll overrun the fields and village, and may +smash the airship! Fire again!”</p> +<p>Almost as he spoke, the rush, which had been stopped +momentarily, when Tom dropped the wounded elephant, began again. +With shrill menacing cries the score of bulls in the lead came on, +followed this time by the females and the young.</p> +<p>“It’s a stampede!” yelled Mr. Anderson, firing +into the midst of the herd. Mr. Durban was working frantically at +his clogged rifle. Ned and Mr. Damon both fired, and Tom Swift, +adjusting his weapon to give the heaviest charges, shot a fusillade +of wireless bullets into the center of the advancing elephants, who +were now wild with fear and anger.</p> +<p>“It’s a stampede all right!” said Tom, when he +saw that the big creatures were not going to stop, in spite of the +deadly fire poured into them.</p> +<h3>CHAPTER XV</h3> +<h2><a id="Ch_15" name="Ch_15"></a>LIONS IN THE NIGHT</h2> +<p class="returnTOC"><a href="#Contents">Return to Table of +Contents</a></p> +<p>Shouting, screaming, imploring their deities in general, and the +white men in particular for protection, the band of frightened +natives broke and ran through the jungle, caring little where they +went so long as they escaped the awful terror of the pursuing herd +of maddened elephants. Behind them came Tom Swift and the others, +for it were folly to stop in the path of the infuriated brutes.</p> +<p>“Our only chance is to get on their flank and try to turn +them!” yelled Mr. Durban. “We may beat them in getting +to the clearing, for the trail is narrow. Run, +everybody!”</p> +<p>No one needed his excited advice to cause them to hurry. They +scudded along, Mr. Damon’s cap falling off in his haste. But +he did not stop to pick it up.</p> +<p>The hunters had one advantage. They were on a narrow but +well-cleared trail through the jungle, which led from the village where +they were encamped, to another, several miles away. This trail was +too small for the elephants, and, indeed, had to be taken in single +file by the travelers.</p> +<p>But it prevented the elephants making the same speed as did our +friends, for the jungle, at this point, consisted of heavy trees, +which halted the progress of even the strongest of the powerful +beasts. True, they could force aside the frail underbrush and the +small trees, but the others impeded their progress.</p> +<p>“We’ll get there ahead of them!” cried Tom. +“Have you got your rifle in working order yet, Mr. +Durban?”</p> +<p>“No, something has broken, I fear. We’ll have to +depend on your electric gun, Tom. Have you many charges +left?”</p> +<p>“A dozen or so. But Ned and the others have plenty of +ammunition.”</p> +<p>“Don’t count—on—me!” panted Mr. +Damon, who was well-nigh breathless from the run. +“I—can’t—aim—straight—any—more!”</p> +<p>“I’ll give ’em a few more bullets!” +declared Mr. Anderson.</p> +<p>The fleeing natives were now almost lost to sight, for they +could travel through the jungle, ignoring the trail, at high speed. +They were almost like snakes or animals in this respect. Their one +thought was to get to their village, and, if possible, protect +their huts and fields of grain from annihilation by the +elephants.</p> +<p>Behind our friends, trumpeting, bellowing and crashing came the +pachyderms. They seemed to be gaining, and Tom, looking back, saw +one big brute emerge upon the trail, and follow that.</p> +<p>“I’ve got to stop him, or some of the others will do +the same,” thought the young inventor. He halted and fired +quickly. The elephant seemed to melt away, and Tom with regret, saw +a pair of fine tusks broken to bits. “I used too heavy a +charge,” he murmured, as he took up the retreat again.</p> +<p>In a few minutes the party of hunters, who were now playing more +in the role of the hunted, came out into the open. They could hear +the natives beating on their big hollow tree drums, and on +tom-toms, while the witch-doctors and medicine men were chanting +weird songs to drive the elephants away.</p> +<p>But the beasts came on. One by one they emerged from the jungle, +until the herd was gathered together again in a compact mass. Then, +under the leadership of some big bulls, they advanced. It seemed as +if they knew what they were doing, and were determined to revenge +themselves by trampling the natives’ huts under their +ponderous feet.</p> +<p>But Tom and the others were not idle. Taking a position off to +one side, the young inventor began pouring a fusillade of the +electric bullets into the mass of slate-colored bodies. Mr. +Anderson was also firing, and Ned, who had gotten over some of his +excitement, was also doing execution. Mr. Durban, after vainly +trying to get his rifle to work, cast it aside. “Here! Let me +take your gun!” he cried to Mr. Damon, who, panting from the +run, was sitting beneath a tree.</p> +<p>“Bless my cartridge belt! Take it and welcome!” +assented the eccentric man. It still had several shots in the +magazine, and these the old hunter used with good effect.</p> +<p>At first it seemed as if the elephants could not be turned back. +They kept on rushing toward the village, which was not far away, +and Tom and the others followed at one side, as best they could, +firing rapidly. The electric rifle did fearful execution.</p> +<p>Emboldened by the fear that all their possessions would be +destroyed a body of the natives rushed out, right in front of the +elephants, and beat tom-toms and drums, almost under their feet, at +the same time singing wild songs.</p> +<p>“I’m afraid we can’t stop them!” +muttered Mr. Anderson. “We’d better hurry to the +airship, and protect that, Tom.”</p> +<p>But, almost as he spoke, the tide of battle turned. The +elephants suddenly swung about, and began a retreat. They could not +stand the hot fire of the four guns, including Tom’s fearful +weapon. With wild trumpetings they fled back into the jungle, +leaving a number of their dead behind.</p> +<p>“A close call,” murmured Tom, as he drew a breath of +relief. Indeed this was true, for the tide had turned when the +foremost elephants were not a hundred feet away from the first rows +of native huts.</p> +<p>“I should say it was,” agreed Ned Newton, wiping his +face with his handkerchief. He, as well as the others, was an +odd-looking sight. They were blackened by powder smoke, scratched +by briars, and red from exertion.</p> +<p>“But we got more ivory in this hour than I could have +secured in a week of ordinary hunting,” declared Mr. Durban. +“If this keeps up we won’t have to get much more, +except that I don’t think any of the tusks to-day are large +enough for the special purpose of my customer.”</p> +<p>“The sooner we get enough ivory the quicker we can go to +the rescue of the missionaries,” said Mr. Anderson.</p> +<p>“That’s so,” remarked Tom. “We must not +forget the red pygmies.”</p> +<p>The natives were now dancing about, wild in delight at the +prospect of unlimited eating, and also thankful for what the white +men had done for them. Alone, the blacks would never have been able +to stop the stampede. They were soon busy cutting up the elephants +ready for a big feast, and runners were sent to tell neighboring +tribes, in adjoining villages, of the delights awaiting them.</p> +<p>Mr. Durban gave instructions about saving the ivory tusks, and +the valuable teeth, each pair worth about $1,000, were soon cut out +and put away for our friends. Some had been lost by the excessive +power of Tom’s gun, but this could not be helped. It was +necessary to stop the rush at any price.</p> +<p>There was soon a busy scene at the native village, and with the +arrival of other tribesmen it seemed as if Bedlam had broken loose. +The blacks chattered like so many children as they prepared for the +feast.</p> +<p>“Do white men ever eat elephant meat?” asked Mr. +Damon, as the adventurers were gathered about the airship.</p> +<p>“Indeed they do,” declared Mr. Durban. “Baked +elephant foot is a delicacy that few appreciate. I’ll have +the natives cook some for us.”</p> +<p>He gave the necessary orders, and the travelers had to admit +that it was worth coming far to get.</p> +<p>For the next few days and nights there was great feasting in +that African village, and the praises of the white men, and power +of Tom Swift’s electric rifle, were sung loud and long.</p> +<p>Our friends had resumed work on repairing the airship, and the +young inventor declared, one night, that they could proceed the +next day.</p> +<p>They were seated around a small campfire, watching the dancing +and antics of some natives who were at their usual work of eating +meat. All about our friends were numerous blazes for the cooking of +the feasts, and some were on the very edge of the jungle.</p> +<p>Suddenly, above the uncouth sounds of the merry-making, there +was heard a deep vibration and roar, not unlike the distant rumble +of thunder or the hum of a great steamer’s whistle heard afar +in the fog.</p> +<p>“What’s that?” cried Ned.</p> +<p>“Lions,” said Mr. Durban briefly. “They have +been attracted by the smell of cooking.”</p> +<p>At that moment, and instantly following a very loud roar, there +was an agonized scream of pain and terror. It sounded directly in +back of the airship.</p> +<p>“A lion!” cried Mr. Anderson. “One of the +brutes has grabbed a native!”</p> +<p>Tom Swift caught up his rifle, and darted off toward the dark +jungle.</p> +<h3>CHAPTER XVI</h3> +<h2><a id="Ch_16" name="Ch_16"></a>SEEKING THE MISSIONARIES</h2> +<p class="returnTOC"><a href="#Contents">Return to Table of +Contents</a></p> +<p>“Here! Come back!” yelled Mr. Damon and Mr. +Anderson, in the same breath, while the old elephant hunter cried +out: “Don’t you know you’re risking your life, +Tom to go off in the dark, to trail a lion?”</p> +<p>“I can’t stand it to let the native be carried +off!” Tom shouted back.</p> +<p>“But you can’t see in the dark,” objected Mr. +Anderson. He had probably forgotten the peculiar property of the +electric rifle. Tom kept on, and the others slowly followed.</p> +<p>The natives had at once ceased their merrymaking at the roaring +of the lions, and now all were gathered close about the campfires, +on which more wood had been piled, to drive away the fearsome +brutes.</p> +<p>“There must be a lot of them,” observed Mr. Durban, +as menacing growls and roars came from the jungle, along the edge +of which Tom and the others were walking just then. “There +are so many of the brutes that they are bold, and they must be +hungry, too. They came close to our fire, because it wasn’t +so bright as the other blazes, and that native must have wandered +off into the forest. Well, I guess it’s all up with +him.”</p> +<p>“He’s screaming yet,” observed Ned.</p> +<p>Indeed, above the rumbling roars of the lions, and the crackling +of the campfires, could be heard the moaning cries of the +unfortunate black.</p> +<p>“He’s right close here!” suddenly called Tom. +“He’s skirting the jungle. I think I can get +him!”</p> +<p>“Don’t take any risks!” called Mr. Durban, who +had caught up his own rifle, that was now in working order +again.</p> +<p>Tom Swift was not in sight. He had now penetrated into the +jungle— into the black forest where stalked the savage lions, +intent on getting other prey. Mr. Durban and Mr. Anderson vainly +tried to pierce the darkness to see something at which to shoot. +Ned Newton had eagerly started to follow his chum, but could not +discern where Tom was. A nameless fear clutched at the lad’s +heart. Mr. Damon was softly blessing everything of which he could +think.</p> +<p>Once more came that pitiful cry from the native, who was, as +they afterward learned, being dragged along by the lion, who had +grabbed him by the shoulder.</p> +<p>Suddenly in the dense jungle there shone a purple-bluish light. +It illuminated the scene like some great sky-rocket for an instant, +and in that brief time Ned and the others caught sight of a great, +tawny form, bounding along. It was a lion, with head held high, +dragging along a helpless black man.</p> +<p>A second later, and before the intense glare had died away, the +watchers saw the lion gently sink down, as though weary. He stopped +short in his tracks, his head rolled back, the jaws relaxed and the +native, who was unconscious now, toppled to one side.</p> +<p>“Tom’s killed him with the electric rifle!” +cried Mr. Durban.</p> +<p>“Bless my incandescent lamp! so he has,” agreed Mr. +Damon. “Bless my dynamo! but that’s a wonderful gun, +it’s as powerful as a thunderbolt, or as gentle as a summer +shower.”</p> +<p>Mr. Durban seeing that the lion was dead, in that brief glance +he had had of the brute, called to some of the natives to come and +get their tribesman. They came, timidly enough at first, carrying +many torches, but when they understood that the lion was dead, they +advanced more boldly. They carried the wounded black to a hut, +where they applied their simple but effective remedies for the +cruel bite in his shoulder.</p> +<p>After Tom had shot several other of the illuminated charges into +the jungle, to see if he could discover any more lions, but failed +to do so, he and his friends returned to the anchored airship, amid +the murmured thanks of the Africans.</p> +<p>Bright fires were kept blazing all the rest of the night, but, +though lions could be heard roaring in the jungle, and though they +approached alarmingly close to the place where our friends were +encamped, none of the savage brutes ventured within the +clearing.</p> +<p>With the valuable store of ivory aboard the Black Hawk, which +was now completely repaired, an early start was made the next +morning. The Africans besought Tom and his companions to remain, +for it was not often they could have the services of white men in +slaying elephants and lions.</p> +<p>“But, we’ve got to get on the trail,” decided +Tom, when the natives had brought great stores of food, and such +simple presents as they possessed, to induce the travelers to +remain.</p> +<p>“Every hour may add to the danger of the missionaries in +the hands of the red pygmies.”</p> +<p>“Yes,” said Mr. Anderson gravely, “it is our +duty to save them.”</p> +<p>And so the airship mounted into the air, our friends waving +farewells to the simple-hearted blacks, who did a sort of farewell +war-dance in their honor, shouting their praises aloud, and beating +the drums and tom-toms, so that the echoes followed for some time +after the Black Hawk had begun to mount upward toward the sky.</p> +<p>The craft was in excellent shape, due to the overhauling Tom had +given it while making the repairs. With the propellers beating the +air, and the rudder set to hold them about two thousand feet high, +the travelers moved rapidly over clearings, forests and +jungles.</p> +<p>It was agreed that now, when they had made such a good start in +collecting ivory, that they would spend the next few days in trying +to get on the trail of the red pygmies. It might seem a simple +matter, after knowing the approximate location of the land of these +fierce little natives, to have proceeded directly to it. But Africa +is an immense continent, and even in an airship comparatively +little of the interior can be seen at a time.</p> +<p>Besides, the red pygmies had a habit of moving from place to +place, and they were so small, and so wild, capable of living in +very tiny huts or caves, and so primitive, not building regular +villages as the other Africans do, that as Ned said, they were as +hard to locate as the proverbial flea.</p> +<p>Our friends had a general idea of where to look for them, but on +nearing that land, and making inquiries of several friendly tribes, +they learned that the red pygmies had suddenly disappeared from +their usual haunts.</p> +<p>“I guess they heard that we were after them,” said +Tom, with a grim smile one day, as he sent the airship down toward +the earth, for they were over a great plain, and several native +villages could be seen dotted on its surface.</p> +<p>“More likely they are in hiding because they have as +captives two white persons,” said Mr. Anderson. “They +are fierce and fearless, but, nevertheless, they have, in times +past, felt the vengeance of the white man, and perhaps they dread +that now.”</p> +<p>They made a descent, and spent several days making inquiries +from the friendly blacks about the race of little men. But scarcely +anything was learned. Some of the negro tribes admitted having +heard of the red pygmies, and others, with superstitious +incantations and imprecations, said they had never heard of +them.</p> +<p>One tribe of very large negroes had heard a rumor to the effect +that the band of the pygmies was several days’ journey from +their village, across the mountains, and when Tom sent his airship +there, the searchers only found an impenetrable jungle, filled with +lions and other wild beasts, but not a sign of the pygmies, and +with no elephants to reward their search.</p> +<p>“But we’re not going to give up,” declared +Tom, and the others agreed with him. Forward went the Black Hawk in +the search for the imprisoned ones, but, as the days passed, and no +news was had, it seemed to grow more and more hopeless.</p> +<p>“I’m afraid if we do find them now,” remarked +Mr. Anderson at length, “that we’ll only recover the +bodies of the missionaries.”</p> +<p>“Then we’ll avenge them,” said Tom +quietly.</p> +<p>They had stopped at another native village to make inquiries, +but without result, and were about to start off again that night +when a runner came in to announce that a herd of big elephants was +feeding not many miles away.</p> +<p>“Well, we’ll stay over a day or so, and get some +more ivory,” decided Mr. Durban and that night they got ready +for what was to prove a big hunt.</p> +<h3>CHAPTER XVII</h3> +<h2><a id="Ch_17" name="Ch_17"></a>SHOTS FROM ABOVE</h2> +<p class="returnTOC"><a href="#Contents">Return to Table of +Contents</a></p> +<p>“There they are!”</p> +<p>“My, what a lot of big ones!”</p> +<p>“Jove! Mr. Anderson, see those tusks!”</p> +<p>“Yes, you ought to get what you want this time, Mr. +Durban.”</p> +<p>“Bless my hatband! There must be two hundred of +them!” exclaimed Mr. Damon.</p> +<p>“I’m glad I recharged my rifle last night!” +exclaimed Tom Swift. “It’s fully loaded now.”</p> +<p>Then followed exulting cries and shouts of the natives, who were +following our friends, the elephant hunters, who had given voice to +the remarks we have just quoted.</p> +<p>It was early in the morning, and the hunt was about to start, +for the news brought in by the runner the night before had been +closely followed by the brutes themselves, and at dawn our friends +were astir, for scouts brought in word that the elephants, +including many big ones, were passing along only a few miles from +the African village.</p> +<p>Cautiously approaching, with the wind blowing from the elephants +to them, the white hunters made their way along. Mr. Durban was in +the lead, and when he saw a favorable opportunity he motioned for +the others to advance. Then, when he noticed the big bull sentinels +of the herd look about as if to detect the presence of enemies, he +gave another signal and the hunters sank out of sight in the tall +grass.</p> +<p>As for the natives, they were like snakes, unseen but ever +present, wriggling along on their hands and knees. They were +awaiting the slaughter, when there would be fresh meat in +abundance.</p> +<p>At length the old elephant hunter decided that they were near +enough to chance some shots. As a matter of fact, Tom Swift, with +his electric rifle, had been within range some time before, but as +he did not want to spoil the sport for the others, by firing and +killing, and so alarming the herd, he had held back. Now they could +all shoot together.</p> +<p>“Let her go!” suddenly cried Mr. Durban, and they +took aim.</p> +<p>There was a fusillade of reports and several of the big brutes +toppled over.</p> +<p>“Bless my toothbrush!” cried Mr. Damon, +“that’s the time I got one!”</p> +<p>“Yes, and a fine specimen, too!” added Mr. Durban, +who had only succeeded in downing a small bull, with an indifferent +pair of tusks. “A fine specimen, Mr. Damon, I congratulate +you!”</p> +<p>As for Tom Swift, he had killed two of the largest elephants in +the herd.</p> +<p>But now the hunters had their work cut out for them, since the +beasts had taken fright and were charging away at what seemed an +awkward gait, but which, nevertheless, took them rapidly over the +ground.</p> +<p>“Come on!” cried Mr. Durban. “We must get some +more. Some of the finest tusks I have ever seen are running away +from us!”</p> +<p>He began to race after the retreating herd, but it is doubtful +if he would have caught up to them had not a band of natives, who +had crept up and surrounded the beasts, turned them by shouts and +the beating of tom-toms. Seeing an enemy in front of them, the +elephants turned, and our friends were able to get in several more +shots. Tom Swift picked out only those with immense tusks, and soon +had several to his credit. Ned Newton also bagged some prizes.</p> +<p>But finally the elephants, driven to madness by the firing and +the yells of the natives, broke through the line of black men, and +charged off into the jungle, where it was not only useless but +dangerous to follow them.</p> +<p>“Well, we have enough,” said Mr. Durban, and when +the tusks had been collected it was found that indeed a magnificent +and valuable supply had been gathered.</p> +<p>“But I have yet to get my prize ones,” said the old +hunter with a sigh. “Maybe we’ll find the elephant with +them when we locate the red pygmies.”</p> +<p>“If we do, we’ll have our work cut out for +us,” declared Tom.</p> +<p>As on the other occasion after the hunt, there was a great feast +for the natives, who invited tribes from miles around, and for two +days, while the tusks were being cut out and cleaned, there were +barbeques on every side.</p> +<p>It was one afternoon, when they were seated in the shade of the +airship, cleaning their guns, and discussing the plans they had +best follow next, that our travellers suddenly heard a great +commotion amongst the Africans, who had for the past hour been very +quiet, most of them sleeping after the feasts. They yelled and +shouted, and began to beat their drums.</p> +<p>“Something is coming,” said Ned.</p> +<p>“Perhaps there’s going to be a fight,” +suggested Tom.</p> +<p>“Maybe it’s the red pygmies,” said Mr. Damon. +“Bless my—”</p> +<p>But what he was going to bless he did not say, for at that +instant it seemed as if every native in sight suddenly disappeared, +almost like magic. They sank down into the grass, darted into their +huts, or hid in the tall grass.</p> +<p>“What can it be?” cried Tom, as he looked to see +that his rifle was in working order.</p> +<p>“Some enemy,” declared Mr. Anderson.</p> +<p>“There they are!” cried Ned Newton, and as he spoke +there burst into view, coming from the tall grass that covered the +plain about the village, a herd of savage, wild buffaloes. On +rushed the shaggy creatures, their long, sharp horns seeming like +waving spears as they advanced.</p> +<p>“Here’s more sport!” cried Tom.</p> +<p>“No! Not sport! Danger!” yelled Mr. Durban. +“They’re headed right for us!”</p> +<p>“Then we’ll stop them,” declared the young +inventor, as he raised his gun.</p> +<p>“No! No!” begged the old hunter. “It’s +as much as our lives are worth to try to stop a rush of wild +buffaloes. You couldn’t do it with Gatling guns. We can kill +a few, but the rest won’t stop until they’ve finished +us and the aeroplane too.”</p> +<p>“Then what’s to be done?” demanded Mr. +Anderson.</p> +<p>“Get into the airship!” cried Mr. Durban. +“Send her up. It’s the only way to get out of their +path. Then we can shoot them from above, and drive them +away!”</p> +<p>Quickly the adventurers leaped into the craft. On thundered the +buffaloes. Tom feared he could not get the motor started quickly +enough. He did not dare risk rising by means of the aeroplane +feature, but at once started the gas machine.</p> +<p>The big bag began to fill. Nearer came the wild creatures, +thundering over the ground, snorting and bellowing with rage.</p> +<p>“Quick, Tom!” yelled Ned, and at that instant the +Black Hawk shot upward, just as the foremost of the buffaloes +passed underneath, vainly endeavoring to gore the craft with their +sweeping horns. The air-travelers had risen just in time.</p> +<p>“Now it’s our turn!” shouted Ned, as he began +firing from above into the herd of infuriated animals below him. +Tom, after seeing that the motor was working well, sent the airship +circling about, while standing in the steering tower, he guided his +craft here and there, meanwhile pouring a fusillade of his wireless +bullets into the buffaloes. Many of them dropped in their tracks, +but the big herd continued to rush here and there, crashing into +the frail native huts, tearing them down, and, whenever a black man +appeared, chasing after him infuriatedly.</p> +<p>“Keep at it!” cried Mr. Durban, as he poured more +lead into the buffaloes. “If we don’t kill enough of +them, and drive the others away, there won’t be anything left +of this village.”</p> +<h3>CHAPTER XVIII</h3> +<h2><a id="Ch_18" name="Ch_18"></a>NEWS OF THE RED PYGMIES</h2> +<p class="returnTOC"><a href="#Contents">Return to Table of +Contents</a></p> +<p>Seldom had it been the lot of Tom and his companions to take +part in such a novel hunting scene as that in which they were now +participating. With the airship moving quickly about, darting here +and there under the guidance of the young inventor, the erratic +movements hither and thither of the buffaloes could be followed +exactly. Wherever the mass of the herd went the airship hovered +over them.</p> +<p>“Want any help, Tom?” called Ned, who was firing as +fast as his gun could be worked.</p> +<p>“I guess not,” answered the steersman of the Black +Hawk, who was dividing his attention between managing the craft and +firing his electric rifle.</p> +<p>The others, too, were kept busy with their weapons, shooting +down on the infuriated animals. It seemed like a needless +slaughter, but it was not. Had it not been for the white men, the +native village, which consisted of only frail huts, would have been +completely wiped out by the animals. As it was they were kept +“milling” about in a circle in an open space, just as +stampeded cattle on the western ranges are kept from getting away, +by being forced round and round.</p> +<p>Not a native was in sight, all being hidden away in the jungle +or dense grass. The white hunters in their airship had matters to +themselves.</p> +<p>At last the firing proved even too much for the buffaloes which, +as we have said, are among the most dreaded of African beasts. With +bellows of fear, the leading bulls of the herd unable to find the +enemy above their heads, darted off into the forest the way they had +come.</p> +<p>“There they go!” yelled Mr. Durban.</p> +<p>“Yes, and I’m glad to see the last of them,” +added Mr. Anderson, with a breath of relief.</p> +<p>“Score another victory for the electric rifle,” +exclaimed Ned.</p> +<p>“Oh, you did as much execution as I did,” declared +the inventor of the weapon.</p> +<p>“Bless my ramrod!” cried Mr. Damon. “I never +shot so much in all my life before.”</p> +<p>“Yes, there is enough food to last the natives for a +week,” observed Mr. Durban, as Tom adjusted the deflecting +rudder to send the airship down.</p> +<p>“It won’t last much longer at the rate they +eat,” spoke the young inventor with a laugh. “I never +saw such fellows for appetites! They seem to eat in their +sleep.”</p> +<p>There were many dead buffaloes, but there was no fear that the +meat, which was much prized by the Africans, would be wasted. +Already the natives were coming from their hiding places, knowing +that the danger was over. Once more they sang the praises of the +mighty white hunters, and the magical air craft in which they moved +about.</p> +<p>With the elephants previously killed, the buffaloes provided +material for a great feast, preparations for which were at once +gotten under way, in spite of the fact that the blacks had hardly +stopped eating since the big hunt began. But it was about all they +had to do.</p> +<p>Some of the buffaloes were very large, and there were a number +of pairs of fine horns. Tom and Ned had some of the blacks cut them +off for trophies, and they were stored in the airship together with +the ivory.</p> +<p>Becoming rather tired of seeing so much feasting, our friends +bade the Africans farewell the next day, and once more resumed +their quest. They navigated through the air for another week, +stopping at several villages, and scanning the jungles and plains +by means of powerful telescopes, for a sight of the red pygmies. +They also asked for news of the sacking of the missionary +settlement, but, beyond meager facts, could learn nothing.</p> +<p>“Well, we’ve got to keep on, that’s +all,” decided Mr. Durban. “We may find them most +unexpectedly.”</p> +<p>“I’m sorry if I have taken you away from your work +of gathering ivory,” spoke Mr. Anderson. “Perhaps you +had better let me go, and I’ll see if I can’t organize +a band of friendly blacks, and search for the red dwarfs +myself.”</p> +<p>“Not much!” exclaimed Tom warmly. “I said +we’d help rescue those missionaries, and we’ll do it, +too!”</p> +<p>“Of course,” declared the old elephant hunter. +“We have quite a lot of ivory and, while we need more to make +it pay well, we can look for it after we rescue the missionaries as +well as before. Perhaps there will be a lot of elephants in the +pygmies’ land.”</p> +<p>“I was only thinking that we can’t go on forever in +the airship.” said Mr. Anderson. “You’ll have to +go back to civilization soon, won’t you, Tom, to get +gasolene?”</p> +<p>“No, we have enough for at least a month,” answered +the young inventor. “I took aboard an unusually large supply +when we started.”</p> +<p>“What would happen if we ran out of it in the +jungle?” asked Ned.</p> +<p>“Bless my pocketbook! What an +unpleasant question!” exclaimed Mr. Damon. “You are +almost as cheerful, Ned, as was my friend Mr. Parker, the gloomy +scientist, who was always predicting dire happenings.”</p> +<p>“Well, I was only wondering,” said Ned, who was a +little abashed by the manner in which his inquiry was received.</p> +<p>“Oh, it would be all right,” declared Tom. “We +would simply become a balloon, and in time the wind would blow us +to some white settlement. There is plenty of material for making +the lifting gas.”</p> +<p>This was reassuring, and, somewhat easier in mind, Ned took his +place in the observation tower which looked down on the jungle over +which they were passing.</p> +<p>It was a dense forest. At times there could be seen, in the +little clearings, animals darting along. There were numbers of +monkeys, an occasional herd of buffaloes were observed, sometimes a +solitary stray elephant was noted, and as for birds, there were +thousands of them. It was like living over a circus, Ned +declared.</p> +<p>They had descended one day just outside a large native village +to make inquiries about elephants and the red pygmies. Of the big +beasts no signs had been seen in several months, the hunters of the +tribe told Mr. Durban. And concerning the red pygmies, the blacks +seemed indisposed to talk.</p> +<p>Tom and the others could not understand this, until a +witch-doctor, whom the elephant hunter had met some time ago, when +he was on a previous expedition, told him that the tribe had a +superstitious fear of speaking of the little men.</p> +<p>“They may be around us—in the forest or jungle at +any minute,” the witch-doctor said. “We never speak of +them.”</p> +<p>“Say, do you suppose that can be a clew?” asked Tom +eagerly. “They may be nearer at hand than we +think.”</p> +<p>“It’s possible.” admitted the hunter. +“Suppose we stay here for a few days, and I’ll see if I +can’t get some of the natives to go off scouting in the +woods, and locate them, or at least put us on the trail of the red +dwarfs.”</p> +<p>This was considered good advice, and it was decided to adopt it. +Accordingly the airship was put in a safe place, and our friends +prepared to spend a week, if necessary, in the native village. +Their presence with the wonderful craft was a source of wonder, and +by means of some trinkets judiciously given to the native king, and +also to his head subjects, and to the witch-doctors (who were a +power in the land), the good opinion of the tribe was won. Then, by +promising rewards to some of the bolder hunters, Mr. Durban finally +succeeded in getting them to go off scouting in the jungle for a +clew to the red pygmies.</p> +<p>“Now we’ll have to wait,” said Mr. Anderson, +“and I hope we get good news.”</p> +<p>Our friends spent their time observing some of the curious +customs of the natives, and in witnessing some odd dances gotten up +in their honor. They also went hunting, and got plenty of game, for +which their hosts were duly grateful. Tom did some night stalking +and found his illuminating bullets a great success.</p> +<p>One hot afternoon Tom and Mr. Damon strolled off a little way +into the jungle, Tom with his electric weapon, in case he saw any +game. But no animals save a few big monkeys where to be seen, and +the young inventor scorned to kill them. It seemed too much like +firing at a human being he said, though the natives stated that +some of the baboons and apes were fierce, and would attack one on +the slightest provocation.</p> +<p>“I believe I’ll sit down here and rest,” said +Tom, after a mile’s tramp, as he came to a little clearing in +the woods.</p> +<p>“Very well, I’ll go on,” decided Mr. Damon. +“Mr. Durban said there were sometimes rare orchids in these +jungles, and I am very fond of those odd flowers. I’m going +to see if I can get any.”</p> +<p>He disappeared behind a fringe of moss-grown trees, and Tom sat +down, with his rifle across his knees. He was thinking of many +things, but chiefly of what yet lay before them—the discovery +of the red dwarfs and the possible rescue of the missionaries.</p> +<p>He might have been thus day-dreaming for perhaps a half hour, +when he suddenly heard great commotion in the jungle, in the +direction in which Mr. Damon had vanished. It sounded as though +some one was running rapidly. Then came the report of the odd +man’s gun.</p> +<p>“He’s seen some game!” exclaimed Tom, jumping +up, and preparing to follow his friend. But he did not have the +chance. An instant later Mr. Damon burst through the bushes with +every appearance of fright, his gun held above his head with one +hand, and his pith helmet swaying to and fro in the other.</p> +<p>“They’re coming!” he cried to Tom.</p> +<p>“Who, the red pygmies?”</p> +<p>“No, but a couple of rhinoceroses are after me. I wounded +one, and he and his mate are right behind. Don’t let them +catch me, Tom!”</p> +<p>Mr. Damon was very much alarmed, and there was good occasion for +it, as Tom saw a moment later, for two fierce rhinoceroses burst +out of the jungle almost on the heels of the fleeing man.</p> +<p>Thought was not quicker than Tom Swift. He raised his deadly +rifle, and pressed the button. A charge of wireless electricity +shot toward the foremost animal, and it was dropped in its tracks. +The other came on woofing and snorting with rage. It was the one +Mr. Damon had slightly wounded.</p> +<p>“Come on!” yelled the young inventor, for his friend +was in front of the beast, and in range with the rifle. “Jump +to one side, Mr. Damon.”</p> +<p>Mr. Damon tried, but his foot slipped, and there was no need for +jumping. He fell and rolled over. The rhinoceros swerved toward +him, with the probable intention of goring the prostrate man with +the formidable horn, but it had no chance. Once more the young +inventor fired, this time with a heavier charge, and the animal +instantly toppled over dead.</p> +<p>“Are you hurt?” asked Tom anxiously, as he ran to +his friend. Mr. Damon got up slowly. He felt all over himself, and +then answered:</p> +<p>“No, Tom, I guess I’m not hurt, except in my +dignity. Never again will I fire at a sleeping rhinoceros unless +you are with me. I had a narrow escape,” and he shook +Tom’s hand heartily.</p> +<p>“Did you see any orchids?” asked the lad with a +smile.</p> +<p>“No, those beasts didn’t give me a chance! Bless my +tape measure! but they’re big fellows!”</p> +<p>Indeed they were fine specimens, and there was the usual +rejoicing among the natives when they brought in the great bodies, +pulling them to the village with ropes made of vines.</p> +<p>After this Mr. Damon was careful not to go into the jungle +alone, nor, in fact, did any of our friends so venture. Mr. Durban +said it was not safe.</p> +<p>They remained a full week in the native village, and received no +news. In fact, all but one of the hunters came back to report that +there was no sign of the red pygmies in that neighborhood.</p> +<p>“Well, I guess we might as well move on, and see what we +can do ourselves,” said Mr. Durban.</p> +<p>“Let’s wait until the last hunter comes back,” +suggested Tom. “He may bring word.”</p> +<p>“Some of his friends think he’ll never come +back,” remarked Mr. Anderson.</p> +<p>“Why not?” asked Ned.</p> +<p>“They think he has been killed by some wild +beast.”</p> +<p>But this fear was ungrounded. It was on the second day after the +killing of the rhinoceroses that, as Tom was tinkering away in the +engine-room of the airship, and thinking that perhaps they had +better get under way, that a loud shouting was heard among the +natives.</p> +<p>“I wonder what’s up now?” mused the young +inventor as he went outside. He saw Mr. Durban and Mr. Anderson +running toward the ship. Behind them was a throng of blacks, led by +a weary man whom Tom recognized as the missing hunter. The +lad’s heart beat high with hope. Did the African bring +news?</p> +<p>On came Mr. Durban, waving his hands to Tom.</p> +<p>“We’ve located ’em!” he shouted.</p> +<p>“Not the red pygmies?” asked Tom eagerly.</p> +<p>“Yes; this hunter has news of them. He has been to the +border of their country, and narrowly escaped capture. Then he was +attacked by a lion, and slightly wounded. But, Tom, now we can get +on the trail!”</p> +<p>“Good!” cried the young inventor. +“That’s fine news!” and he rejoiced that once +more there would be activity, for he was tired of remaining in the +African camp, and then, too, he wanted to proceed to the rescue. +Already it might be too late to save the unfortunate +missionaries.</p> +<h3>CHAPTER XIX</h3> +<h2><a id="Ch_19" name="Ch_19"></a>AN APPEAL FOR HELP</h2> +<p class="returnTOC"><a href="#Contents">Return to Table of +Contents</a></p> +<p>The African hunter’s story was soon told. He had gone on +farther than had any of his companions, and, being a bold and brave +man, had penetrated into the very fastness of the jungle where few +would dare to venture.</p> +<p>But even he had despaired of getting on the trail of the fierce +little red men, until one afternoon, just at dusk he had heard +voices in the forest. Crouching behind a fallen tree, he waited and +saw passing by some of the pygmy hunters, armed with bows and +arrows, and blowguns. They had been out after game. Cautiously the +hunter followed them, until he located one of their odd villages, +which consisted of little mud huts, poorly made.</p> +<p>The black hunter remained in the vicinity of the pygmies all +that night, and was almost caught, for some wild dogs which hung +around the village smelled him out, and attracted to him the +attention of the dwarf savages. The hunter took to a tree, and so +escaped. Then, carefully marking the trail, he came away in the +morning. When near home, a lion had attacked him, but he speared +the beast to death, after a hand-to-hand struggle in which his leg +was torn.</p> +<p>“And do you think we can find the place?” asked Ned, +when Mr. Durban had finished translating the hunter’s +story.</p> +<p>“I think so,” was the reply.</p> +<p>“But is this the settlement where the missionaries +are?” asked Tom anxiously.</p> +<p>“That is what we don’t know,” said Mr. +Anderson. “The native scout could not learn that. But once we +get on the trail of the dwarfs, I think we can easily find the +particular tribe which has the captives.”</p> +<p>“At any rate, we’ll get started and do +something,” declared Tom, and the next day, after the African +hunter had described, as well as he could, where the place was, the +Black Hawk was sent up into the air, good-bys were called down, and +once more the adventurers were under way.</p> +<p>It was decided that they had better proceed cautiously, and +lower the airship, and anchor it, sometime before getting above the +place where the pygmy village was.</p> +<p>“For they may see us, and, though they don’t know +what our craft is, they may take the alarm and hide deeper in the +jungle with the prisoners, where we can’t find them,” +said Tom.</p> +<p>His plan was adopted, and, while it had taken the native hunter +several days to reach the borders of the dwarfs’ land, those +in the airship made the trip in one day. That is, they came as far +toward it as they thought would be safe, and one night, having +located a landmark which Mr. Durban said was on the border, the +nose of the Black Hawk was pointed downward, and soon they were +encamped in a little clearing in the midst of the dense jungle +which was all about them.</p> +<p>With his electric rifle, Tom noiselessly killed some birds, very +much like chicken, of which an excellent meal was made and then, as +it became dark very early, and as nothing could be done, they +lighted a campfire, and retired inside their craft to pass the +night.</p> +<p>It must have been about midnight that Tom, who was a light +sleeper at times, was awakened by some noise outside the window +near which his stateroom was. He sat up and listened, putting out +his hand to where his rifle stood in the corner near his bunk. The +lad heard stealthy footsteps pattering about on the deck of the +airship. There was a soft, shuffling sound, such as a lion or a +tiger makes, when walking on bare boards. In spite of himself, Tom +felt the hair on his head beginning to creep, and a shiver ran down +his back.</p> +<p>“There’s something out there!” he whispered. +“I wonder if I’d better awaken the others? No, if +it’s a sneaking lion, I can manage to kill him, +but—”</p> +<p>He paused as another suggestion came to him.</p> +<p>The red pygmies! They went barefoot! Perhaps they were swarming +about the ship which they might have discovered in the +darkness.</p> +<p>Tom Swift’s heart beat rapidly. He got softly out of his +bunk, and, with his rifle in hand made his way to the door opening +on deck. On his way he gently awakened Ned and Mr. Durban, and +whispered to them his fear.</p> +<p>“If the red pygmies are out there we’ll need all our +force,” said the old elephant hunter. “Call Mr. Damon +and Mr. Anderson, Ned, and tell them to bring their +guns.”</p> +<p>Soon they were all ready, fully armed. They listened intently. +The airship was all in darkness, for lights drew a horde of +insects. The campfire had died down. The soft footsteps could still +be heard moving about the deck.</p> +<p>“That sounds like only one person or animal,” +whispered Ned.</p> +<p>“It does,” agreed Tom. “Wait a minute, +I’ll fire an illuminating charge, and we can see what it +is.”</p> +<p>The others posted themselves at windows that gave a view of the +deck. Tom poked his electric rifle out of a crack of the door, and +shot forth into the darkness one of the blue illuminations. The +deck of the craft was instantly lighted up brilliantly, and in the +glare, crouched on the deck, could be seen a powerful black man, +nearly naked, gazing at the hunters.</p> +<p>“A black!” gasped Tom, as the light died out. +“Maybe it is one from the village we just left. What do you +want? Who are you?” called the lad, forgetting that the +Africans spoke only their own language. To the surprise of all, +there came his reply in broken English:</p> +<p>“Me Tomba! Me go fo’ help for Missy +Illingway—fo’ Massy Illingway. Me run away from little +red men! Me Christian black man. Oh, if you be English, help Missy +Illingway—she most die! Please help. Tomba go but Tomba be +lost! Please help!”</p> +<h3>CHAPTER XX</h3> +<h2><a id="Ch_20" name="Ch_20"></a>THE FIGHT</h2> +<p class="returnTOC"><a href="#Contents">Return to Table of +Contents</a></p> +<p>Surprise, for the moment, held Tom and the others speechless. To +be answered in English, poor and broken as it was, by a native +African, was strange enough, but when this same African was found +aboard the airship, in the midst of the jungle, at midnight, it +almost passed the bounds of possibility.</p> +<p>“Tomba!” mused Tom, wondering where he had heard +that name before. “Tomba?”</p> +<p>“Of course!” cried Mr. Anderson, suddenly. +“Don’t you remember? That’s the name of the +servant of Mr. and Mrs. Illingway, who escaped and brought news of +their capture by the pygmies. That’s who Tomba is.”</p> +<p>“Yes, but Tomba escaped,” objected Mr. Durban. +“He went to the white settlements with the news. How comes he +here?”</p> +<p>“We’ll have to find out,” said Tom, simply. +“Tomba, are you there?” he called, as he fired another +illuminating charge. It disclosed the black man standing up on the +deck, and looking at them appealingly.</p> +<p>“Yes, Tomba here,” was the answer. “Oh, you be +English, Tomba know. Please help Missy and Massy Illingway. Red +devils goin’ kill ’em pretty much quick.”</p> +<p>“Come in!” called Tom, as he turned on the electric +lights in the airship. “Come in and tell us all about it. But +how did you get here?”</p> +<p>“Maybe there are two Tombas,” suggested Ned.</p> +<p>“Bless my safety razor!” cried Mr. Damon +“perhaps Ned is right!”</p> +<p>But he wasn’t, as they learned when they had questioned +the African, who came inside the airship, looking wonderingly +around at the many strange things he saw. He was the same Tomba who +had escaped the massacre, and had taken news of the capture of his +master and mistress to the white settlement. In vain after that he +had tried to organize a band to go back with him to the rescue, but +the whites in the settlement were too few, and the natives too +timid. Then Tomba, with grief in his heart, and not wanting to live +while the missionaries whom he had come to care for very much, were +captives, he went back into the jungle, determined, if he could not +help them, that at least he would share their fate, and endeavor to +be of some service to them in their captivity.</p> +<p>After almost unbelievable hardships, he had found the red +pygmies, and had allowed himself to be captured by them. They +rejoiced greatly in the possession of the big black man, and for +some strange reason had not killed him. He was allowed to share the +captivity of his master and mistress.</p> +<p>Time went on, and the pygmies did not kill their prisoners. They +even treated them with some kindness but were going to sacrifice +them at their great annual festival, which was soon to take place. +Mr. and Mrs. Illingway, Tomba told our friends in his broken +English, had urged him to escape at the first opportunity. They +knew if he could get away he would travel through the jungle. They +could not, even if they had not been so closely guarded that escape +was out of the question.</p> +<p>But Tomba refused to go until Mr. Illingway had said that +perhaps he might get word to some white hunters, and so send help +to the captives. This Tomba consented to do, and, watching his +chance, he did escape. That was several nights ago, and he had been +traveling through the jungle ever since. It was by mere accident +that he came upon the anchored airship, and his curiosity led him +to board her. The rest is known.</p> +<p>“Well, of all queer yarns, this is the limit!” +exclaimed Tom, when the black had finished. “What had we +better do about it?”</p> +<p>“Get ready to attack the red pygmies at once!” +decided Mr. Durban. “If we wait any longer it may be too +late!”</p> +<p>“My idea, exactly,” declared Mr. Anderson.</p> +<p>“Bless my bowie-knife!” cried Mr. Damon. +“I’d like to get a chance at the red imps! Come on, +Tom! Let’s start at once.”</p> +<p>“No, we need daylight to fight by,” replied Tom, +with a smile at his friend’s enthusiasm. “We’ll +go forward in the morning.”</p> +<p>“In the airship?” asked Mr. Damon.</p> +<p>“I think so,” answered Tom. “There can be no +advantage now in trying to conceal ourselves. We can move upon them +from where we are so quickly that they won’t have much chance +to get away. Besides it will take us too long to make our way +through the jungle afoot. For, now that the escape of Tomba must be +known, they may kill the captives at once to forestall any +rescue.”</p> +<p>“Then we’ll move forward in the morning,” +declared Mr. Durban.</p> +<p>They took Tomba with them in the airship the next day, though he +prayed fervently before he consented to it. But they needed him to +point out the exact location of the pygmies’ village, since +it was not the one the hunter-scout had been near.</p> +<p>The Black Hawk sailed through the air. On board eager eyes +looked down for a first sight of the red imps. Tomba, who was at +Tom’s side in the steering tower, told him, as best he could, +from time to time, how to set the rudders.</p> +<p>“Pretty soon by-em-by be there,” said the black man +at length. “Pass ober dat hill, den red devils +live.”</p> +<p>“Well, we’ll soon be over that hill,” +announced Tom grimly. “I guess we’d better get our +rifles ready for the battle.”</p> +<p>“Are you going to attack them at once?” asked Mr. +Damon.</p> +<p>“Well,” answered the young inventor, “I +don’t believe we ought to kill any of them if we can avoid +it. I don’t like to do such a thing but, perhaps we +can’t help ourselves. My plan is to take the airship down, +close to the hut where the missionaries are confined. Tomba can +point it out to us. If we can rescue them without bloodshed, so +much the better. But we’ll fight if we have to.”</p> +<p>Grimly they watched as the airship sailed over the hill. Then +suddenly there came into view a collection of mud huts on a vast +plain, surrounded by dense jungle on every side. As the travelers +looked, they could see little creatures running wildly about. Even +without a glass it could be noted that their bodies were covered +with a curious growth of thick sandy hair.</p> +<p>“The red pygmies!” cried Tom. “Now for the +rescue!”</p> +<p>Eagerly Tomba indicated the hut where his master and mistress +were held. Telling his friends to have their weapons in readiness, +Tom steered the airship toward the rude shelter whence he hoped to +take the missionaries. Down to the ground swiftly shot the Black +Hawk. Tom checked her with a quick movement of the deflecting +rudder, and she landed gently on the wheels.</p> +<p>“Mr. Illingway! Mrs. Illingway! We have come to rescue +you!” yelled the young inventor, as he stepped out on the +deck, with his electric rifle in his hand. “Where are you? +Can you come out?”</p> +<p>The door of the hut was burst open, and a white man and woman, +recognizable as such, even in the rude skins that clothed them, +rushed out. Wonder spread over their faces as they saw the great +airship. They dropped on their knees.</p> +<p>The next instant a swarm of savage little red men surrounded +them, and rudely bore them, strugglingly, back into the hut.</p> +<p>“Come on!” cried Tom, about to leap to the ground. +“It’s now or never! We must save them!”</p> +<p>Mr. Durban pulled him back, and pointed to a horde of the +red-haired savages rushing toward the airship. “They’d +tear you to pieces in a minute!” cried the old hunter. +“We must fight them from the ship.”</p> +<p>There was a curious whistling sound in the air. Mr. Durban +looked up.</p> +<p>“Duck, everybody!” he yelled. “They’re +firing arrows at us! Get under shelter, for they may be +poisoned!”</p> +<p>Tom and the others darted into the craft. The arrows rattled on +deck in a shower, and hundreds of the red imps were rushing up to +give battle. Inside the hut where the missionaries were, it was now +quiet. Tom Swift wondered if they still lived.</p> +<p>“Give ’em as good as they send!” cried Mr. +Durban. “We will have to fire at them now. Open up with your +electric rifle, Tom!”</p> +<p>As he spoke the elephant hunter fired into the midst of the +screaming savages. The battle had begun.</p> +<h3>CHAPTER XXI</h3> +<h2><a id="Ch_21" name="Ch_21"></a>DRIVEN BACK</h2> +<p class="returnTOC"><a href="#Contents">Return to Table of +Contents</a></p> +<p>What the travelers had heard regarding the fierceness and +courage of the red pygmies had not been one bit exaggerated. Never +had such desperate fighting ever taken place. The red dwarfs, +scarcely one of whom was more than three feet high, were strongly +built, and there were so many of them, and they battled together +with such singleness of purpose, that they were more formidable +than a tribe of ordinary-sized savages would have been.</p> +<p>And their purpose was to utterly annihilate the enemy that had +so unexpectedly come upon them. It did not matter to them that Tom +and the others had arrived in an airship. The strange craft had no +superstitious terror for them, as it had for the simpler +blacks.</p> +<p>“Bless my multiplication tables!” cried Mr. Damon. +“What a mob of them!”</p> +<p>“Almost too many!” murmured Tom Swift, who was +rapidly firing his electric rifle at them. “We can never hope +to drive them back, I’m afraid.”</p> +<p>Indeed from every side of the plain, and even from the depths of +the jungle the red dwarfs were now pouring. They yelled most +horribly, screaming in rage, brandishing their spears and clubs, +and keeping up an incessant fire of big arrows from their bows, and +smaller ones from the blowguns.</p> +<p>As yet none of our friends had been hit, for they were sheltered +in the airship, and as the windows were covered with a mesh of +wire, to keep out insects, this also served to prevent the arrows +from entering. There were loopholes purposely made to allow the +rifles to be thrust out.</p> +<p>Mercifully, Tom and the others fired only to disable, and not to +kill the red pygmies. Wounded in the arms or legs, the little +savages would be incapable of fighting, and this plan was followed. +But so fierce were they that some, who were wounded twice, still +kept up the attack.</p> +<p>Tom’s electric rifle was well adapted for this work, as he +could regulate the charge to merely stun, no matter at what part of +the body it was directed. So he could fire indiscriminantly, +whereas the others had to aim carefully. And Tom’s fire was +most effective. He disabled scores of the red imps, but scores of +others sprang up to take their places.</p> +<p>After their first rush the pygmies had fallen back before the +well-directed fire of our friends, but as their chiefs and head +men urged them to the attack again, they came back with still +fiercer energy. Some, more bold than the others, even leaped to the +deck of the airship, and tried to tear the screens from the +windows. They partly succeeded, and in one casement from which Ned +was firing they made a hole.</p> +<p>Into this they shot a flight of arrows, and one slightly wounded +the bank clerk on the arm. The wound was at once treated with +antiseptics, after the window had been barricaded, and Ned declared +that he was ready to renew the fight. Tom, too, got an arrow +scratch on the neck, and one of the barbs entered Mr. +Durban’s leg, but the sturdy elephant hunter would not give +up, and took his place again after the wound had been bandaged.</p> +<p>From time to time as he worked his electric gun, which had been +charged to its utmost capacity, Tom glanced at the hut where the +missionaries were prisoners. There was no movement noticed about +it, and no sound came from it. Tom wondered what had happened +inside—he wondered what was happening as the battle +progressed.</p> +<p>Fiercely the fight was kept up. Now the red imps would be driven +back, and again they would swarm about the airship, until it seemed +as if they must overwhelm it. Then the fire of the white +adventurers was redoubled. The electric rifle did great work, and +Tom did not have to stop and refill the magazine, as did the +others.</p> +<p>Suddenly, above the noise of the conflict, Tom Swift heard an +ominous sound. It was a hissing in the air, and well he knew what +it was.</p> +<p>“The gas bag!” he cried. “They’ve +punctured it! The vapor is escaping. If they put too many holes in +the bag it will be all up with us!”</p> +<p>“What’s to be done?” asked Mr. Durban.</p> +<p>“If we can’t drive them back we must retreat +ourselves!” declared Tom desperately. “Our only hope is +to keep the airship safe from harm.”</p> +<p>Once more came a rush of the savages. They had discovered that +the gas bag was vulnerable, and were directing their arrows against +that. It was punctured in several more places. The gas was rapidly +escaping.</p> +<p>“We’ve got to retreat!” yelled Tom. He hurried +to the engine-room, and turned on the power. The great propellers +revolved, and sent the Black Hawk scudding across the level plain. +With yells of surprise the red dwarfs scattered and made way for +it.</p> +<p>Up into the air it mounted on the broad wings. For the time +being our friends has been driven back, and the missionaries whom +they had come to rescue were still in the hands of the savages.</p> +<h3>CHAPTER XXII</h3> +<h2><a id="Ch_22" name="Ch_22"></a>A NIGHT ATTACK</h2> +<p class="returnTOC"><a href="#Contents">Return to Table of +Contents</a></p> +<p>“Well, what’s to be done?”</p> +<p>Tom Swift asked that question.</p> +<p>“Bless my percussion cap! They certainly are the very +worst imps for fighting that I ever heard of,” commented Mr. +Damon helplessly.</p> +<p>“Is the gas bag much punctured?” asked Ned +Newton.</p> +<p>“Wait a minute,” resumed the young inventor, as he +pulled the speed lever a trifle farther over, thereby sending the +craft forward more swiftly, “I think my question ought to be +answered first. What’s to be done? Are we going to run away, +and leave that man and woman to their fate?”</p> +<p>“Of course not!” declared Mr. Durban stoutly, +“but we couldn’t stay there, and have them destroy the +airship.”</p> +<p>“No, that’s so,” admitted Tom, “if we +lost the airship it would be all up with us and our chances of +rescuing the missionaries. But what can we do? I hate to +retreat!”</p> +<p>“But what else is there left for us?” demanded +Ned.</p> +<p>“Nothing, of course. But we’ve got to plan to get +the best of those red pygmies. We can’t go back in the +airship, and give them open battle. There are too many of them, +and, by Jove! I believe more are coming every minute!”</p> +<p>Tom and the others looked down. From all sides of the plain, +hastening toward the village of mud huts, from which our friends +were retreating, could be seen swarms of the small but fierce +savages. They were coming from the jungle, and were armed with war +clubs, bows and arrows and the small but formidable blowguns.</p> +<p>“Where are they coming from?” asked Mr. Damon.</p> +<p>“From the surrounding tribes,” explained Mr. Durban. +“They have been summoned to do battle against us.”</p> +<p>“But how did the ones we fought get word to the others so +soon?” Ned demanded.</p> +<p>“Oh, they have ways of signaling,” explained Mr. +Anderson. “They can make the notes of some of their +hollow-tree drums carry a long distance, and then they are very +swift runners, and can penetrate into the jungle along paths that a +white man would hardly see. They also use the smoke column as a +signal, as our own American Indians used to do. Oh, they can summon +all their tribesmen to the fight, and they probably will. Likely +the sound of our guns attracted the imps, though if we all had +electric rifles like Tom’s they wouldn’t make any +noise.”</p> +<p>“Well, my rifle didn’t appear to do so very much +good this time,” observed the young inventor, as he stopped +the forward motion of the ship now, and let it hover over the plain +in sight of the village, the gas bag serving to sustain the craft, +and there was little wind to cause it to drift. “Those +fellows didn’t seem to mind being hurt and killed any more +than if mosquitoes were biting them.”</p> +<p>“The trouble is we need a whole army, armed with electric +rifles to make a successful attack,” said Mr. Durban. +“There are swarms of them there now, and more coming every +minute. I do hope Mr. and Mrs. Illingway are alive yet.”</p> +<p>“Yes,” added Mr. Anderson solemnly, “we must +hope for the best. But, like Tom Swift, I ask, what’s to be +done?”</p> +<p>“Bless my thinking cap!” exclaimed Mr. Damon. +“It seems to me if we can’t fight them openly in the +daytime, there’s only one other thing to do.”</p> +<p>“What’s that?” asked Tom. “Go away? +I’ll not do it!”</p> +<p>“No, not go away,” exclaimed Mr. Damon, “but +make a night attack. We ought to be able to do something then, and +with your illuminating rifle, Tom, we’d have an advantage! +What do you say?”</p> +<p>“I say it’s the very thing!” declared Tom, +with sudden enthusiasm. “We’ll attack them to-night, +when they’re off their guard, and we’ll see if we +can’t get the missionaries out of that hut. And to better +fool the savages, we’ll just disappear now, and make +’em believe we’ve flown away.”</p> +<p>“Then the missionaries will think we’re deserting +them,” objected Mr. Anderson.</p> +<p>But there was no help for it, and so Tom once more turned on the +power and the craft sailed away.</p> +<p>Tomba, the faithful black, begged to be allowed to go down, and +tell his master and mistress that help would soon be at hand again, +even though it looked like a retreat on the part of the rescuers, +but this could not be permitted.</p> +<p>“They’d tear you in pieces as soon as you got among +those red imps,” said Tom. “You stay here, Tomba, and +you can help us to-night.”</p> +<p>“A’right, me glad help lick red fellows,” said +the black, with as cheerful a grin as he could summon.</p> +<p>The Black Hawk circled around, with Tom and the others looking +for a good place to land. They were out of sight of the village now +but did not doubt but that they were observed by the keen eyes of +the little men.</p> +<p>“We want to pick out a place where they won’t come +upon us as we descend,” declared Tom. “We’ve got +to mend some leaks in the gas bag, for, while they are not serious, +if we get any more punctures they may become so. So we’ve got +to pick out a good place to go down.”</p> +<p>Finally, by means of powerful glasses, a desolate part of the +jungle was selected. No files of the red dwarfs, coming from their +scattered villages to join their tribesmen, had been noted in the +vicinity picked out, and it was hoped that it would answer. Slowly +the airship settled to earth, coming to rest in a thick grove of +trees, where there was an opening just large enough to allow the +Black Hawk to enter.</p> +<p>Our friends were soon busy repairing the leaks in the bag, while +Mr. Damon got a meal ready. As they ate they talked over plans for +the night attack.</p> +<p>It was decided to wait until it was about two o’clock in +the morning, as at that hour the dwarfs were most generally asleep, +Tomba said. They always stayed up quite late, sitting around camp-fires, +and eating the meat which the hunters brought in each day. +But their carousings generally ended at midnight, the black said, +and then they fell into a heavy sleep. They did not post guards, +but since they knew of the presence of the white men in the +airship, they might do it this time.</p> +<p>“Well, we’ve got to take our chance,” decided +Tom. “We’ll start off from here about one +o’clock, and I’ll send the ship slowly along. +We’ll get right over the hut where the captives are, if +possible, and then descend. I’ll manage the ship, and one of +you can work the electric rifle if they attack us. We’ll make +a dash, get Mr. and Mrs. Illingway from the hut, and make a quick +get-away.”</p> +<p>It sounded good, and they were impatient to put it into +operation. That afternoon Tom and his friends went carefully over +every inch of their craft, to repair it and have it in perfect +working order. Guns were cleaned, and plenty of ammunition laid +out. Then, shortly after one o’clock in the morning the ship +was sent up, and with the searchlight ready to be turned on +instantly, and with his electric rifle near at hand, Tom Swift +guided his craft on to the attack. Soon they could see the glow of +dying fires in the dwarfs’ village, but no sound came from +the sleeping hordes of red imps.</p> +<h3>CHAPTER XXIII</h3> +<h2><a id="Ch_23" name="Ch_23"></a>THE RESCUE</h2> +<p class="returnTOC"><a href="#Contents">Return to Table of +Contents</a></p> +<p>“Can you make out the hut, Tom?” asked Ned, as he +stood at his chum’s side in the steering tower, and gazed +downward on the silent village.</p> +<p>“Not very clearly. Suppose you take a look through the +night-glasses. Maybe you’ll have better luck.”</p> +<p>Ned peered long and earnestly.</p> +<p>“No, I can’t see a thing.” he said. “It +all looks to be a confused jumble of huts. I can’t tell one +from the other. We’ll have to go lower.”</p> +<p>“I don’t want to do that,” objected Tom. +“If this attack succeeds at all, it will have to be sharp and +quick. If we go down where they can spot us, and work our way up to +the hut where the captives are, we’ll run the chance of an +attack that may put us out of business.”</p> +<p>“Yes, we ought to get right over the hut, and then make a +sudden swoop down,” admitted Ned, “but if we +can’t see it—”</p> +<p>“I have it!” cried Tom suddenly. “Tomba! That +African can see in the dark like a cat. Why, just before we started +I dropped a wrench, and I didn’t have any matches handy to +look for it. I was groping around in the dark trying to get my +hands on it, and you know it was pretty black in the jungle. Well, +along come Tomba. And he spotted it at once and picked it up. +We’ll call him here and get him to point out the hut. He can +tell me how to steer.”</p> +<p>“Good!” cried Ned, and the black was soon standing +in the pilot house. He comprehended what was wanted of him, and +peered down, seeking to penetrate the darkness.</p> +<p>“Shall I go down a little lower?” asked Tom.</p> +<p>For a moment Tomba did not answer. Then he uttered an +exclamation of pleasure.</p> +<p>“Me see hut!” he said, clutching Tom’s arm. +“Down dere!” He pointed, but neither Tom nor Ned could +see it. However, as Tomba was now giving directions, telling Tom +when to go to the left or the right, as the wind currents deflected +they were certain of soon reaching the place where Mr. and Mrs. +Illingway were concealed, if they were still alive.</p> +<p>The Black Hawk was moving slowly, and was not under as good +control as if she had been making ninety miles an hour. As it was +desired to proceed as quietly as possible, the craft was being used +as a dirigible balloon, and the propellers were whirled around by +means of a small motor, worked by a storage battery. While not much +power was obtained this way, there was the advantage of silence, +which was very necessary. Slowly the Black Hawk sailed on through +the night. In silence the adventurers waited for the moment of +action. They had their weapons in readiness. Mr. Durban was to work +the electric rifle, as all Tom’s attention would be needed at +the machinery. As soon as the craft had made a landing he was to +leap out, carrying a revolver in either hand, and, followed by +Tomba, would endeavor to gain entrance to the hut, break through +the flimsy grass-woven curtain over the doorway, and get Mr. and +Mrs. Illingway out. Ned, Mr. Damon and the other two men would +stand by to fire on the red pygmies as soon as they commenced the +attack, which they would undoubtedly do as soon as the guards of +the captives raised the alarm.</p> +<p>The airship was in darkness, for it would have been dangerous to +show a light. Some wakeful dwarf might see the moving illumination +in the sky, and raise a cry.</p> +<p>“Mos’ dere,” announced Tomba at length. And +then, for the first time, Ned and Tom had a glimpse of the hut. It +stood away from the others, and was easy to pick out in daylight, +but even the darkness offered no handicap to Tomba. “Right +over him now,” he suddenly called, as he leaned out of the +pilot house window, and looked down. “Right over place. Oh, +Tomba glad when he see Missy an’ Massy!”</p> +<p>“Yes, I hope you do see them,” murmured Tom, as he +pulled the lever which would pump the gas from the inflated bag, +and compress it into tanks, until it was needed again to make the +ship rise. Slowly the Black Hawk sank down.</p> +<p>“Get ready!” called Tom in a low voice.</p> +<p>It was a tense moment. Every one of the adventurers felt it, and +all but Tom grasped their weapons with tighter grips. They were +ready to spring out as soon as a landing was made. Tom managed the +machinery in the dark, for he knew every wheel, gear and lever, and +could have put his hand on any one with his eyes shut. The two +loaded revolvers were on a shelf in front of him. The side door of +the pilot house was ajar, to allow him quick egress.</p> +<p>Tomba, armed with a big club he had picked up in the jungle, was +ready to follow. The black was eager for the fray to begin, though +how he and the others would fare amid the savages was hard to +say.</p> +<p>Still not a sound broke the quiet. It was very dark, for nearly +all the camp fires, over which the nightly feast had been prepared, +were out. The hut could be dimly made out, however.</p> +<p>Suddenly there was a slight tremor through the ship. She seemed +to shiver, and bound upward a little.</p> +<p>“We’ve landed!” whispered Tom. “Now for +it! Come on, Tomba!”</p> +<p>The big black glided after the lad like a shadow. With his two +weapons held in readiness our hero went out on deck. The others, +with cocked rifles, stood ready for the attack to open. It had been +decided that as soon as the first alarm was given by the dwarfs, +which would probably be when Tom broke into the hut, the firing +would begin.</p> +<p>“Open!” called Tom to Tomba, and the big black +dashed his club through the grass curtain over the doorway of the +hut. He fairly leaped inside, with a cry of battle on his lips.</p> +<p>“Mr. Illingway! Mrs. Illingway!” called Tom, +“We’ve come to save you. Hurry out. The airship is just +outside!”</p> +<p>He fired one shot through the roof of the hut, so that the flash +would reveal to him whether or not the two missionaries were in the +place. He saw two forms rise up in front of him, and knew that they +were the white captives he had observed daring the former +attack.</p> +<p>“Oh, what is it?” he heard the woman ask.</p> +<p>“A rescue! Thank the dear Lord!” answered her +husband fervently. “Oh, whoever you are, God bless +you!”</p> +<p>“Come quickly!” cried Tom, “we haven’t a +moment to lose!”</p> +<p>He was speaking to absolute blackness now, for it was darker +immediately following the revolver flash than before. But he felt a +man’s hand thrust about his arm, and he knew it was Mr. +Illingway.</p> +<p>“Take your wife’s hand, and follow me,” +ordered Tom. “Come, Tomba! Are there any of the red pygmies +in here?”</p> +<p>He had not seen any at the weapon’s flash, but his +question was answered a moment later, for there arose from within +and without the hut a chorus of wild yells. At the same time Tom +felt small arms grasp him about the legs.</p> +<p>“Come on!” he yelled. “They’re awake and +after us!”</p> +<p>The din outside increased. Tom heard the rifles of his friends +crack. He saw, through the torn door curtain, the flashes of fire. +Then came a blue glare, and Tom knew that Mr. Durban was using the +electric weapon.</p> +<p>By these intermittent gleams Tom managed to see sufficiently to +thrust Mr. and Mrs. Illingway ahead of him. Tomba was at their +side. The yells inside the hut were almost deafening. All the red +dwarfs left to guard the captives had awakened, and they could see +well enough to attack Tom. Fortunately they had no weapons, but +they fairly threw themselves upon the sturdy lad, trying to pull +him down.</p> +<p>“Go on! Go on!” he yelled to the captives, fairly +pushing them along. Then, knowing they were out of the way, he +turned and fired his two revolvers as fast as he could pull the +triggers, into the very faces of the red imps who were seeking to +drag him down. Again and again he fired, until he had emptied both +cylinders of his weapons.</p> +<p>He felt the grasps of the fiendish little men relax one by one. +Tom finally dragged himself loose, and staggered out of the hut. +The captives and Tomba were right in front of him. At the airship, +which loomed up in the flashes from the guns and electric rifle, +Tom’s friends were giving battle. About them swarmed the +hordes of savages, with more of the imps pouring in every +moment.</p> +<p>“Get aboard!” cried Tom to the missionaries. +“Get on the airship, and we’ll move out of +this!”</p> +<p>He felt a stinging pain in his neck, where an arrow struck him. +He tore the arrow out, and rushed forward. Fairly pushing Mr. and +Mrs. Illingway up on deck before him, Tom followed. Tomba was +capering about his master and mistress, and he swung his big club +savagely. He had not been idle, and many a red imp had gone down +under his blows.</p> +<p>“Rescued! Rescued!” murmured Mr. Illingway, as Tom +hastened to the pilot house to start the motor.</p> +<h3>CHAPTER XXIV</h3> +<h2><a id="Ch_24" name="Ch_24"></a>TWO OTHER CAPTIVES</h2> +<p class="returnTOC"><a href="#Contents">Return to Table of +Contents</a></p> +<p>But the rescue was not yet accomplished. Those on the airship +were still in danger, and grave peril, for all about them were the +red savages, shouting, howling, yelling and capering about, as they +were now thoroughly aroused, and realized that their captives had +been taken away from them. They determined to get them back, and +were rallying desperately to battle. Nearly all of them were armed +by this time, and flight after flight of spears and arrows were +thrown or shot toward the airship.</p> +<p>Fortunately it was too dark to enable the pygmies to take good +aim. They were guided, to an extent, by the flashes of fire from +the rifles, but these were only momentary. Still some of our +friends received slight wounds, for they stood on the open deck of +the craft.</p> +<p>“Bless my eye-glasses!” suddenly exclaimed Mr. +Damon. “I’m stuck!”</p> +<p>“Don’t mind that!” advised Ned. “Keep on +pouring lead into them. We’ll soon be away from +here!”</p> +<p>“Don’t fire any more!” called Mr. Durban. +“The gun-flashes tell them where to shoot. I’ll use the +electric rifle. It’s better.”</p> +<p>They followed his advice, and put aside their weapons. By means +of the electric flash, which he projected into the midst of the +savages, without the glare coming on the airship, Mr. Durban was +able to tell where to aim. Once he had a mass of red pygmies +located, he could keep on shooting charge after charge into their +midst.</p> +<p>“Use it full power!” called Tom, as he opened the +gas machine to its widest capacity, so the bag would quickly fill, +and the craft be sent forward, for it was so dark, and the ground +near the huts so uneven, that the Black Hawk could not rise as an +aeroplane.</p> +<p>The elephant hunter turned on full strength in the electric gun +and the wireless bullets were sent into the midst of the attackers. +The result was surprising. They were so closely packed together +that when one was hit the electrical shock was sent through his +nearly naked body into the naked bodies of his tribesmen who +pressed on every side of him. In consequence whole rows of the +savages went down at a time, disabled from fighting any more.</p> +<p>Meanwhile Tom was working frantically to hasten the rising of +the airship. His neck pained him very much where the arrow had +struck him, but he dared not stop now to dress the wound. He could +feel the blood running down his side, but he shut his teeth grimly +and said nothing.</p> +<p>The two missionaries, scarcely able to believe that they were to +be saved, had been shown into an inner cabin by Tomba, who had +become somewhat used to the airship by this time, and who could +find his way about well in the dark, for no lights had yet been +turned on.</p> +<p>Hundreds of pygmies had been disabled, yet still others came to +take their places. The gas bag was again punctured in several +places, but the rents were small, and Tom knew that he could make +the gas faster than it could escape, unless the bag was ripped +open.</p> +<p>“They’re climbing up the sides!” suddenly +called Ned Newton, for he saw several of the little men clambering +up. “What shall we do?”</p> +<p>“Pound their fingers!” called Mr. Anderson. +“Get clubs and whack them!” It was good advice. Ned +remembered on one occasion when he and Tom were looking at Andy +Foger’s airship, how this method had been proposed when the +bank clerk hung on the back fence. As he grabbed up a stick, and +proceeded to pound the hands and bare arms of the savages who were +clinging to the railing, Ned found himself wondering what had +become of the bully. He was to see Andy sooner than he +expected.</p> +<p>Suddenly in the midst of the fighting, which was now a +hand-to-hand conflict, there was a tremor throughout the length of +the airship.</p> +<p>“She’s going up!” yelled Ned.</p> +<p>“Bless my check-book!” cried Mr. Damon, “if we +don’t look out some of these red imps will go up with us, +too!”</p> +<p>As he spoke he whacked vigorously at the hands of several of the +pygmies, who dropped off with howls of anguish.</p> +<p>The craft quickly shot upward. There were yells of terror from a +few of the red savages who remained clinging to different parts of +the Black Hawk and then, fearing they might be taken to the clouds, +they, too, dropped off. The rescuers and rescued mounted higher and +higher, and, when they were far enough up so that there was no +danger from the spears or arrows, Tom switched on the lights, and +turned the electric current into the search-lantern, the rays of +which beamed down on the mass of yelling and baffled savages +below.</p> +<p>“A few shots for them to remember us by!” cried Mr. +Durban, as he sent more of the paralyzing electric currents into +the red imps. Their yell of rage had now turned to shouts of +terror, for the gleaming beam of light frightened them more than +did the airship, or the bullets of the white men. The red pygmies +fled to their huts.</p> +<p>“I guess we gave them a lesson,” remarked Tom, as he +started the propellers and sent the ship on through the night.</p> +<p>“Why, Tom! You’re hurt!” cried Ned, who came +into the pilot house at that moment, and saw blood on his chum.</p> +<p>“Only a scratch,” the young inventor declared.</p> +<p>“It’s more than that,” said Mr. Durban who +looked at it a little later. “It must be bound up, +Tom.”</p> +<p>And, while Ned steered the ship back to the jungle clearing +whence they had come to make the night attack, Tom’s wound +was dressed.</p> +<p>Meanwhile the two missionaries had been well taken care of. They +were given other garments, even some dresses being provided for +Mrs. Illingway, for when the voyage was begun Tom had considered +the possibility of having a woman on board, and had bought some +ladies’ garments. Then, having cast down to earth the +ill-smelling skins which formed their clothes while captives, Mr. +and Mrs. Illingway, decently dressed, thanked Tom and the others +over and over again.</p> +<p>“We had almost given up hope,” said the lady, +“when we saw them drive you back after the first attack. Oh, +it is wonderful to think how you saved us, and in an +airship!” and she and her husband began their thanks over +again.</p> +<p>A good meal was prepared by Mr. Damon, for the rescuers and +rescued ones were hungry, and since they had been held prisoners +the two missionaries had not been given very good food.</p> +<p>“Oh, it hardly seems possible that we are eating with +white men again,” said Mr. Illingway, as he took a second cup +of coffee, “hardly possible!”</p> +<p>“And to see electric lights, instead of a +camp-fire,” added his wife. “What a wonderful airship +you have, Tom Swift.”</p> +<p>“Yes, it’s pretty good,” he admitted. +“It came in useful to-night, all right.”</p> +<p>They were now far enough from the savages, and the +pygmies’ fires, which had been set aglow anew when the attack +began, could no longer be observed.</p> +<p>“We’ll land at the place where we camped +before,” said Tom, who had again assumed charge of the ship, +“and in the morning we’ll start for +civilization.”</p> +<p>“No can get two other white men?” suddenly asked +Tomba, who had been sitting, gazing at his recovered master and +mistress. “Fly-ship go back, an’ leave two white mans +here?” the black asked.</p> +<p>“What in the world does he mean?” demanded Tom. +“Of course we’re not going to leave any of our party +behind!”</p> +<p>“Let me question him,” suggested Mr. Illingway, and +he began to talk to the African in his own tongue. A rapid +conversation followed, and a look of amazement spread over the +faces of the two missionaries, as they listened.</p> +<p>“What is it?” asked Mr. Durban. “What does +Tomba say?”</p> +<p>“Why the pygmies have two other white men in +captivity,” said Mr. Illingway. “They were brought in +yesterday, after you were driven away. Two white men, or, rather a +white man and a youth, according to Tomba. They are held in one of +the huts near where we were, but tied so they couldn’t escape +in the confusion.”</p> +<p>“How does Tomba know this?” asked Mr. Damon.</p> +<p>“He says,” translated Mr. Illingway, after more +questioning of the black, “that he heard the red pygmies +boasting of it after we had escaped. Tomba says he heard them say +that, though we were gone, and could not be killed, or sacrificed, +the other two captives would meet that horrible fate.”</p> +<p>“Two other white captives in the hands of the red +imps!” murmured Tom. “We must rescue them!”</p> +<p>“You’re not going to turn back now, are you?” +asked Mr. Durban.</p> +<p>“No, but I will as soon as I look the ship over. +We’ll come back to-morrow. And we’ll have to make a +day attack or it will be too late to save them. Two other white +captives! I wonder who they can be.”</p> +<p>There was a big surprise in store for Tom Swift.</p> +<h3>CHAPTER XXV</h3> +<h2><a id="Ch_25" name="Ch_25"></a>THE ROGUE +ELEPHANT—CONCLUSION</h2> +<p class="returnTOC"><a href="#Contents">Return to Table of +Contents</a></p> +<p>Early the next day the airship was again afloat. The night, what +little of darkness remained after the rescue, had been spent in the +clearing in the dense jungle. Some slight repairs had been made to +the craft, and it was once more in readiness to be used in battle +against the relentless savages.</p> +<p>“We can’t wait for darkness,” declared Tom. +“In the first place there isn’t time, and again, we +don’t know in what part of the village the other captives +are. We’ll have to hunt around.”</p> +<p>“And that means going right down into the midst of the +imps and fighting them hand to hand,” said Ned.</p> +<p>“That’s what it means,” assented Tom grimly, +“but I guess the powder bombs will help some.”</p> +<p>Before starting they had prepared a number of improvised bombs, +filled with powder, which could be set off by percussion. It was +the plan to drop these down from the airship, into the midst of the +savages. When the bomb struck the ground, or even on the bodies of +the red dwarfs, it would explode. It was hoped that these would so +dismay the little men that they would desert the village, and leave +the way clear for a search to be made for the other captives.</p> +<p>On rushed the Black Hawk. There was to be no concealment this +time, and Tom did not care how much noise the motors made. +Accordingly he turned on full speed.</p> +<p>It was not long before the big plain was again sighted. +Everything was in readiness, and the bombs were at hand to be +dropped overboard. Tom counted on the natives gathering together in +great masses as soon as they sighted the airship, and this would +give him the opportunity wanted.</p> +<p>But something different transpired. No sooner was the craft +above the village, than from all the huts came pouring out the +little red men. But they did not gather together—at least +just then. They ran about excitedly, and it could be seen that they +were bringing from the huts the rude household utensils in which +they did their primitive cooking. The women had their babies, and +some, not so encumbered, carried rolls of grass matting. The men +had all their weapons.</p> +<p>“Bless my wagon wheel!” cried Mr. Damon. +“What’s going on?”</p> +<p>“It looks like moving day,” suggested Ned +Newton.</p> +<p>“That’s just what it is!” declared Mr. Durban. +“They are going to migrate. Evidently they have had enough of +us, and they’re going to get out of the neighborhood before +we get a chance to do any more damage. They’re moving, but +where are the white captives?”</p> +<p>He was answered a moment later, for a crowd of the dwarfs +rushing to a certain hut, came out leading two persons by means of +bark ropes tied about their necks. It was too far off to enable Tom +or the others to recognize them, but they could tell by the +clothing that they were white captives.</p> +<p>“We’ve got to save them!” exclaimed the young +inventor.</p> +<p>“How?” asked Mr. Damon. And, indeed, it did seem a +puzzle for, even as Tom looked, the whole tribe of red imps took up +the march into the jungle, dragging the white persons with them. +The captives looked up, saw the airship, and made frantic motions +for help. It was too far off, yet, to hear their voices. But the +distance was lessening every moment, for Tom had speeded the motor +to the highest pitch.</p> +<p>“What are you going to do?” demanded Ned.</p> +<p>“I’ll show you,” answered his chum. +“Take some of those bombs, and be ready to drop them +overboard when I give the word.”</p> +<p>“But we may kill those white people,” objected +Ned.</p> +<p>“Not the way I’m going to work it. You drop them +when I give the word.”</p> +<p>Tom steered the airship toward the head of the throng of blacks. +The captives were in the rear, and the van of the strange +procession was near the edge of the jungle now. Once the red dwarfs +got into the tangle of underbrush they could never be found, and +their captives would die a miserable death.</p> +<p>“We’ve got to stop them,” murmured Tom. +“Are you ready, Ned?”</p> +<p>“Ready!”</p> +<p>“Then drop the bombs!”</p> +<p>Ned dropped them. A sharp explosion was heard, and the head of +the procession was blown apart and thrown into confusion. The +throng halted.</p> +<p>“Drop more!” cried Tom, sending the ship about in a +circle, and hovering it over the middle of the press of +savages.</p> +<p>More of the deadly bombs exploded. The pygmies were running +about wildly. Tom, who was closely watching the rear of the +cavalcade, suddenly called out:</p> +<p>“Now’s our chance! They’ve let their captives +go, and are running into the jungle. We must swoop down, and get +the prisoners!”</p> +<p>It was no sooner said than the nose of the Black Hawk was +pointed downward. Onward it flew, the two captives wildly waving +their hands to the rescuers. There was no more danger from the red +savages. They had been thrown into panic and confusion, and were +rapidly disappearing into the forest. The terrible weapons of the +whites had been too much for them.</p> +<p>“Quick! Get on board!” called Tom, as he brought the +machinery to a stop. The airship now rested on the ground, close to +the former captives. “Get in here!” shouted the young +inventor. “They may change their minds and come +back.”</p> +<p>The two white persons ran toward the Black Hawk. Then one of +them— the smaller—halted and cried out:</p> +<p>“Why, it’s Tom Swift!”</p> +<p>Tom turned and glanced at the speaker. A look of astonishment +spread over his face.</p> +<p>“Andy Foger—here!” gasped Tom. “How in +the world—?”</p> +<p>“I dink besser as ve git on der board, und dalk +aftervard!” exclaimed Andy’s companion, who spoke with +a strong German accent. “I like not dose red little +mans.”</p> +<p>In another minute the two rescued ones were safe on Tom +Swift’s airship, and it had arisen high enough to be out of +all danger.</p> +<p>“How in the world did you ever get here?” asked Tom +of the lad who had so often been his enemy.</p> +<p>“I’ll tell you soon,” spoke Andy, “but +first, Tom, I want to ask your forgiveness for all I’ve done +to you, and to thank you, from the bottom of my heart, for saving +us. I thought we were going to be killed by those dwarfs; +didn’t you, Herr Landbacher?”</p> +<p>“Sure I did. But ve are all right now. Dis machine is efen +besser as mine vot vos lost. Is dere anyt’ing to eats, on +board, if you vill excuse me for being so bolt as to +ask?”</p> +<p>“Plenty to eat,” said Tom, laughing, “and +while you eat you can tell us your story. And as for you, Andy, I +hope we’ll be friends from now on,” and Tom held out +his hand.</p> +<p>There was not much to tell that the reader has not already +guessed. Andy and the German, as has been explained, went abroad to +give airship flights. They were in the lower part of Egypt, and a +sudden gale drove them into Africa.</p> +<p>For a long time they sailed on, and then their fuel gave out, +and they had to descend into the jungle. They managed to fall in +with some friendly blacks, who treated them well. The airship was +useless without gasolene, and it was abandoned.</p> +<p>Andy and the German inventor were planning to walk to some white +settlement, when the tribe they were with was attacked by the red +dwarfs and vanquished. Andy and his friend were taken prisoners, +and carried to the very village where the missionaries were, just +before the latter’s rescue.</p> +<p>Then came the fight, and the saving of Andy and the German, +almost at the last minute.</p> +<p>“Well, you certainly had nearly as many adventures as we +did,” said Tom. “But I guess they’re over +now.”</p> +<p>But they were not. For several days the airship sailed on over +the jungles without making a descent. Mr. and Mrs. Illingway wished +to be landed at a white settlement where they had other missionary +friends. Tom would go with them. This was done, and Tom and the +others spent some time in this place, receiving so many kinds of +thanks that they had to protest.</p> +<p>Andy and Herr Landbacher asked to be taken back to the coast, +where they could get a steamer to America. Andy was a very +different lad now, and not the bully of old.</p> +<p>“Well, hadn’t we better be thinking of getting back +home?” asked Tom one day.</p> +<p>“Not until we get some more ivory,” declared Mr. +Durban. “I think we’ll have to have another elephant +hunt.”</p> +<p>They did, about a week later, and got some magnificent tusks. +Tom’s electric rifle did great work, to the wonder of Andy +and Mr. Landbacher, who had never before seen such a curious +weapon. They also did some night hunting.</p> +<p>“But we haven’t got that pair of extra large tusks +that I want,” said the old hunter, as he looked at the store +of ivory accumulated after the last hunt. “I want those, and +then I’ll be satisfied. There is one section of the country +that we have not touched as yet, and I’d like to visit +that.”</p> +<p>“Then let’s go,” proposed Tom, so, good-bys +having been said to the missionaries, who sent greetings to their +friends in America, and to the church people who had arranged for +their rescue, the airship was once more sent to the deepest part of +a certain jungle, where Mr. Durban hoped to get what he wanted.</p> +<p>They had another big hunt, but none of the elephants had any +remarkable tusks, and the hunter was about to give up in despair, +and call the expedition over, when one afternoon, as they were +sailing along high enough to merely clear the tops of the trees, +Tom heard a great crashing down below.</p> +<p>“There’s something there,” he called to Mr. +Durban. “Perhaps a small herd of elephants. Shall we go +down?”</p> +<p>Before Mr. Durban could answer there came into view, in a small +clearing, an elephant of such size, and with such an enormous pair +of tusks, that the young inventor and the old hunter could not +repress cries of astonishment.</p> +<p>“There’s your beast!” said Tom. +“I’ll go down and you can pot him,” and, as he +spoke, Tom stopped the propellers, so that the ship hung motionless +in the air above where the gigantic brute was.</p> +<p>Suddenly, as though possessed by a fit of rage, the elephant +rushed at a good-sized tree and began butting it with his head. +Then, winding his trunk around it he pulled it up by the roots, and +began trampling on it out of a paroxysm of anger.</p> +<p>“A rogue elephant!” exclaimed Mr. Durban. +“Don’t go down if you value your life, or the safety of +the airship. If we attacked that brute on the ground, we would be +the hunted instead of the hunters. That’s a rogue elephant of +the worst kind, and he’s at the height of his +rage.”</p> +<p>This was indeed so, for the beast was tearing about the clearing +like mad, breaking off trees, and uprooting them in sheer +wantonness. Tom knew what a “rogue” elephant was. It is +a beast that goes away from the herd, and lives solitary and alone, +attacking every living thing that comes in his way. It is a species +of madness, a disease which attacks elephants and sometimes passes +away. More often the afflicted creature gives battle to everything +and every animal he meets until he is killed or carried off by his +malady. It was such an elephant that Tom now saw, and he realized +what the hunter said about attacking one, as he saw the +brute’s mad rushes.</p> +<p>“Well, if it’s dangerous to attack him on the +ground, we’ll kill him from up above,” said the young +inventor. “Here is the electric rifle, Mr. Durban. I’ll +let you have the honor of getting those tusks. My! But +they’re whoppers! Better use almost a full charge. +Don’t take any chances on merely wounding him, and having him +rush off to the jungle.”</p> +<p>“I won’t,” said the old hunter, and he +adjusted the electric rifle which Tom handed him.</p> +<p>As the great beast was tearing around, trumpeting shrilly and +breaking off trees Mr. Durban fired. The creature sank down, +instantly killed, and was out of his misery, for often it is great +pain which makes an otherwise peaceable elephant become a +“rogue.”</p> +<p>“He’s done for,” said Ned. “I guess you +have the tusks you want now, Mr. Durban.”</p> +<p>“I think so,” agreed the hunter, and when the +airship was sent down, and the ivory cut out, it was found that the +tusks were even larger than they had supposed. “It is a prize +worth having,” said Mr. Durban. “I’m sure my +customer will think so, too. Now I’m ready to head for the +coast.”</p> +<p>Tom Swift went to the engine room, while the last big tusks were +being stored away with the other ivory. Several parts of the motor +needed oiling, and Ned was assisting in this work.</p> +<p>“Going to start soon?” asked Mr. Durban, appearing +in the doorway.</p> +<p>“Yes; why?” inquired Tom, who noted an anxious note +in the voice of the hunter.</p> +<p>“Well, I don’t like staying longer in this jungle +than I can help. It’s not healthy in the first place, and +then it’s a wild and desolate place, where all sorts of wild +beasts are lurking, and where wandering hands of natives may appear +at any time.”</p> +<p>“You don’t mean that the red pygmies will come back; +do you?” asked Ned.</p> +<p>“There’s no telling,” replied Mr. Durban with +a shrug of his shoulders. “Only, as long as we’ve got +what we’re after, I’d start off as soon as +possible.”</p> +<p>“Yes, don’t run any chances with those little red +men,” begged Andy Foger, who had given himself up for lost +when he and his companion fell into their hands.</p> +<p>“Radder vould I be mit cannibals dan dose little +imps!” spoke the German fervently.</p> +<p>“We’ll start at once,” declared Tom. +“Are you all aboard, and is everything loaded into the +airship?”</p> +<p>“Everything, I guess.” answered Mr. Anderson.</p> +<p>Tom looked to the motor, saw that it was in working order, and +shoved over the lever of the gas machine to begin the generating of +the lifting vapor. To his surprise there was no corresponding hiss +that told of the gas rushing into the bag.</p> +<p>“That’s odd,” he remarked. “Ned, see if +anything is wrong with that machine. I’ll pull the lever +again.”</p> +<p>The bank clerk stood beside the apparatus, while Tom worked the +handle, but whatever was the matter with it was too intricate or +complicated for Ned to solve.</p> +<p>“I can’t see what ails it,” he called to his +chum. “You better have a peep.”</p> +<p>“All right, I’ll look if you work the +handle.”</p> +<p>The passengers on the airship, which now rested in a little +clearing in the dense jungle, gathered at the engine room door, +looking at Tom and Ned as they worked over the machine.</p> +<p>“Bless my pulley wheel!” exclaimed Mr. Damon +“I hope nothing has gone wrong.”</p> +<p>“Well something has!” declared the young inventor in +a muffled voice, for he was down on his hands and knees peering +under the gas apparatus. “One of the compression cylinders +has cracked,” he added dubiously. “It must have snapped +when we landed this last time. I came down too heavily.”</p> +<p>“What does that mean?” asked Mr. Durban, who did not +know much about machinery.</p> +<p>“It means that I’ve got to put a new cylinder +in,” went on Tom. “It’s quite a job, too, but we +can’t make gas without it!”</p> +<p>“Well, can’t you do it just as well up in the air as +down here?” asked Mr. Durban. “Make an ascension, Tom, +and do the repairs up above, where we’ve got good air, and +where—”</p> +<p>He paused suddenly, and seemed to be listening.</p> +<p>“What is it?” asked the young inventor quickly. +There was no need to answer, for, from the jungle without, came the +dull booming of the war drums of some natives.</p> +<p>“That’s what I was afraid of!” cried the old +elephant hunter, catching up his gun. “Some black scout has +seen us and is summoning his tribesmen. Hurry, Tom, send up the +ship, and we’ll take care of the savages.”</p> +<p>“But I CAN’T send her up!” cried Tom.</p> +<p>“You can’t? Why not?”</p> +<p>“Because the gas machine won’t work until I put in a +new cylinder, and that will take at least a half a day.”</p> +<p>“Go up as an aeroplane then!” cried Mr. Damon. +“Bless my monkey wrench, Tom, you’ve often done it +before.”</p> +<p>For answer Tom waved his hand toward the thick jungle all about +them.</p> +<p>“We haven’t room to get a running start of ten +feet.” he said, “and without a start the airship can +never rise as a mere aeroplane. The only way we can get up from the +jungle is like a balloon, and without the gas—”</p> +<p>He paused significantly. The sound of the war drums became +louder, and to it was added a weird singing chant.</p> +<p>“The natives!” cried Mr. Anderson. +“They’re coming right this way! We must fight them off +if they attack us!”</p> +<p>“Where’s the electric rifle?” asked Ned. +“Get that out, Tom!”</p> +<p>“Wait!” suggested Mr. Durban. “This is +serious! It looks as if they were going to attack us, and they have +us at a disadvantage. Our only safety is in flight, but as Tom says +we can’t go up until the gas machine is fixed, he will have +to attend to that part of it while we keep off the black men. Tom, +we can’t spare you to fight this time! You repair the ship as +soon as you can, and we’ll guard her from the natives. And +you’ve got to work lively!”</p> +<p>“I will!” cried the young inventor. +“It’s luck we have a spare cylinder!”</p> +<p>Suddenly there was a louder shout in the jungle and it was +followed by a riot of sound. War drums were beaten, tom-toms +clashed and the natives howled.</p> +<p>“Here they are!” cried Mr. Anderson.</p> +<p>“Bless my suspenders!” shouted Mr. Damon. +“Where is my gun?”</p> +<p>“Here, you take mine, and I’ll use the electric +rifle,” answered the elephant hunter. As he spoke there was a +hissing sound in the air and a flight of spears passed over the +airship.</p> +<p>The defenders slipped outside, while Tom, with Ned to help him, +worked feverishly to repair the break. They were in a serious +strait, for with the airship practically helpless they were at the +mercy of the natives. And as Tom glanced momentarily from the +window, he saw scores of black, half-naked forms slipping in and +out among the trees and trailing vines.</p> +<p>Soon the rifles of his friends began to crack, and the yells of +the natives were changed to howls of anguish. The electric weapon, +though it made no noise, did great execution.</p> +<p>“I only hope they don’t puncture the gas bag,” +murmured Tom, as he began taking the generating machine apart so as +to get out the cracked cylinder.</p> +<p>“If they do, it’s all up with us,” murmured +Ned.</p> +<p>After their first rush, finding that the white men were on the +alert, the blacks withdrew some distance, where their spears and +arrows were not so effective. Our friends, including Andy Foger, +and the German, kept up a hot fire whenever a skulking black form +could be seen.</p> +<p>But, though the danger from the spears and arrows was less, a +new peril presented itself. This was from the blow guns. The +curious weapons shot small arrows, tipped with tufts of a cottony +substance in place of feathers, and could be sent for a long +distance. The barbs were not strong enough to pierce the tough +fabric of the gas bag, as a spear or arrow would have done, but +there was more danger from them to our friends who were on +deck.</p> +<p>“Those barbs may be poisoned,” said Mr. Durban, +“and in case any one is wounded, the wound, though it be but +a scratch, must be treated with antiseptics. I have +some.”</p> +<p>This course was followed, the elephant hunter being wounded +twice, and Andy Foger and Mr. Damon once each. There was not a +native to be seen now, for they were hiding behind the trees of the +jungle, but every now and then a blowgun barb would whizz out of +the forest.</p> +<p>Finally Mr. Durban suggested that they erect improvised +shelters, behind which they could stand with their rifle, and +breastworks were made out of packing boxes. Then our friends were +comparatively safe. But they had to be on the alert, and it was +nervous work, for they could not tell what minute the blacks would +rush from the jungle, and, in spite of the fire from the electric +rifle and other guns, overwhelm the ship.</p> +<p>It was very trying to Tom and Ned, for they had to work hard and +rapidly in the close engine room. The sweat dripped down off them, +but they kept at it. It was three hours before the broken cylinder +was removed, and it was no light task to put in the other, for the +valves had to be made very tight to prevent leakage.</p> +<p>The two lads stopped to get something to eat, while the guards +kept sharp watch against a surprise. At intervals came a flight of +barbs, and occasionally a black form could be seen, when it was +instantly fired at. Several times the barbaric noise of the +tom-toms and war drums, with which the shouts of the natives +mingled, broke out deafeningly.</p> +<p>“Think you can repair it by night?” asked Mr. Durban +anxiously of Tom.</p> +<p>“I hope so,” was the response.</p> +<p>“Because if we have to stay here after dark—well, I +don’t want to do it if I can help it,” finished the +hunter.</p> +<p>Neither did the young inventor, and he redoubled his efforts to +make the repairs. It was getting dark when the last belt was in +place, and it was high time, too, for the natives were getting +bolder, creeping up through the forest to within shooting distance +with their arrows and spears.</p> +<p>“There!” cried Tom at length. “Now we’ll +see if she works!” Once more he pulled the starting lever, +and this time there was the welcome hiss of the gas.</p> +<p>“Hurrah!” cried Ned.</p> +<p>The young inventor turned the machine on at full power. In a few +minutes the Black Hawk trembled through her length.</p> +<p>“She’s going up! Bless my balloon basket! +She’s going up!” cried Mr. Damon.</p> +<p>The natives must have suspected that something unusual was going +on, for they made a sudden rush, yelling and beating their drums. +Mr. Durban and the others hurried out on deck and fired at them, +but there was little more need. With a bound the airship left the +earth, being rapidly carried up by the gas. The blacks sent a final +shower of spears after her, but only one was effective, slightly +wounding the German. Then Tom started the motor, the propellers +whizzed, and the Black Hawk was once more under way, just as night +settled over the jungle, and upon the horde of black and howling +savages that rushed around, maddened over the escape of their +intended victims.</p> +<p>No further accidents marred the trip to the coast, which was +reached in due time, and very glad our friends were to be away from +the jungle and the land of the red pygmies.</p> +<p>A division was made of the ivory, and Tom’s share was +large enough to provide him with a substantial amount. Ned and Mr. +Damon were also given a goodly sum from the sale of the tusks. The +big ones, from the “rogue,” were shipped to the man who +had commissioned Mr. Durban to secure them for him.</p> +<p>“Well, now for home,” said Tom, when the airship had +been taken apart for shipment. “I guess you’ll be glad +to get back to the United States, won’t you, +friends?”</p> +<p>“That’s what,” agreed Andy Foger. “I +think I’m done with airships. Ugh! When I think of those red +dwarfs I can’t sleep nights!”</p> +<p>“Yah, dot iss so!” agreed the German.</p> +<p>“Well, I’m going to settle down for a time,” +declared Tom. “I’ve had enough adventures for a while, +but those in elephant land—”</p> +<p>“They certainly put it all over the things that happen to +some people!” interrupted Ned with a laugh.</p> +<p>“Bless my fish-line, that’s so!” agreed Mr. +Damon.</p> +<p>But Tom Swift was not done with adventures, and what farther +happened to him may be learned by reading the next volume of this +series, which will be entitled, “Tom Swift in the City of +Gold; or, Marvelous Adventures Underground.”</p> +<p>They all made a safe and pleasant voyage home, and as news of +the rescue of the missionaries had been cabled to America, Tom and +his friends were met, as they left the steamer, by a crowd of +newspaper reporters, who got a good story of the battle with the +red pygmies, though Tom was inclined to make light of his part in +the affair.</p> +<p>“Now for Shopton, home, Dad, Eradicate Sampson and his +mule!” exclaimed Tom, as they boarded a train in New +York.</p> +<p>“And somebody else, too, I guess; eh?” asked Ned of +his chum, with a laugh.</p> +<p>“That’s none of your affair!” declared Tom, as +he blushed, and then he, too, joined in the merriment.</p> +<p>And now, for a time, we will say good-by to the young inventor +and his friends.</p> +<hr class="full" /> + + + + + + + + +<pre> + + + + + +End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of Tom Swift and his Electric Rifle, by +Victor Appleton + +*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK TOM SWIFT AND HIS ELECTRIC RIFLE *** + +***** This file should be named 3777-h.htm or 3777-h.zip ***** +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: + https://www.gutenberg.org/3/7/7/3777/ + +Produced by This etext was produced by Charles Franks, +Greg Weeks, and the Online Distributed Proofreading Team. + + +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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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 Electric Rifle + +Author: Victor Appleton + +Posting Date: January 16, 2009 [EBook #3777] +Release Date: February, 2003 +Last updated November 10, 2010 +Last updated: April 22, 2012 + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ASCII + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK TOM SWIFT AND HIS ELECTRIC RIFLE *** + + + + +Produced by This etext was produced by Charles Franks, +Greg Weeks, and the Online Distributed Proofreading Team. + + + + + + + + + +TOM SWIFT AND HIS ELECTRIC RIFLE + +OR + +Daring Adventures in Elephant Land + +by VICTOR APPLETON + + + + +CONTENTS + + I TOM WANTS EXCITEMENT + II TRYING THE NEW GUN + III A DIFFICULT TEST + IV BIG TUSKS WANTED + V RUSH WORK + VI NEWS FROM ANDY + VII THE BLACK HAWK FLIES + VIII OFF FOR AFRICA + IX ATTACKED BY A WHALE + X OFF IN THE AIRSHIP + XI ANCHORED TO EARTH + XII AMONG THE NATIVES + XIII ON THE ELEPHANT TRAIL + XIV A STAMPEDE + XV LIONS IN THE NIGHT + XVI SEEKING THE MISSIONARIES + XVII SHOTS FROM ABOVE + XVIII NEWS OF THE RED PYGMIES + XIX AN APPEAL FOR HELP + XX THE FIGHT + XXI DRIVEN BACK + XXII A NIGHT ATTACK + XXIII THE RESCUE + XXIV TWO OTHER CAPTIVES + XXV THE ROGUE ELEPHANT--CONCLUSION + + + + +CHAPTER I + +TOM WANTS EXCITEMENT + + +"Have you anything special to do to-night, Ned?" asked Tom Swift, +the well-known inventor, as he paused in front of his chum's window, +in the Shopton National Bank. + +"No, nothing in particular," replied the bank clerk, as he stacked +up some bundles of bills. "Why do you ask?" + +"I wanted you to come over to the house for a while." + +"Going to have a surprise party, or something like that?" + +"No, only I've got something I'd like to show you." + +"A new invention?" + +"Well, not exactly new. You've seen it before, but not since I've +improved it. I'm speaking of my new electric rifle. I've got it +ready to try, now, and I'd like to see what you think of it. There's +a rifle range over at the house, and we can practice some shooting, +if you haven't anything else to do." + +"I haven't, and I'll be glad to come. What are you doing in the +bank, anyhow; putting away more of your wealth, Tom?" + +"Yes, I just made a little deposit. It's some money I got from the +government for the patents on my sky racer, and I'm salting it down +here until Dad and I can think of a better investment." + +"Good idea. Bring us all the money you can," and the bank clerk, who +held a small amount of stock in the financial institution, laughed, +his chum joining in with him. + +"Well, then. I'll expect you over this evening," went on the +youthful inventor, as he turned to leave the bank. + +"Yes, I'll be there. Say, Tom, have you heard the latest about Andy +Foger?" + +"No, I haven't heard much since he left town right after I beat him +in the aeroplane race at Eagle Park." + +"Well, he's out of town all right, and I guess for a long time this +trip. He's gone to Europe." + +"To Europe, eh? Well, he threatened to go there after he failed to +beat me in the race, but I thought he was only bluffing." + +"No, he's really gone this time." + +"Well, I, for one, am glad of it. Did he take his aeroplane along?" + +"Yes, that's what he went for. It seems that this Mr. Landbacher, +the German who really invented it, and built it with money which Mr. +Foger supplied, has an idea he can interest the German or some other +European government in the machine. Andy wanted to go along with +him, and as Mr. Foger financed the scheme, I guess he thought it +would be a good thing to have some one represent him. So Andy's +gone." + +"Then he won't bother me. Well, I must get along. I'll expect you +over to-night," and with a wave of his hand Tom Swift hurried from +the bank. + +The young inventor jumped into his electric runabout which stood +outside the institution, and was about to start off when he saw a +newsboy selling papers which had just come in from New York, on the +morning train. + +"Here, Jack, give me a TIMES," called Tom to the lad, and he tossed +the newsboy a nickel. Then, after glancing at the front page, and +noting the headings, Tom started off his speedy car, in which, on +one occasion, he had made a great run, against time. He was soon at +home. + +"Well, Dad, I've got the money safely put away," he remarked to an +aged gentleman who sat in the library reading a book. "Now we won't +have to worry about thieves until we get some more cash in." + +"Well, I'm glad it's coming in so plentifully," said Mr. Swift with +a smile. "Since my illness I haven't been able to do much, Tom, and +it all depends on you, now." + +"Don't let that worry you, Dad. You'll soon be as busy as ever," +for, following a serious operation for an ailment of the heart, Mr. +Swift, who was a veteran inventor, had not been able to do much. But +the devices of his son, especially a speedy monoplane, which Tom +invented, and sold to the United States Government, were now +bringing them in a large income. In fact with royalties from his +inventions and some gold and diamonds which he had secured on two +perilous trips, Tom Swift was quite wealthy. + +"I'll never be as busy as I once was," went on Mr. Swift, a little +regretfully, "but I don't know that I care as long as you continue +to turn out new machines, Tom. By the way, how is the electric rifle +coming on? I haven't heard you speak of it lately." + +"It's practically finished, Dad. It worked pretty well the time I +took it when we went on the trip to the caves of ice, but I've +improved it very much since then. In fact I'm going to give it a +severe test to-night. Ned Newton is coming over, and it may be that +then we'll find out something about it that could be bettered. But I +think not. It suits me as it is." + +"So Ned is coming over to see it; eh? You ought to have Mr. Damon +here to bless it a few times." + +"Yes, I wish I did. And he may come along at any moment, as it is. +You never can tell when he is going to turn up. Mrs. Baggert says +you were out walking while I was at the bank, Dad. Do you feel +better after it?" + +"Yes, I think I do, Tom. Oh, I'm growing stronger every day, but it +will take time. But now tell me something about the electric gun." + +Thereupon the young inventor related to his father some facts about +the improvements he had recently made to the weapon. It was dinner +time when he had finished, and, after the meal Tom went out to the +shed where he built his aeroplanes and his airships, and in which +building he had fitted up a shooting gallery. + +"I'll get ready for the trial to-night," he said "I want to see what +it will do to a dummy figure. Guess I'll make a sort of scarecrow +and stuff it with straw. I'll get Eradicate to help me. Rad! I say, +Rad! Where are you?" + +"Heah I is, Massa Tom! Heah I is," called a colored man as he came +around the corner of a small stable where he kept his mule +Boomerang. "Was yo'-all callin' me?" + +"Yes, Rad, I want you to help make a scarecrow." + +"A scarecrow, Massa Tom! Good land a' massy! What fo' yo' want ob a +scarecrow? Yo'-all ain't raisin' no corn, am yo'?" + +"No, but I want something to shoot at when Ned Newton comes over +to-night." + +"Suffin t' shoot at? Why Massa Tom! Good land a' massy! Yo'-all +ain't gwine t' hab no duel, am yo'?" + +"No, Rad, but I want a life-size figure on which to try my new +electric gun. Here are some old clothes, and if you will stuff them +with rags and straw and fix them so they'll stand up, they'll do +first-rate. Have it ready by night, and set it up at the far end of +the shooting gallery." + +"All right, Massa Tom. I'll jest do dat, fo' yo'," and leaving the +colored man to stuff the figure, after he had showed him how, Tom +went back into the house to read the paper which he had purchased +that morning. + +He skimmed over the news, thinking perhaps he might see something of +the going abroad of Andy Foger with the German aeroplane, but there +was nothing. + +"I almost wish I was going to Europe," sighed Tom. "I will certainly +have to get busy at something, soon. I haven't had any adventure +since I won the prize at the Eagle Park aviation meet in my sky +racer. Jove! That was some excitement! I'd like to do that over +again, only I shouldn't want to have Dad so sick," for just before +the race, Tom had saved his father's life by making a quick run in +the aeroplane, to bring a celebrated surgeon to the invalid's aid. + +"I certainly wish I could have some new adventures," mused Tom, as +he turned the pages of the paper. "I could afford to take a trip +around the earth after them, too, with the way money is coming in +now. Yes, I do wish I could have some excitement. Hello, what's +this! A big elephant hunt in Africa. Hundreds of the huge creatures +captured in a trap--driven in by tame beasts. Some are shot for +their tusks. Others will be sent to museums." + +He was reading the headlines of the article that had attracted his +attention, and, as he read, he became more and more absorbed in it. +He read the story through twice, and then, with sparkling eyes, he +exclaimed: + +"That's just what I want. Elephant shooting in Africa! My! With my +new electric rifle, and an airship, what couldn't a fellow do over +in the dark continent! I've a good notion to go there! I wonder if +Ned would go with me? Mr. Damon certainly would. Elephant shooting +in Africa! In an airship! I could finish my new sky craft in short +order if I wanted to. I've a good notion to do it!" + + + + +CHAPTER II + +TRYING THE NEW GUN + + +While Tom Swift is thus absorbed in thinking about a chance to hunt +elephants, we will take the opportunity to tell you a little more +about him, and then go on with the story. + +Many of you already know the young inventor, but those who do not +may be interested in hearing that he is a young American lad, full +of grit and ginger, who lives with his aged father in the town of +Shopton, in New York State. Our hero was first introduced to the +public in the book, "Tom Swift and His Motorcycle." + +In that volume it was related how Tom bought a motor-cycle from a +Mr. Wakefield Damon, of Waterford. Mr. Damon was an eccentric +individual, who was continually blessing himself, some one else, or +something belonging to him. His motor-cycle tried to climb a tree +with him, and that was why he sold it to Tom. The two thus became +acquainted, and their friendship grew from year to year. + +After many adventures on his motor-cycle Tom got a motor-boat, and +had some exciting times in that. One of the things he and his father +and his chum, Ned Newton, did, was to rescue, from a burning balloon +that had fallen into Lake Carlopa, an aeronaut named John Sharp. +Later Tom and Mr. Sharp built an airship called the Red Cloud, and +with Mr. Damon and some others had a series of remarkable fights. + +In the Red Cloud they got on the track of some bank robbers, and +captured them, thus foiling the plans of Andy Foger, a town bully, +and one of Tom's enemies, and putting to confusion the plot of Mr. +Foger, Andy's father. + +After many adventures in the air Tom and his friends, in a submarine +boat, invented by Mr. Swift, went under the ocean for sunken +treasure and secured a large part of it. + +It was not long after this that Tom conceived the idea of a powerful +electric car, which proved, to be the speediest of the road, and in +it he won a great race, and saved from ruin a bank in which his +father and Mr. Damon were interested. + +The sixth book of the series, entitled "Tom Swift and His Wireless +Message," tells how, in testing a new electric airship, which a +friend of Mr. Damon's had invented, Tom, the inventor and Mr. Damon +were lost on an island in the middle of the ocean. There they found +some castaways, among whom were Mr. and Mrs. Nestor, parents of Mary +Nestor of Shopton, a girl of whom Tom was quite fond. + +Tom Swift, after his arrival home, went on an expedition among a +gang of men known as the "Diamond Makers" who were hidden in the +Rocky Mountains. He was accompanied by Mr. Barcoe Jenks, one of the +castaways of Earthquake Island. They found the diamond makers, and +had some surprising adventures, barely escaping with their lives. + +This did not daunt Tom, however, and he once more started off on an +expedition in his airship the Red Cloud to Alaska, amid the caves of +ice. He was searching for a valley of gold, and though he and his +friends found it, they came to grief. The Fogers, father and son, +tried to steal the gold from them, and, failing in that, incited the +Eskimos against our friends. There was a battle, but the forces of +nature were even more to be dreaded than the terrible savages. + +The ice cave, in which the Red Cloud was stored, collapsed, crushing +the gallant craft, and burying it out of sight forever under +thousand of tons of the frozen bergs. + +After a desperate journey Tom and his friends reached civilization, +with a large supply of gold. Tom regretted very much the destruction +of the airship, but he at once set to work on another--a monoplane +this time, instead of a combined aeroplane and dirigible balloon. +This new craft he called the Humming-Bird and it was a "sky racer" +of terrific speed. In it, as we have said, Tom brought a specialist +to operate on his father, when, because of a broken railroad bridge, +the physician could not otherwise have gotten to Shopton. He and Tom +traveled through the air at the rate of over one hundred miles an +hour. Later, Tom took part in a big race for a ten-thousand-dollar +prize, and won, defeating Andy Foger, and a number of well-known +"bird-men" who used biplanes and monoplanes of a more or less +familiar type. + +The government became interested in Tom's craft, the Humming-Bird, +and, as told in the ninth book of this series, Tom Swift and His Sky +Racer, they secured some rights in the invention. + +And now Tom, who had done nothing for several months following the +great race--that is, nothing save to work on his new rifle--Tom, we +say, sighed for new adventures. + +"Well, Tom, what is on your mind?" asked his father at the supper +table that evening. "What is worrying you?" + +"Nothing is worrying me, Dad." + +"You are thinking of something. I can see that. Are you afraid your +electric rifle won't work as well as you hope, when Ned comes over +to try it?" + +"No, it isn't that, Dad. But I may as well tell you, I guess. I've +been reading in the paper about a big elephant hunt in Africa, and +I--" + +"That's enough, Tom! You needn't say any more," interrupted Mr. +Swift. "I can see which way the wind is blowing. You want to go to +Africa with your new rifle." + +"Well, Dad, not exactly--that is--" + +"Now, Tom, you needn't deny it," and Mr. Swift laughed. "Well, I +don't blame you a bit. You have been rather idle of late." + +"I would like to go, Dad," admitted the young inventor, "only I'd +never think of it while you weren't well." + +"Don't worry about me, Tom. Of course I will be lonesome while you +are gone, but don't let that stand in the way. If you want to go to +Africa, you may start to-morrow, and take your new rifle with you." + +"The rifle part would be all right, Dad, but if I went I'd want to +take an airship along, and it will take me some little time to +finish the Black Hawk, as I have named my new craft." + +"Well, there's no special hurry, is there?" asked Mr. Swift. "The +elephants in Africa are likely to stay there for some time. If you +want to go, why don't you get right to work on the Black Hawk and +make the trip? I'd like to go myself." + +"I wish you would, Dad," exclaimed Tom eagerly. + +"No, son, I couldn't think of it. I want to stay here and get well. +Then I am going to resume work on my wireless motor. Perhaps I'll +have it finished when you come back from Africa with an airship load +of elephants' tusks." + +"Perhaps," admitted the young inventor. "Well, Dad, I'll think of +it. But now I'm going after my rifle, and--" + +Tom was interrupted by a ring of the front-door bell, and Mrs. +Baggert, the housekeeper, who was almost like a mother to the youth, +went to answer it. + +"It's Ned Newton, I guess," murmured Tom, and, a little later, his +chum entered the room. + +"Oh, I guess I'm early," said Ned. "Haven't you had supper yet, +Tom?" + +"Yes, we're just finished. Come on out and we'll try the gun." + +"And practice shooting elephants," added Mr. Swift with a laugh, as +he mentioned to Ned the latest idea of Tom. + +"Say! That would be great!" cried the bank clerk. "I wish I could +go!" + +"Come along!" invited Tom cordially. "We'll have more fun than we +did in the caves of ice," for Ned had gone on the voyage to Alaska. + +The two youths went out to the shed where the rifle gallery had been +built. The new electric weapon was out there, and Eradicate Sampson, +the colored man, who was a sort of servant and man-of-all-work about +the Swift household, had set up the scarecrow figure at the end of +the gallery. + +"Now we'll try some shots," said Tom, as he took the gun out of the +case. "Just turn on a few more lights, will you, Mr. Jackson," and +the engineer, who was employed by Tom and his father to aid them in +their inventive work, did as requested. + +The gallery was now brilliantly illuminated, with the reflectors +throwing the beams on the big stuffed figure, which, save for a +face, looked very much like a human being, standing at the end of +the gallery. + +"I don't suppose you want to go down there and hold it, while I +shoot at it; do you, Rad?" asked Tom jokingly, as he prepared the +electric rifle for use. + +"No indeedy, I don't!" cried Eradicate. "Yo'-all will hab t' scuse +me, Massa Tom. I think I'll be goin' now." + +"What's your hurry?" asked Ned, as he saw the colored man hastily +preparing to leave the improvised gallery. + +"I spects I'd better fro' down some mo' straw fo' a bed fo' my mule +Boomerang!" exclaimed Eradicate, as he hastily slid out of the door, +and shut it after him. + +"Rad is nervous," remarked Tom. "He doesn't like this gun. Well, it +certainly does great execution." + +"How does it work'" asked Ned, as he looked at the curious gun. The +electric weapon was not unlike an ordinary heavy rifle in appearance +save that the barrel was a little longer, and the stock larger in +every way. There were also a number of wheels, levers, gears and +gages on the stock. + +"It works by electricity," explained Tom. + +"That is, the force comes from a powerful current of stored +electricity." + +"Oh, then you have storage batteries in the stock?" + +"Not exactly. There are no batteries, but the current is a sort of +wireless kind. It is stored in a cylinder, just as compressed air or +gases are stored, and can be released as I need it." + +"And when it's all gone, what do you do?" + +"Make more power by means of a small dynamo." + +"And does it shoot lead bullets?" + +"Not at all. There are no bullets used." + +"Then how does it kill?" + +"By means of a concentrated charge of electricity which is shot from +the barrel with great force. You can't see it, yet it is there. It's +just as if you concentrated a charge of electricity of five thousand +volts into a small globule the size of a bullet. That flies through +space, strikes the object aimed at and--well, we'll see what it does +in a minute. Mr. Jackson, just put that steel plate up in front of +the scarecrow; will you?" + +The engineer proceeded to put into place a section of steel armor-plate +before the stuffed figure. + +"You don't mean to say you're going to shoot through that, do you?" +asked Ned in surprise. + +"Surely. The electric bullets will pierce anything. They'll go +through a brick wall as easily as the x-rays do. That's one valuable +feature of my rifle. You don't have to see the object you aim at. In +fact you can fire through a house, and kill something on the other +side." + +"I should think that would be dangerous." + +"It would be, only I can calculate exactly, by means of an automatic +arrangement, just how far the charge of electricity will go. It +stops short just at the limit of the range, and is not effective +beyond that. Otherwise, if I did not limit it and if I fired at the +scarecrow, through the piece of steel, and the bullet hit the +figure, it would go on, passing through whatever else was in the +way, until its power was lost. I use the term 'bullet,' though as I +said, it isn't properly one." + +"By Jove, Tom, it certainly is a dangerous weapon!" + +"Yes, the range-limit idea is a new one. That's what I've been +working on lately. There are other features of the gun which I'll +explain later, particularly the power it has to shoot out luminous +bars of light. But now we'll see what it will do to the image." + +Tom took his place at the end of the range, and began to adjust some +valves and levers. In spite of the fact that the gun was larger than +an ordinary rifle, it was not as heavy as the United States Army +weapon. + +Tom aimed at the armor-plate, and, by means of an arrangement on the +rifle, he could tell exactly when he was pointing at the scarecrow, +even though he could not see it. + +"Here she goes!" he suddenly exclaimed. + +Ned watched his chum. The young inventor pressed a small button at +the side of the rifle barrel, about where the trigger should have +been. There was no sound, no smoke, no flame and not the slightest +jar. + +Yet as Ned watched he saw the steel plate move slightly. The next +instant the scarecrow figure seemed to fly all to pieces. There was +a shower of straw, rags and old clothes, which fell in a shapeless +heap at the end of the range. + +"Say. I guess you did for that fellow, all right!" exclaimed Ned. + +"It looks so," admitted Tom, with a note of pride in his voice. "Now +we'll try another test." + +As he laid aside his rifle in order to help Mr. Jackson shift the +steel plate there was a series of yells outside the shed. + +"What's that?" asked Tom, in some alarm. + +"Sounds like some one calling," answered Ned. + +"It is," agreed Mr. Jackson. "Perhaps Eradicate's mule has gotten +loose. I guess we'd better--" + +He did not finish, for the shouts increased in volume, and Tom and +Ned could hear some one yelling: + +"I'll have the law on you for this! I'll have you arrested, Tom +Swift! What do you mean by trying to kill me? Where are you? Don't +try to hide away, now. You were trying to shoot me, and I'm not +going to have it!" + +Some one pounded on the door of the shed. + +"It's Barney Moker!" exclaimed Tom. "I wonder what can have +happened?" + + + + +CHAPTER III + +A DIFFICULT TEST + + +Tom Swift opened the door of the improvised rifle gallery and looked +out. By the light of a full moon, which shone down from a cloudless +sky, he saw a man standing at the portal. The man's face was +distorted with rage, and he shook his fist at the young inventor. + +"What do you mean by shooting at me?" he demanded. "What do you +mean, I say? The idea of scaring honest folks out of their wits, and +making 'em think the end of the world has come! What do you mean by +it? Why don't you answer me? I say, Tom Swift, why don't you answer +me?" + +"Because you don't give me a chance, Mr. Moker," replied our hero. + +"I want to know why you shot at me? I demand to know!" and Mr. +Moker, who was a sort of miserly town character, living all alone in +a small house, just beyond Tom's home, again shook his fist almost +in the lad's face. "Why don't you tell me? Why don't you tell me?" +he shouted. + +"I will, if you give me a chance!" fairly exploded Tom. "If you can +be cool for five minutes, and come inside and tell me what happened +I'll be glad to answer any of your questions, Mr. Moker. I didn't +shoot at you." + +"Yes, you did! You tried to shoot a hole through me!" + +"Tell me about it?" suggested Tom, as the excited man calmed down +somewhat. "Are you hurt?" + +"No, but it isn't your fault that I'm not. You tried hard enough to +hurt me. Here I am, sitting at my table reading, and, all at once +something goes through the side of the house, whizzes past my ear, +makes my hair fairly stand up on end, and goes outside the other +side of the house. What kind of bullets do you use, Tom Swift? +that's what I want to know. They went through the side of my house, +and never left a mark. I demand to know what kind they are." + +"I'll tell you, if you'll only give me a chance," went on Tom +wearily. "How do you know it was me shooting?" + +"How do I know? Why, doesn't the end of this shooting gallery of +yours point right at my house? Of course it does; you can't deny +it!" + +Tom did not attempt to, and Mr. Moker went on: + +"Now what do you mean by it?" + +"If any of the bullets from my electric gun went near you, it was a +mistake, and I'm sorry for it," said Tom. + +"Well, they did, all right," declared the excited man. "They went +right past my ear." + +"I don't see how they could," declared Tom. "I was trying my new +electric rifle, but I had the limit set for two hundred feet, the +length of the gallery. That is, the electrical discharge couldn't go +beyond that distance." + +"I don't know what it was, but it went through the side of my house +all the same," insisted Mr. Moker. "It didn't make a hole, but it +scorched the wall paper a little." + +"I don't see how it could," declared Tom. "It couldn't possibly have +gone over two hundred feet with the gage set for that distance." He +paused suddenly, and hurried over to where he had placed his gun. +Catching up the weapon he looked at the gage dial. Then he uttered +an exclamation. + +"I'm sorry to admit that you are right, Mr. Moker!" he said finally. +"I made a mistake. The gage is set for a thousand feet instead of +two hundred. I forgot to change it. The charge, after passing +through the steel plate, and the scarecrow figure, destroying the +latter, went on, and shot through the side of your house." + +"Ha! I knew you were trying to shoot me!" exclaimed the still angry +man. "I'll have the law on you for this!" + +"Oh, that's all nonsense!" broke in Ned Newton. "Everybody knows Tom +Swift wouldn't try to shoot you, or any one else, Mr. Moker." + +"Then why did he shoot at me?" + +"That was a mistake," explained Tom, "and I apologize to you for +it." + +"Humph! A lot of good that would do me, if I'd been killed!" +muttered the miser. "I'm going to sue you for this. You might have +put me in my grave." + +"Impossible!" exclaimed Tom. + +"Why impossible?" demanded the visitor. + +"Because I had so set the rifle that almost the entire force of the +electrical bullet was expended in blowing apart the scarecrow figure +I made for a test," explained Tom. "All that passed through your +house was a small charge, and, if it HAD hit you there would have +been no more than a little shock, such as you would feel in taking +hold of an electric battery." + +"How do I know this?" asked the man cunningly. "You say so, but for +all I know you may have wanted to kill me." + +"Why?" asked Tom, trying not to laugh. + +"Oh, so you might get some of my money. Of course I ain't got none," +the miser went on quickly, "but folks thinks I've got a lot, and I +have to be on the lookout all the while, or they'd murder me for +it." + +"I wouldn't," declared the young inventor. "It was a mistake. Only +part of the spent charge passed near you. Why, if it had been a +powerful charge you would never have been able to come over here. I +set the main charge to go off inside the scarecrow, and it did so, +as you can see by looking at what's left of it," and he pointed to +the pile of clothes and rags. + +"How do I know this?" insisted the miser with a leer at the two +lads. + +"Because if the charge had gone off either before or after it passed +through the figure, it would not have caused such havoc of the cloth +and straw," explained Tom. "First the charge would have destroyed +the steel plate, which it passed through without even denting it. +Why, look here, I will now fire the rifle at short range, and set it +to destroy the plate. See what happens." + +He quickly adjusted the weapon, and aimed it at the plate, which, +had again been set up on the range. This time Tom was careful to set +the gage so that even a small part of the spent charge would not go +outside the gallery. + +The young inventor pressed the button, and instantly the heavy steel +plate was bent, torn and twisted as though a small sized cannon ball +had gone through it. + +"That's what the rifle will do at short range," said Tom. "Don't +worry, Mr. Moker, you didn't have a narrow escape. You were in no +danger at all, though I apologize for the fright I caused you." + +"Humph! That's an easy way to get out of it!" exclaimed the miser. +"I believe I could sue you for damages, anyhow. Look at my scorched +wall paper." + +"Oh, I'll pay for that," said Tom quickly, for he did not wish to +have trouble with the unpleasant man. "Will ten dollars be enough?" +He knew that the whole room could be repapered for that, and he did +not believe the wall-covering was sufficiently damaged for such work +to be necessary. + +"Well, if you'll make it twelve dollars, I won't say anything more +about it," agreed the miser craftily, "though it's worth thirteen +dollars, if it is a penny. Give me twelve dollars, Tom Swift, and I +won't prosecute you." + +"All right, twelve dollars it shall be," responded the young +inventor, passing over the money, and glad to be rid of the +unpleasant character. + +"And after this, just fire that gun of yours the other way," +suggested Mr. Moker as he went out, carefully folding the bills +which Tom had handed him. + +"Hum! that was rather queer," remarked Ned, after a pause. + +"It sure was," agreed his chum. "This rifle will do more than I +thought it would. I'll have to be more careful. I was sure I set the +gage for two hundred feet. I'll have to invent some automatic +attachment to prevent it being discharged when the gage is set +wrong." Let us state here that Tom did this, and never had another +accident. + +"Well, does this end the test?" asked Ned. + +"No, indeed. I want you to try it, while I look on," spoke Tom. "We +haven't any more stuffed figures to fire at, but I'll set up some +targets. Come on, try your luck at a shot." + +"I'm afraid I might disturb Mr. Moker, or some of the neighbors." + +"No danger. I've got it adjusted right now. Come on, see if you can +shatter this steel target," and Tom set up a small one at the end of +the range. + +Then, having properly fixed the weapon, Tom handed it to his chum, +and, taking his place in a protected part of the gallery, prepared +to watch the effect of the shot. + +"Let her go!" cried Tom, and Ned pressed the button. + +The effect was wonderful. Though there was no noise, smoke nor +flame, the steel plate seemed to crumple up, and collapse as if it +had been melted in the fire. There was a jagged hole through the +center, but some frail boards back of it were not even splintered. + +"Good shot!" cried Tom enthusiastically. "I had the distance gage +right that time." + +"You sure did," agreed Ned. "The electric bullet stopped as soon as +it did its work on the plate. What's next?" + +"I'm going to try a difficult test," explained Tom. "You know I said +the gun would shoot luminous charges?" + +"Yes." + +"Well, I'm going to try that, now. I wish we had another image to +shoot at, but I'll take a big dry-goods box, and make believe it's +an elephant. Now, this is going to be a hard test, such as we'd meet +with, if we were hunting in Africa. I want you to help me." + +"What am I to do?" asked Ned. + +"I want you to go outside," explained Tom, "set up a dry-goods box +against the side of the little hill back of the shed, and not tell +me where you put it. Then I'll go out, and, by means of the luminous +charge, I'll locate the box, set the distance gage, and destroy it." + +"Well, you can see it anyhow, in the moonlight," objected Ned. + +"No, the moon is under a cloud now," explained Tom, looking out of a +window. "It's quite dark, and will give me just the test I want for +my new electric rifle." + +"But won't it be dangerous, firing in the dark? Suppose you misjudge +the distance, and the bullet, or charge, files off and hits some +one?" + +"It can't. I'll set the distance gage before I shoot. But if I +should happen to make a mistake the charge will go into the side of +the hill, and spend itself there. There is no danger. Go ahead, and +set up the box, and then come and tell me. Mr. Jackson will help +you." + +Ned and the engineer left the gallery. As Tom had said, it was very +dark now, and if Tom could see in the night to hit a box some +distance away, his weapon would be all that he claimed for it. + +"This will do," said the engineer, as he pointed to a box, one of +several piled up outside the shed. The two could hardly see to make +their way along, carrying it to the foot of the hill, and they +stumbled several times. But at last it was in position, and then Ned +departed to call Tom, and have him try the difficult test--that of +hitting an object in the dark. + + + + +CHAPTER IV + +BIG TUSKS WANTED + + +"Well, are you all ready for me?" asked the young inventor, as he +took up his curious weapon, and followed Ned out into the yard. It +was so dark that they had fairly to stumble along. + +"Yes, we're ready," answered Ned. "And you'll be a good one, Tom, if +you do this stunt. Now stand here," he went on, as he indicated a +place as well as he could in the dark. "The box is somewhere in that +direction," and he waved his hand vaguely. "I'm not going to tell +you any more, and let's see you find it." + +"Oh, I will, all right--or, rather, my electric rifle will," +asserted Tom. + +The inventor of the curious and terrible weapon took his position. +Behind him stood Ned and Mr. Jackson, and just before Tom was ready +to fire, his father came stalking through the darkness, calling to +them. + +"Are you there, Tom?" + +"Yes Dad, is anything the matter?" + +"No, but I thought I'd like to see what luck you have. Rad was +saying you were going to have a test in the dark." + +"I'm about ready for it," replied Tom. "I'm going to blow up a box +that I can't see. You know how it's done, Dad, for you helped me in +perfecting the luminous charge, but it's going to be something of a +novelty to the others. Here we go, now!" + +Tom raised his rifle, and aimed it in the dark. Ned Newton, +straining his eyes to see, was sure the young inventor was pointing +the gun at least twenty feet to one side of where the box was +located, but he said nothing, for from experiences in the past, he +realized that Tom knew what he was doing. + +There was a little clicking sound, as the youth moved some gear +wheel on his gun. Then there came a faint crackling noise, like some +distant wireless apparatus beginning to flash a message through +space. + +Suddenly a little ball of purplish light shot through the darkness +and sped forward like some miniature meteor. It shed a curious +illuminating glow all about, and the ground, and the objects on it +were brought into relief as by a lightning flash. + +An instant later the light increased in intensity, and seemed to +burst like some piece of aerial fireworks. There was a bright glare, +in which Ned and the others could see the various buildings about +the shed. They could see each other's faces, and they looked pale +and ghastly in the queer glow. They could see the box, brought into +bold relief, where Ned and the engineer had placed it. + +Then, before the light had died away, they witnessed a curious +sight. The heavy wooden box seemed to dissolve, to collapse and to +crumple up like one of paper, and ere the last rays of the +illuminating bullet faded, the watchers saw the splinters of wood +fall back with a clatter in a little heap on the spot where the +dry-goods case had been. + +A silence followed, and the darkness was all the blacker by contrast +with the intense light. At length Tom spoke, and he could not keep +from his voice a note of triumph. + +"Well, did I do it?" he asked. + +"You sure did!" exclaimed Ned heartily. + +"Fine!" cried Mr. Swift. + +"Golly! I wouldn't gib much fo' de hide ob any burglar what comed +around heah!" muttered Eradicate Sampson. "Dat box am knocked clean +into nuffiness, Massa Tom." + +"That's what I wanted to do," explained the lad. "And I guess this +will end the test for tonight." + +"But I don't exactly understand it," spoke Ned, as they all moved +toward the Swift home, Eradicate going to the stable to see how his +mule was. "Do you have two kinds of bullets, Tom, one for night and +one for the daytime?" + +"No," answered Tom, "there is only one kind of bullet, and, as I +have said, that isn't a bullet at all. That is, you can't see it, or +handle it, but you can feel it. Strictly speaking, it is a +concentrated discharge of wireless electricity directed against a +certain object. You can't see it any more than you can see a +lightning bolt, though that is sometimes visible as a ball of fire. +My electric rifle bullets are similar to a discharge of lightning, +except that they are invisible." + +"But we saw the one just now," objected Ned. + +"No, you didn't see the bullet," said Tom. + +"You saw the illuminating flash which I send out just before I fire, +to reveal the object I am to hit. That is another part of my rifle +and is only used at night." + +"You see I shoot out a ball of electrical fire which will disclose +the target, or the enemy at whom I am firing. As soon as that is +discharged the rifle automatically gets ready to shoot the electric +charge, and I have only to press the proper button, and the +'bullet,' as I call it, follows on the heels of the ball of light. +Do you see?" + +"Perfectly," exclaimed Ned with a laugh. "What a gun that would be +for hunting, since most all wild beasts come out only at night." + +"That was one object in making this invention," said Tom. "I only +hope I get a chance to use it now." + +"I thought you were going to Africa after elephants," spoke Mr. +Swift. + +"Well, I did think of it," admitted Tom, "but I haven't made any +definite plans. But come into the house, Ned, and I'll show you more +in detail how my rifle works." + +Thereupon the two chums spent some time going into the mysteries of +the new weapon. Mr. Swift and Mr. Jackson were also much interested, +for, though they had seen the gun previously and had helped Tom +perfect it, they had not yet tired of discussing its merits. + +Ned stayed quite late that night, and promised to come over the next +day, and watch Tom do some more shooting. + +"I'll show you how to use it, too," promised the young inventor, and +he was as good as his word, initiating Ned into the mysteries of the +electric rifle, and showing him to store the charges of death-dealing +electricity in the queer-looking stock. + +For a week after that Tom and Ned practiced with the terrible gun, +taking care not to have any more mishaps like the one that had +marked the first night. They were both good shots with ordinary +weapons and it was not long before they had equaled their record +with the new instrument. + +It was one warm afternoon, when Tom was out in the meadow at one +side of his house, practicing with his rifle on some big boxes he +had set up for targets, that he saw an elderly man standing close to +the fence watching him. When Tom blew to pieces a particularly large +packing-case, standing a long distance away from it, the stranger +called to the youth. + +"I beg your pardon," he said, "but is that a dynamite gun you are +using?" + +"No, it's an electric rifle," was the answer. + +"Would you mind telling me something about it?" went on the elderly +man, and as Tom's weapon was now fully protected by patents, the +young inventor cordially invited the stranger to come nearer and see +how it worked. + +"That's the greatest thing I ever saw!" exclaimed the man +enthusiastically when Tom had blown up another box, and had told of +the illumination for night firing. "The most wonderful weapon I ever +heard of! What a gun it would be in my business." + +"What is your trade?" asked Tom curiously, for he had noted that the +man, while aged, was rugged and hearty, and his skin was tanned a +leathery brown, showing that he was much in the open air. + +"I'm a hunter," was the reply, "a hunter of big game, principally +elephants, hippos and rhinoceroses. I've just finished a season in +Africa, and I'm going back there again soon. I came on to New York +to get a new elephant gun. I've got a sister living over in +Waterford, and I've been visiting her. I went out for a stroll +to-day, and I came farther than I intended. That's how I happened to be +passing here." + +"A sister in Waterford, eh?" mused Tom, wondering whether the +elephant hunter had met Mr. Damon. "And how soon are you going hack +to Africa, Mr.--er--" and Tom hesitated. + +"Durban is my name, Alexander Durban," said the old man. "Why, I am +to start back in a few weeks. I've got an order for a pair of big +elephant tusks--the largest I can get for a wealthy New York man,--and +I'm anxious to fulfil the contract. The game isn't what it once +was. There's more competition and the elephants are scarcer. So I've +got to hustle." + +"I got me a new gun. But my! it's nothing to what yours is. With +that weapon I could do about as I pleased. I could do night hunting, +which is hard in the African jungle. Then I wouldn't have any +trouble getting the big tusks I'm after. I could get a pair of them, +and live easy the rest of my life. Yes, I wouldn't ask anything +better than a gun like yours. But I s'pose they cost like the +mischief?" He looked a question at Tom. + +"This is the only one there is," was the lad's answer. "But I am +very glad to have met you, Mr. Durban. Won't you come into the +house? I'm sure my father will be glad to see you, and I have +something I'd like to talk to you about," and Tom, with many wild +ideas in his head, led the old elephant hunter toward the house. + +The dream of the young inventor might come true after all. + + + + +CHAPTER V + +RUSH WORK + + +Mr. Swift made the African hunter warmly welcome, and listened with +pride to the words of praise Mr. Durban bestowed on Tom regarding +the rifle. + +"Yes, my boy has certainly done wonders along the inventive line," +said Mr. Swift. + +"Not half as much as you have, Dad," interrupted the lad, for Tom +was a modest youth. + +"You should see his sky racer," went on the old inventor. + +"Sky racer? What's that?" asked Mr. Durban. "Is it another kind of +gun or cannon?" + +"It's an aeroplane--an airship," explained Mr. Swift. + +"An airship!" exclaimed the old elephant hunter. "Say, you don't +mean that you make balloons, do you?" + +"Well, they're not exactly balloons," replied Tom, as he briefly +explained what an aeroplane was, for Mr. Durban, having been in the +wilds of the jungle so much, had had very little chance to see the +wonders and progress of civilization. + +"They are better than balloons," went on Tom, "for they can go where +you want them to." + +"Say! That's the very thing!" cried the old hunter enthusiastically. +"If there's one thing more than another that is needed in hunting in +Africa it's an airship. The travel through the jungle is something +fierce, and that, more than anything else, interferes with my work. +I can't cover ground enough, and when I do get on the track of a +herd of elephants, and they get away, it's sometimes a week before I +can catch up to them again." + +"For, in spite of their size, elephants can travel very fast, and +once they get on the go, nothing can stop them. An airship would be +the very thing to hunt elephants with in Africa--an airship and this +electric rifle. I wonder why you haven't thought of going, Tom +Swift." + +"I have thought of it," answered the young inventor, "and that's why +I asked you in. I want to talk about it." + +"Do you mean you want to go?" demanded the old man eagerly. + +"I certainly do!" + +"Then I'm your man! Say, Tom Swift, I'd be proud to have you go to +Africa with me. I'd be proud to have you a member of my hunting +party, and, though I don't like to boast, still if you'll ask any of +the big-game people they'll tell you that not every one can +accompany Aleck Durban." + +Tom realized that he was speaking to an authority and a most +desirable companion, should he go to Africa, and he was very glad of +the chance that had made him acquainted with the veteran hunter. + +"Will you go with me?" asked Mr. Durban. "You and your electric gun +and your airship? Will you come to Africa to hunt elephants, and +help me get the big tusks I'm after?" + +"I will!" exclaimed Tom. + +"Then we'll start at once. There's no need of delaying here any +longer." + +"Oh, but I haven't an airship ready," said the young inventor. The +face of the old hunter expressed his disappointment. + +"Then we'll have to give up the scheme," he said ruefully. + +"Not at all," Tom told him. "I have all the material on hand for +building a new airship. I have had it in mind for some time, and I +have done some work on it. I stopped it to perfect my electric +rifle, but, now that is done, I'll tackle the Black Hawk again, and +rush that to completion." + +"The Black Hawk?" repeated Mr. Durban, wonderingly. + +"Yes, that's what I will name my new craft. The RED CLOUD was +destroyed, and so I thought I'd change the color this time, and +avoid bad luck." + +"Good!" exclaimed the hunter. "When do you think you can have it +finished?" + +"Oh, possibly in a month--perhaps sooner, and then we will go to +Africa and hunt elephants!" + +"Bless my ivory paper cutter!" exclaimed a voice in the hall just +outside the library. "Bless my fingernails! But who's talking about +going to Africa?" + +The old hunter looked at Tom and his father in surprise, but the +young inventor laughing and going to the door, called out: + +"Come on in, Mr. Damon. I didn't hear you ring. There is some one +here from your town." + +"Is it my wife?" asked the odd gentleman who was always blessing +something. "She said she was going to her mother's to spend a few +weeks, and so I thought I'd come over here and see if you had +anything new on the program. The first thing I hear is that you are +going to Africa. And so there's some one from Waterford in there, +eh? Is it my wife?" + +"No," answered Tom with another laugh. "Come on in Mr. Damon." + +"Bless my toothpick!" exclaimed the odd gentleman, as he saw the +grizzled elephant hunter sitting between Tom and Mr. Swift. "I have +seen you somewhere before, my dear sir." + +"Yes," admitted Mr. Durban, "if you're from Waterford you have +probably seen me traveling about the streets there. I'm stopping +with my sister, Mrs. Douglass, but I can't stand it to be in the +house much, so I'm out of doors, wandering about a good bit of the +time. I miss my jungle. But we'll soon be in Africa, Tom Swift and +me." + +"Is it possible, Tom?" asked Mr. Damon. "Bless my diamond mines! but +what are you going to do next?" + +"It's hard to say," was the answer. "But you came just in time. Mr. +Damon. I'm going to rush work on the Black Hawk, my newest airship, +and we'll leave for elephant land inside of a month, taking my new +electric rifle along. Will you come?" + +"Bless my penknife! I never thought of such a thing. I--I--guess--no, +I don't know about it--yes, I'll go!" he suddenly exclaimed. +"I'll go! Hurrah for the elephants!" and he jumped up and shook +hands in turn with Mr. Durban, to whom he had been formally +introduced, and with Tom and Mr. Swift. + +"Then it's all settled but the details," declared the youth, "and +now I'll call in Mr. Jackson, and we'll talk about how soon we can +have the airship ready." + +"My, but you folks are almost as speedy as a herd of the big +elephants themselves!" exclaimed Mr. Durban, and with the advent of +the engineer the talk turned to things mechanical among Tom and Mr. +Jackson and Mr. Damon, while Mr. Durban told Mr. Swift hunting +stories which the old inventor greatly enjoyed. + +The next day Tom engaged two machinists who had worked for him +building airships before, and in the next week rush work began on +the new Black Hawk. Meanwhile Mr. Durban was a frequent visitor at +Tom's home, where he learned to use the new rifle, declaring it was +even more wonderful than he had at first supposed. + +"That will get the elephants!" he exclaimed. It did, as you shall +soon learn, and it also was the means of saving several lives in the +wilds of the African jungle. + + + + +CHAPTER VI + +NEWS FROM ANDY + + +Tom Swift's former airship, the Red Cloud, had been such a fine +craft, and had done such good service that he thought, in building a +successor, that he could do no better than to follow the design of +the skyship which had been destroyed in the ice caves. But, on +talking with the old elephant hunter, and learning something of the +peculiarities of the African jungle the young inventor decided on +certain changes. + +In general the Black Hawk would be on the lines of the Red Cloud but +it would be smaller and lighter and would also be capable of swifter +motion. + +"You want it so that it will rise and descend quickly and at sharp +angles," said Mr. Durban. + +"Why," inquired Tom. + +"Because in Africa, at least in the part where we will go, there are +wide patches of jungle and forest, with here and there big open +places. If you are skimming along close to the ground, in an open +place, in pursuit of a herd of elephants and they should suddenly +plunge into the forest, you would want to be able to rise above the +trees quickly." + +"That's so," admitted Tom. "Then I'll have to use a smaller gas bag +than we had on the other ship, for the air resistance to that big +one made us go slowly at times." + +"Will it be as safe with a small bag?" Mr. Damon wanted to know. + +"Yes, for I will use a more powerful gas, so that we will be more +quickly lifted," said the young inventor. "I will also retain the +aeroplane feature, so that the Black Hawk will be a combined biplane +and dirigible balloon. But it will have many new features. I have +the plans all drawn for a new style of gas generating apparatus, and +I think it can be made in time." + +There were busy days about the Swift home. Mrs. Baggert, the +housekeeper, was in despair. She said the good meals she got ready +were wasted, because no one would come to table when they were +ready. She would ring the bell, and announce that dinner would be +served in five minutes. + +Then Tom would shout from his workshop that he could not leave until +he had inserted a certain lever in place. Mr. Jackson would +positively decline to sit down until he had screwed fast some part +of a machine. Even Mr. Swift, who, because of his recent illness, +was not allowed to do much, would often delay his meal to test some +new style of gears. + +As for Mr. Damon, it was to be expected that he would be eccentric +as he always was. He was not an expert mechanic, but he knew +something of machinery and was of considerable help to Tom in the +rush work on the airship. He would hear the dinner bell ring, and +would exclaim: + +"Bless my napkin ring! I can't come now. I have to fix up this +electrical register first." + +And so it would go. Eradicate and Boomerang, his mule, were the only +ones who ate regularly, and they always insisted on stopping at +exactly twelve o'clock to partake of the noonday meal. + +"'Cause ef I didn't," explained the colored man, "dat contrary mule +ob mine would lay down in de dust ob de road an' not move a step, +lessen' he got his oats. So dat's why we has t' eat, him an' me." + +"Well, I'm glad there's some one who's got sense," murmured Mrs. +Baggert. Eradicate and Boomerang were of great service in the +hurried work that followed, for the colored man in his cart brought +from town, or from the freight depot, many things that Tom needed. + +The young inventor was very enthusiastic about his proposed trip, +and at night, after a hard day's work in the shop, he would read +books on African hunting, or he would sit and listen to the stories +told by Mr. Durban. And the latter knew how to tell hunting tales, +for he had been long in his dangerous calling, and had had many +narrow escapes. + +"And there are other dangers than from elephants and wild beasts in +Africa," he said. + +"Bless my toothbrush!" exclaimed Mr. Damon. "Do you mean cannibals, +Mr. Durban?" + +"Some cannibals," was the reply. "But they're not the worst. I mean +the red pygmies. I hope we don't get into their clutches." + +"Red pygmies!" repeated Tom, wonderingly. + +"Yes, they're a tribe of little creatures, about three feet high, +covered with thick reddish hair, who live in the central part of +Africa, near some of the best elephant-hunting ground. They are +wild, savage and ferocious, and what they lack individually in +strength, they make up in numbers. They're like little red apes, and +woe betide the unlucky hunter who falls into their merciless hands. +They treat him worse than the cannibals do." + +"Then we'll look out for them," said Tom. "But I fancy my electric +rifle will make them give us a wide berth." + +"It's a great gun," admitted the old hunter with a shake of his +head, "but those red pygmies are terrible creatures. I hope we don't +get them on our trail. But tell me, Tom, how are you coming on with +the airship? for I don't know much about mechanics, and to me it +looks as if it would never be put together. It's like one of those +queer puzzles I've seen 'em selling in the streets of London." + +"Oh, it's nearer ready than it looks to be," said Tom. "We'll have +it assembled, and ready for a trial in about two weeks more." + +Work on the Black Hawk was rushed more than ever in the next few +days, another extra machinist being engaged. Then the craft began to +assume shape and form, and with the gas bag partly inflated and the +big planes stretching out from either side, it began to look +something like the ill-fated Red Cloud. + +"It's going to be a fine ship!" cried Tom enthusiastically, one day, +as he went to the far side of the ship to get a perspective view of +it. "We'll make good time in this." + +"Are you going to sail all the way to Africa--across the ocean--in +her?" asked Mr. Durban, in somewhat apprehensive tones. + +"Oh, no," replied Tom. "I believe she would be capable of taking us +across the ocean, but there is no need of running any unnecessary +risks. I want to get her safely to Africa, and have her do stunts in +elephant land." + +"Then what are your plans?" asked the hunter. + +"We'll put her together here," said Tom, "give her a good try-out to +see that she works well, and then pack her up for shipment to the +African coast by steamer. We'll go on the same ship, and when we +arrive we'll put the Black Hawk together again, and set sail for the +interior." + +"Good idea," commented Mr. Durban. "Now, if you've no objections, +I'm going to do a little practice with the electric rifle." + +"Go ahead," assented Tom. "There comes Ned Newton; he'll be glad of +a chance for a few shots while I work on this new propeller motor. +It just doesn't suit me." + +The bank clerk, who had arranged to go to Africa with Tom, was seen +advancing toward the aeroplane shed. In his hand Ned held a paper, +and as he saw Tom he called out: + +"Have you heard the news?" + +"What news?" inquired the young inventor. + +"About Andy Foger. He and his aeroplane are lost!" + +"Lost!" cried Tom, for in spite of the mean way the bully had +treated him our hero did not wish him any harm. + +"Well, not exactly lost," went on Ned, as he held out the paper to +Tom, "but he and his sky-craft have disappeared." + +"Disappeared?" + +"Yes. You know he and that German, Mr. Landbacher, went over to +Europe to give some aviation exhibitions. Well, I see by this paper +that they went to Egypt, and were doing a high-flying stunt there, +when a gale sprang up, they lost control of the aeroplane and it was +swept out of sight." + +"In which direction; out to sea?" + +"No, toward the interior of Africa." + +"Toward the interior of Africa!" cried Tom. "And that's where we're +going in a couple of weeks. Andy in Africa!" + +"'Maybe we'll see him there," suggested Ned. + +"Well, I certainly hope we do not!" exclaimed Tom, as he turned back +to his work, with an undefinable sense of fear in his heart. + + + + +CHAPTER VII + +THE BLACK HAWK FLIES + + +It was with no little surprise that the news of the plight that was +said to have befallen Andy Foger was received by Tom and his +associates. The newspaper had quite an account of the affair, and, +even allowing the usual discount for the press dispatches, it looked +as if the former bully was in rather distressing circumstances. + +"He won't have to be carried very far into Africa to be in a bad +country," said the old hunter. "Of course, some parts of the +continent are all right, and for me, I like it all, where there's +hunting to be had. But I guess your young friend Foger won't care +for it." + +"He's no friend of ours," declared Ned, as Tom was reading the +newspaper account. "Still, I don't wish him any bad luck, and I do +hope he doesn't become the captive of the red pygmies." + +"So do I," echoed the old hunter fervently. There was no news of +Andy in the papers the next day, though there were cable dispatches +speculating on what might have happened to him and the airship. In +Shopton the dispatches created no little comment, and it was said +that Mr. Foger was going to start for Africa at once to rescue his +son. This, however, could not be confirmed. + +Meanwhile Tom and his friends were very busy over the Black Hawk. +Every hour saw the craft nearer completion, for the young inventor +had had much experience in this sort of work now, and knew just how +to proceed. + +To Mr. Damon were intrusted certain things which he could well +attend to, and though he frequently stopped to bless his necktie or +his shoelaces, still he got along fairly well. + +There would be no necessity of purchasing supplies in this country, +for they could get all they needed in the African city of Majumba, +on the western coast, where they planned to land. There the airship +would be put together, stocked with provisions and supplies, and +they would begin their journey inland. They planned to head for Buka +Meala, crossing the Congo River, and then go into the very interior +of the heart of the dark continent. + +As we have described in detail, in the former books of this series, +the construction of Tom Swift's airship, the Red Cloud, and as the +Black Hawk was made in a similar manner to that, we will devote but +brief space to it now. As the story proceeds, and the need arises +for a description of certain features, we will give them to you, so +that you will have a clear idea of what a wonderful craft it was. + +Sufficient to say that there was a gas bag, made of a light but +strong material, and capable of holding enough vapor, of a new and +secret composition, to lift the airship with its load. This was the +dirigible-balloon feature of the craft, and with the two powerful +propellers, fore and aft (in which particular the Black Hawk +differed from the Red Cloud which had two forward propellers);--with +these two powerful wooden screws, as we have said, the new ship +could travel swiftly without depending on the wing planes. + +But as there is always a possibility of the gas bag being punctured, +or the vapor suddenly escaping from one cause or another, Tom did +not depend on this alone to keep his craft afloat. It was a perfect +aeroplane, and with the gas bag entirely empty could be sent +scudding along at any height desired. To enable it to rise by means +of the wings, however, it was necessary to start it in motion along +the ground, and for this purpose wheels were provided. + +There was a large body or car to the craft, suspended from beneath +the gas bag, and in this car were the cabins, the living, sleeping +and eating apartments, the storerooms and the engine compartment. + +This last was a marvel of skill, for it contained besides the gas +machine, and the motor for working the propellers, dynamos, gages, +and instruments for telling the speed and height, motors for doing +various pieces of work, levers, wheels, cogs, gears, tanks for +storing the lifting gas, and other features of interest. + +There were several staterooms for the use of the young captain and +the passengers, an observation and steering tower, a living-room, +where they could all assemble as the ship was sailing through the +air, and a completely equipped kitchen. + +This last was Mr. Damon's special pride, as he was a sort of cook, +and he liked nothing better than to get up a meal when the craft was +two or three miles high, and scudding along at seventy-five miles an +hour. + +In addition there were to be taken along many scientific +instruments, weapons of defense and offense, in addition to the +electric rifle, and various other objects which will be spoken of in +due time. + +"Well," remarked Tom Swift one afternoon, following a hard day's +work in the shop, "I think, if all goes well, and we have good +weather, I'll give the Black Hawk a trial tomorrow." + +"Do you think it will fly?" asked Ned. + +"There is no telling," was the answer of the young inventor. "These +things are more or less guesswork, even when you make two exactly +alike. As far as I can tell, we have now a better craft than the Red +Cloud was, but it remains to be seen how she will behave." + +They worked late that night, putting the finishing touches on the +Black Hawk, and in the morning the new airship was wheeled out of +the shed, and placed on the level starting ground, ready for the +trial flight. + +Only the bare machinery was in her, as yet, and the gas bag had not +been inflated as Tom wanted to try the plane feature first. But the +vapor machine was all ready to start generating the gas whenever it +was needed. Nor was the Black Hawk painted and decorated as she +would be when ready to be sent to Africa. On the whole, she looked +rather crude as she rested there on the bicycle wheels, awaiting the +starting of the big propellers. As the stores and supplies were not +yet in, Tom took aboard, in addition to Mr. Damon, Ned, his father, +Mr. Jackson and Mr. Durban, some bags of sand to represent the extra +weight that would have to be carried. + +"If she'll rise with this load she'll do," announced the young +inventor, as he went carefully over the craft, looking to see that +everything was in shape. + +"If she does rise it will be a new experience for me," spoke the old +elephant hunter. "I've never been in an airship before. It doesn't +seem possible that we can get up in the air with this machine." + +"Maybe we won't," spoke Tom, who was always a little diffident about +a new piece of machinery. + +"Well, if it doesn't do it the first time, it will the second, or +the fifty-second," declared Ned Newton. "Tom Swift doesn't give up +until he succeeds." + +"Stop it! You'll make me blush!" cried the Black Hawk's owner as he +tried the different gages and levers to see that they were all +right. + +After what seemed like a long time he gave the word for those who +were to make the trial trip to take their places. They did so, and +then, with Mr. Jackson, Tom went to the engine room. There was a +little delay, due to the fact that some adjustment was necessary on +the main motor. But at last it was fixed. + +"Are you all ready?" called Tom. + +"All ready," answered Mr. Damon. The old elephant hunter sat in a +chair, nervously gripping the arms, and with a grim look on his +tanned face. Mr. Swift was cool, as Ned, for they had made many +trips in the air. Outside were Eradicate Sampson and Mrs. Baggert. + +"Here we go!" suddenly cried Tom, and he yanked over the lever that +started the main motor and propellers. The Black Hawk trembled +throughout her entire length. She shivered and shook. Faster and +faster whirled the great wooden screws. The motor hummed and +throbbed. + +Slowly the Black Hawk moved across the ground. Then she gathered +speed. Now she was fairly rushing over the level space. Tom Swift +tilted the elevation rudder, and with a suddenness that was +startling, at least to the old elephant hunter, the new airship shot +upward on a steep slant. + +"The Black Hawk flies!" yelled Ned Newton. "Now for elephant land +and the big tusks!" + +"Yes, and perhaps for the red pygmies, too," added Tom in a low +voice. Then he gave his whole attention to the management of his new +machine, which was rapidly mounting upward, with a speed rivalling +that of his former big craft. + + + + +CHAPTER VIII + +OFF FOR AFRICA + + +Higher and higher went the Black Hawk, far above the earth, until +the old elephant hunter, looking down, said in a voice which he +tried to make calm and collected, but which trembled in spite of +himself: + +"Of course I'm not an expert at this game, Tom Swift, but it looks +to me as if we'd never get down. Don't you think we're high enough?" + +"For the time being, yes," answered the young inventor. "I didn't +think she'd climb so far without the use of the gas. She's doing +well." + +"Bless my topknot, yes!" exclaimed Mr. Damon. "She beats the Red +Cloud, Tom. Try her on a straight-away course." + +Which the youth did, pointing the nose of the craft along parallel +to the surface of the earth, and nearly a mile above it. Then, +increasing the speed of the motor, and with the big propellers +humming, they made fast time. + +The old elephant hunter grew more calm as he saw that the airship +did not show any inclination to fall, and he noted that Tom and the +others not only knew how to manage it, but took their flight as much +a matter of course as if they were in an automobile skimming along +on the surface of the ground. + +Tom put his craft through a number of evolutions, and when he found +that she was in perfect control as an aeroplane, he started the gas +machine, filled the big black bag overhead, and, when it was +sufficiently buoyant, he shut off the motor, and the Black Hawk +floated along like a balloon. + +"That's what we'll do if our power happens to give out when we get +over an African jungle, with a whole lot of wild elephants down +below, and a forest full of the red pygmies waiting for us," +explained Tom to Mr. Durban. + +"And I guess you'll need to do it, too," answered the hunter. "I +don't know which I fear worse, the bad elephants wild with rage, as +they get some times, or the little red men who are as strong as +gorillas, and as savage as wolves. It would be all up with us if we +got into their hands. But I think this airship will be just what we +need in Africa. I'd have been able to get out of many a tight place +if I had had one on my last trip." + +While the Black Hawk hung thus, up the air, not moving, save as the +wind blew her, Tom with his father and Mr. Jackson made an +inspection of the machinery to find out whether it had been strained +any. They found that it had worked perfectly, and soon the craft was +in motion again, her nose this time being pointed toward the earth. +Tom let out some of the gas, and soon the airship was on the ground +in front of the shed she had so recently left. + +"She's all right," decided the young inventor after a careful +inspection. "I'll give her a couple more trials, put on the +finishing touches and then we'll be ready for our trip to Africa. +Have you got everything arranged to go, Ned?" + +"Sure. I have a leave of absence from the bank, thanks to your +father and Mr. Damon, most of my clothes are packed, I've bought a +gun and I've got a lot of quinine in case I get a fever." + +"Good!" cried the elephant hunter. "You'll do all right, I reckon. +I'm glad I met you young fellows. Well, I've lived through my first +trip in the air, which is more than I expected when I started." + +They discussed their plans at some length, for, now that the airship +had proved all that they had hoped for, it would not be long ere +they were under way. In the days that followed Tom put the finishing +touches on the craft, arranged to have it packed up for shipment, +and spent some time practicing with his electric rifle. He got to be +an expert shot, and Mr. Durban, who was a wonder with the ordinary +rifle, praised the young inventor highly. + +"There won't be many of the big tuskers get away from you, Tom Swift," +he said. "And that reminds me, I got a letter the other day, from +the firm I collect ivory for, stating that the price had risen +because of a scarcity, and urging me to hurry back to Africa and get +all I could. It seems that war has broken out among some of the +central African tribes, and they are journeying about in the jungle, +on the war path here and there, and have driven the elephants into +the very deepest wilds, where the ordinary hunters can't get at +them." + +"Maybe we won't have any luck, either," suggested Ned. + +"Oh, yes, we will," declared the hunter. "With our airship, the +worst forest of the dark continent won't have any terrors for us, +for we can float above it. And the fights of the natives won't have +any effect. In a way, this will be a good thing, for with the price +of ivory soaring, we can make more money than otherwise. There's a +chance for us all to get a lot of money." + +"Bless my piano keys!" exclaimed Mr. Damon, "if I can get just one +elephant, and pull out his big ivory teeth, I'll be satisfied. I +want a nice pair of tusks to set up on either side of my fireplace +for ornaments." + +"A mighty queer place for such-like ornaments," said Mr. Durban in a +low voice. Then he added: "Well, the sooner we get started the +better I'll like it, for I want to get that pair of big tusks for a +special customer of mine." + +"I'll give the Black Hawk one more trial flight, and then take her +apart and ship her," decided Tom, and the final flight, a most +successful one, took place the following day. + +Then came another busy season when the airship was taken apart for +shipment to the coast of Africa by steamer. It was put into big +boxes and crates, and Eradicate and his mule took them to the +station in Shopton. + +"Don't you want to come to Africa with us, Rad?" asked Tom, when the +last of the cases had been sent off. "You'll find a lot of your +friends there." + +"No, indeedy, I doan't want t' go," answered the colored man, +"though I would like to see dat country." + +"Then why don't you come?" + +"Hu! Yo' think, Massa Tom, dat I go anywhere dat I might meet dem +little red men what Massa Durban talk about? No, sah, dey might hurt +mah mule Boomerang." + +"Oh, I wasn't going to take the mule along," said Tom, wondering how +the creature might behave in the airship. + +"Not take Boomerang? Den I SUTTINLY ain't goin," and Eradicate +walked off, highly offended, to give some oats to his faithful if +somewhat eccentric steed. + +After the airship had been sent off there yet remained much for Tom +Swift to do. He had to send along a number of special tools and +appliances with which to put the ship together again, and also some +with which to repair the craft in case of accident. So that this +time was pretty well occupied. But at length everything was in +readiness, and with his electric rifle knocked down for +transportation, and with his baggage, and that of the others, all +packed, they set off one morning to take the train for New York, +where they would get a steamer for Africa. + +Numerous good-bys had been said, and Tom had made a farewell call on +Mary Nestor, promising to bring her some trophy from elephant land, +though he did not quite know what it would be. + +Mr. Damon, as the train started, blessed everything he could think +of. Mr. Swift waved his hand and wished his son and the others good +luck, feeling a little lonesome that he could not make one of the +party. Ned was eager with excitement, and anticipation of what lay +before him. Tom Swift was thinking of what he could accomplish with +his electric rifle, and of the wonderful sights he would see, and, +as for the old elephant hunter, he was very glad to be on the move +again, after so many weeks of idleness, for he was a very active +man. + +Their journey to New York was uneventful, and they found that the +parts of the airship had safely arrived, and had been taken aboard +the steamer. The little party went aboard themselves, after a day +spent in sight-seeing, and that afternoon the Soudalar, which was +the vessel's name, steamed away from the dock at high tide. + +"Off for Africa!" exclaimed Tom to Ned, as they stood at the rail, +watching the usual crowd wave farewells. "Off for Africa, Ned." + +As Tom spoke, a gentleman who had been standing near him and his +chum, vigorously waving his hand to some one on the pier, turned +quickly. He looked sharply at the young inventor for a moment, and +then exclaimed: + +"Well, if it isn't Tom Swift! Did I hear you say you were going to +Africa?" + +Tom looked at the gentleman with rather a puzzled air for a moment. +The face was vaguely familiar, but Tom could not recall where he had +seen it. Then it came to him in a flash. + +"Mr. Floyd Anderson!" exclaimed our hero. "Mr. Anderson of--" + +"Earthquake Island!" exclaimed the gentleman quickly, as he extended +his hand. "I guess you remember that place, Tom Swift." + +"Indeed I do. And to think of meeting you again, and on this African +steamer," and Tom's mind went back to the perilous days when his +wireless message had saved the castaways of Earthquake Island, among +whom were Mr. Anderson and his wife. + +"Did I hear you say you were going to Africa?" asked Mr. Anderson, +when he had been introduced to Ned, and the others in Tom's party. + +"That's where we're bound for," answered the lad. "We are going to +elephant land. But where are you going, Mr. Anderson?" + +"Also to Africa, but not on a trip for pleasure or profit like +yourselves. I have been commissioned by a missionary society to +rescue two of its workers from the heart of the dark continent." + +"Rescue two missionaries?" exclaimed Tom, wonderingly. + +"Yes, a gentleman and his wife, who, it is reported, have fallen +into the hands of a race known as the red pygmies, who hold them +captives!" + + + + +CHAPTER IX + +ATTACKED BY A WHALE + + +Surprise at Mr. Anderson's announcement held Tom silent for a +moment. That the gentleman whom he had been the means of rescuing, +among others, from Earthquake Island, should be met with so +unexpectedly, was quite a coincidence, but when it developed that he +was bound to the same part of the African continent as were Tom and +his friends, and when he said he hoped to rescue some missionaries +from the very red pygmies so feared by the old elephant hunter--this +was enough to startle any one. + +"I see that my announcement has astonished you," said Mr. Anderson, +as he noted the look of surprise on the face of the young inventor. + +"It certainly has! Why, that's where we are bound for, in my new +airship. Come down into our cabin, Mr. Anderson, and tell us all +about it. Is your wife with you?" + +"No, it is too dangerous a journey on which to take her. I have +little hope of succeeding, for it is now some time since the +unfortunate missionaries were captured, but I am going to do my +best, and organize a relief expedition when I get to Africa." + +Tom said nothing at that moment, but he made up his mind that if it +was at all possible he would lend his aid, that of his airship, and +also get his friends to assist Mr. Anderson. They went below to a +special cabin that had been reserved for Tom's party, and there, as +the ship slowly passed down New York Bay, Mr. Anderson told his +story. + +"I mentioned to you, when we were on Earthquake Island," he said to +Tom, "that I had been in Africa, and had done some hunting. That is +not my calling, as it is that of your friend, Mr. Durban, but I know +the country pretty well. However, I have not been there in some +time." + +"My wife and I are connected with a church in New York that, several +years ago, raised a fund and sent two missionaries, Mr. and Mrs. +Jacob Illingway, to the heart of Africa. They built up a little +mission there, and for a time all went well, and they did good work +among the natives." + +"They are established in a tribe of friendly black men, of simple +nature, and, while the natives did not become Christianized to any +remarkable extent, yet they were kind to the missionaries. Mr. and +Mrs. Illingway used frequently to write to members of our church, +telling of their work. They also mentioned the fact that adjoining +the country of the friendly blacks there was a tribe of fierce +little red men,--red because of hair of that color all over their +bodies." + +"That's right," agreed Mr. Durban, shaking his head solemnly. +"They're red imps, too!" + +"Mr. Illingway often mentioned in his letters," went on Mr. +Anderson, "that there were frequent fights between the pygmies and +the race of blacks, but the latter had no great fear of their small +enemies. However, it seems that they did not take proper +precautions, for not long ago there was a great battle, the blacks +were attacked by a large force of the red pygmies, who overwhelmed +them by numbers, and finally routed them, taking possession of their +country." + +"What became of the missionaries?" asked Ned Newton. + +"I'll tell you," said Mr. Anderson. "For a long time we heard +nothing, beyond the mere news of the fight, which we read of in the +papers. The church people were very anxious about the fate of Mr. +and Mrs. Illingway, and were talking of sending a special messenger +to inquire about them, when a cablegram came from the headquarters +of the society in London." + +"It seems that one of the black natives, named Tomba, who was a sort +of house servant to Mr. and Mrs. Illingway, escaped the general +massacre, in which all his friends were killed. He made his way +through the jungle to a white settlement, and told his story, +relating how the two missionaries had been carried away captive by +the pygmies." + +"A terrible fate," commented Mr. Durban. + +"Yes, they might better be dead, from all the accounts we can hear," +went on Mr. Anderson. + +"Bless my Sunday hat! Don't say that!" exclaimed Mr. Damon. "Maybe +we can save them, Mr. Anderson." + +"That is what I am going to try to do, though it may be too late. As +soon as definite news was received, our church held a meeting, +raised a fund, and decided to send me off to find Mr. and Mrs. +Illingway, if alive, or give them decent burial, if I could locate +their bones. The reason they selected me was because I had been in +Africa, and knew the country." + +"I made hurried arrangements, packed up, said good-by to my wife, +and here I am. But to think of meeting you, Tom Swift! And to hear +that you are also going to Africa. I wish I could command an airship +for the rescue. It might be more easily accomplished!" + +"That's just what I was going to propose!" exclaimed Tom. "We are +going to the land of the red pygmies, and while I have promised to +help Mr. Durban in getting ivory, and while I want to try my +electric rifle on big game, still we can do both, I think. You can +depend on us, Mr. Anderson, and if the Black Hawk can be of any +service to you in the rescue, count us in!" + +"Gosh!" cried the former castaway of Earthquake Island. "This is the +best piece of luck I could have! Now tell me all about your plans." +which Tom and the others did, listening in turn, to further details +about the missionaries. + +Just how they would go to work to effect the rescue, or how they +could locate the particular tribe of little red men who had Mr. and +Mrs. Illingway, they did not know. + +"We may be able to get hold of this Tomba," said Mr. Durban. "If not +I guess between Mr. Anderson and myself we can get on the trail, +somehow. I'm anxious to get to the coast, see the airship put +together again, and start for the interior." + +"So am I," declared Tom, as he got out his electric rifle, and began +to put it together, for he wanted to show Mr. Anderson how it +worked. + +They had a pleasant and uneventful voyage for two weeks. The weather +was good, and, to tell the truth, it was rather monotonous for Tom +and the others, who were eager to get into activity again. Then came +a storm, which, while it was not dangerous, yet gave them plenty to +think and talk about for three days. Then came more calm weather, +when the Soudalar plowed along over gently heaving billows. + +They were about a week from their port of destination, which was +Majumba, on the African coast, when, one afternoon, as Tom and the +others were in their cabin, they heard a series of shouts on deck, +and the sound of many feet running to and fro. + +"Something has happened!" exclaimed the young inventor. + +Tom raced for the companionway, and was soon on deck, followed by +Mr. Durban and the others. They saw a crowd of sailors and +passengers leaning over the port rail. + +"What's the matter?" asked Tom, of the second mate, who was just +passing. + +"Fight between a killer and a whale," was the reply. "The captain +has ordered the ship to lay-to so it can be watched." + +Tom made his way to the rail. About a quarter of a mile away there +could be observed a great commotion in the ocean. Great bodies +seemed to be threshing about, beating the water to foam, and, with +the foam could be seen bright blood mingled. Occasionally two jets +of water, as from some small fountain, would shoot upward. + +"He's blowing hard!" exclaimed one of the sailors. "I guess he's +about done for!" + +"Which one?" asked Tom. + +"The whale," was the reply. "The killer has the best of the big +fellow," and the sailor quickly explained how the smaller killer +fish, by the peculiarity of its attack, and its great ferocity, +often bested its larger antagonist. + +The battle was now at its height, and Tom and the others were +interested spectators. At times neither of the big creatures could +be seen, because of the smother of foam in which they rolled and +threshed about. The whale endeavored to sound, or go to the bottom, +but the killer stuck to him relentlessly. + +Suddenly, however, as Tom looked, the whale, by a stroke of his +broad tail, momentarily stunned his antagonist. Instantly realizing +that he was free the great creature, which was about ninety feet +long, darted away, swimming on the surface of the water, for he +needed to get all the air possible. + +Quickly acquiring momentum, the whale came on like a locomotive, +spouting at intervals, the vapor from the blowholes looking not +unlike steam from some submarine boat. + +"He looks to be heading this way," remarked Mr. Durban to Tom. + +"He is," agreed the young inventor, "but I guess he'll dive before +he gets here. He only wants to get away from the killer. Look, the +other one is swimming this way, too!" + +"Bless my harpoon, but he sure is!" called Mr. Damon. "They'll renew +the fight near here." + +But he was mistaken, for the killer, after coming a little distance +after the whale, suddenly turned, hesitated for a moment, and then +disappeared in the depths of the ocean. + +The whale, however, continued to come on, speeding through the water +with powerful strokes. There was an uneasy movement among some of +the passengers. + +"Suppose he strikes the ship," suggested one woman. + +"Nonsense! He couldn't," said her husband. + +"The old man had better get under way, just the same," remarked a +sailor near Tom, as he looked up at the bridge where the captain was +standing. + +The "old man," or commander, evidently thought the same thing, for, +after a glance at the oncoming leviathan, which was still headed +directly for the vessel, he shoved the lever of the telegraph signal +over to "full speed ahead." + +Hardly had he done so than the whale sank from sight. + +"Oh, I'm so glad!" exclaimed the woman who had first spoken of the +possibility of the whale hitting the ship, "I am afraid of those +terrible creatures." + +"They're as harmless as a cow, unless they get angry," said her +husband. + +Slowly the great ship began to move through the water. Tom and his +friends were about to go back to their cabin, for they thought the +excitement over, when, as the young inventor turned from the rail, +he felt a vibration throughout the whole length of the steamer, as +if it had hit on a sand-bar. + +Instantly there was a jangling of bells in the engine room, and the +Soudalar lost headway. + +"What's the matter?" asked several persons. + +They were answered a moment later, for the big whale, even though +grievously wounded in his fight with the killer, had risen not a +hundred feet away from the ship, and was coming toward it with the +speed of an express train. + +"Bless my blubber!" cried Mr. Damon. "We must have hit the whale, or +it hit us under the water and now it's going to attack us!" + +He had no more than gotten the words out of his mouth ere the great +creature of the deep came on full tilt at the vessel, struck it a +terrific blow which made it tremble from stem to stern, and careen +violently. + +There was a chorus of frightened cries, sailors rushed to and fro, +the engine-room bells rang violently, and the captain and mates +shouted hoarse orders. + +"Here he comes again!" yelled Mr. Durban, as he hurried to the side +of the ship. "The whale takes us for an enemy, I guess, and he's +going to ram us again!" + +"And if he does it many times, he'll start the plates and cause a +leak that won't be stopped in a hurry!" cried a sailor as he rushed +past Tom. + +The young inventor looked at the oncoming monster for a moment, and +then started on the run for his cabin. + +"Here! Where are you going?" cried Mr. Damon, but Tom did not +answer. + + + + +CHAPTER X + +OFF IN THE AIRSHIP + + +As Tom Swift hurried down the companionway he again felt the ship +careen as the whale struck it a powerful blow, and he was almost +knocked off his feet. But he kept on. + +Below he found some frightened men and women, a number of whom were +adjusting life preservers about them, under the impression that the +ship had struck a rock and was going down. They had not been up on +deck, and did not know of the battle between the killer and the +whale, nor what followed. + +"Oh, I know we're sinking!" cried one timid woman. "What has +happened?" she appealed to Tom. + +"It will be all right in a little while," he assured her. + +"But what is it? I want to know. Have we had a collision." + +"Yes, with a whale," replied Tom, as he grabbed up something from +his stateroom, and again rushed up on deck. As he reached it the +whale came on once more, and struck the ship another terrific blow. +Then the monster sank and could be seen swimming back, just under +the surface of the water, getting ready to renew the attack. + +"He's going to ram us again!" cried Mr. Damon. "Bless my machine +oil! Why doesn't the captain do something?" + +At that moment the commander cried from the bridge: + +"Send a man below, Mr. Laster, to see if we are making any water. +Then tell half a dozen of the sailors to get out the rifles, and see +if they can't kill the beast. He'll put us in Davy Jones's locker if +he keeps this up! Lively now, men!" + +The first mate, Mr. Laster, called out the order. A sailor went +below to see if the ship was leaking much, and the captain rang for +full speed ahead. But the Soudalar was slow in getting under way +again, and, even at top speed she was no match for the whale, which +was again rushing toward the vessel. + +"Quick with those rifles!" cried the captain. "Fire a volley into +the beast!" + +"There's no need!" suddenly called Mr. Damon, who had caught sight +of Tom Swift, and the object which the lad carried. + +"No need?" demanded the commander. "Why, has the whale sunk, or made +off?" + +"No," answered the eccentric man, "the whale is still coming on, but +Tom Swift will fix him. Get there, Tom, and let him have a good +one!" + +"What sort of a gun is that?" demanded the commander as the young +inventor took his place at the rail, which was now almost deserted. + +Tom did not answer. Bracing himself against the rolling and heaving +of the vessel, which was now under about half speed, Tom aimed his +electric rifle at the oncoming leviathan. He looked at the automatic +gage, noted the distance and waiting a moment until the crest of a +wave in front of the whale had subsided, he pressed the button. + +If those watching him expected to hear a loud report, and see a +flash of flame, they were disappointed. There was absolutely no +sound, but what happened to the whale was most surprising. + +The great animal stopped short amid a swirl of foam, and the next +instant it seemed to disintegrate. It went all to pieces, just as +had the dummy figure which Tom on one occasion fired at with his +rifle and as had the big packing-cases. The whale appeared to +dissolve, as does a lump of sugar in a cup of hot tea, and, five +seconds after Tom Swift had fired his electric gun, there was not a +sign of the monster save a little blood on the calm sea. + +"What--what happened?" asked the captain in bewilderment. "Is--is +that monster gone?" + +"Completely gone!" cried Mr. Damon. "Bless my powder horn, Tom, but +I knew you could do it!" + +"Is that a new kind of whale gun, firing an explosive bullet?" +inquired the commander, as he came down off the bridge and shook +hands with Tom. "If it is, I'd like to buy one. We may be rammed +again by another whale." + +"This is my new, electric rifle," explained the young inventor +modestly, "and it fires wireless charges of electricity instead of +bullets. I'm sorry I can't let you have it, as it's the only one I +have. But I guess no more whales will ram us. That one was evidently +crazed by the attack of the killer, and doubtless took us for +another of its enemies." + +Sailors and passengers crowded around Tom, eager to shake his hand, +and to hear about the gun. Many declared that he had saved the ship. + +This was hardly true, for the whale could not have kept up its +attacks much longer. Still he might have done serious damage, by +causing a leak, and, while the Soudalar was a stanch craft, with +many water-tight compartments, still no captain likes to be a week +from land with a bad leak, especially if a storm comes up. Then, +too, there was the danger of a panic among the passengers, had the +attacks been kept up, so, though Tom wanted to make light of his +feat, the others would not let him. + +"You're entitled to the thanks of all on board," declared Captain +Wendon, "and I'll see that the owners hear of what you did. Well, I +guess we can go on, now. I'll not stop again to see a fight between +a killer and a whale." + +The steamer resumed her way at full speed, and the sailor, who had +gone below, came up to report that there was only a slight leak, +which need not cause any uneasiness. + +Little was talked of for the next few days but the killing of the +whale, and Tom had to give several exhibitions of his electric +rifle, and explain its workings. Then, too, the story of his +expedition became known, and also the object of Mr. Anderson's +quest, and Tom's offer of aid to help rescue the missionaries, so +that, altogether, our hero was made much of during the remainder of +the voyage. + +"Well, if your gun will do that to a whale, what will it do to an +elephant?" asked Mr. Durban one morning, when they were within a +day's steaming of their port. "I'm afraid it's almost too strong, +Tom. It will leave nothing--not even the tusks to pick up." + +"Oh, I can regulate the power," declared the lad. "I used full force +on the whale, just to see what it would do. It was the first time +I'd tried it on anything alive. I can so regulate the charge that it +will kill even an elephant, and leave scarcely a mark on the beast." + +"I'd like to see it done," remarked the old hunter. + +"I'll show you, if we sight any sharks," promised Tom. He was able +to keep his word for that afternoon a school of the ugly fish +followed the steamer for the sake of the food scraps thrown +overboard. Tom took his position in the stern, and gave an +exhibition of shooting with his electric gun that satisfied even Mr. +Durban, exacting as he was. + +For the lad, by using his heaviest charges, destroyed the largest +sharks so that they seemed to instantly disappear in the water, and +from that he toned down the current until he could kill some of the +monsters so easily and quickly that they seemed to float motionless +on the surface, yet there was no life left in them once the electric +charge touched them. + +"We'll use the light charges when we're killing elephants for their +tusks," said Tom, "and the heavy ones when we're in danger from a +rush of the beasts." + +He little knew how soon he would have to put his plan into effect. + +They arrived safely at Majumba, the African coast city, and for two +days Tom was kept busy superintending the unloading of the parts of +his airship. But it was safely taken ashore, and he and his friends +hired a disused warehouse in which to work at reassembling the Black +Hawk. + +Tom had everything down to a system, and, in less than a week the +aircraft was once more ready to be sent aloft. It was given a try-out, +much to the astonishment of the natives, and worked perfectly. +Then Tom and his friends busied themselves laying in a stock of +provisions and stores for the trip into the interior. + +They made inquiries about the chances of getting ivory and were told +that they were good if they went far enough into the jungle and +forests, for the big beasts had penetrated farther and farther +inland. + +They also tried to get some news regarding the captive missionaries, +but were unsuccessful nor could they learn what had become of Tomba, +who had brought the dire news to civilization. + +"It's too soon to hope for anything yet," said Mr. Anderson. "Wait +until we get near the country of the red pygmies." + +"And then it may be too late," said Tom in a low voice. + +It was two weeks after their arrival in Majumba that Tom announced +that all was in readiness. The airship was in perfect working order, +it was well stocked with food, arms, articles and trinkets with +which to trade among the natives, spare parts for the machinery, +special tools and a good supply of the chemicals needed to +manufacture the lifting gas. + +Of course Tom did not leave behind his electric weapon and Mr. +Durban and the others took plenty of ammunition for the ordinary +rifles which they carried. + +One morning, after cabling to his father that they were about to +start, Tom gave a last careful look to his airship, tested the motor +and dynamos, took a hasty survey of the storeroom, to see that +nothing had been forgotten, and gave the word to get aboard. + +They took their places in the cabin. Outside a crowd of natives, and +white traders of many nationalities had gathered. Tom pulled the +starting lever. The Black Hawk shot across a specially prepared +starting ground, and, attaining sufficient momentum, suddenly arose +into the air. + +There was a cheer from the watching crowd, and several superstitious +blacks, who saw the airship for the first time, ran away in terror. + +Up into the blue atmosphere Tom took his craft. He looked down on +the city over which he was flying. Then he pointed the prow of the +Black Hawk toward the heart of the dark continent. + +"Off for the interior!" he murmured. "I wonder if we'll ever get out +again?" + +No one could answer. They had to take their chances with the dangers +and terrors of elephant land, and with the red pygmies. Yet Tom +Swift was not afraid. + + + + +CHAPTER XI + +ANCHORED TO EARTH + + +With the voyage on the steamer, their arrival in Africa, the many +strange sights of the city of Majumba, and the refitting of the +airship, our friends had hardly had time to catch their breath since +Tom Swift's determination to go elephant hunting. Now, as the Black +Hawk was speeding into the interior, they felt, for the first time +in many weeks, that they "could take it easy," as Ned Newton +expressed it. + +"Thank goodness," said the bank clerk, "I can sit down and look at +something for a while," and he gazed out of the main cabin windows +down at the wild country over which they were then flying. + +For, so swiftly had the airship moved that it was hardly any time at +all before it had left Majumba far behind, and was scudding over the +wilderness. + +"Bless my camera," exclaimed Mr. Damon, who had brought along one of +the picture machines, "bless my camera! I don't call that much to +look at," and he pointed to the almost impenetrable forest over +which they then were. + +"No, it isn't much of a view," said the old elephant hunter, "but +wait. You'll soon see all you want to. Africa isn't all like this. +There are many strange sights before us yet. But, Tom Swift, tell us +how the airship is working in this climate. Do you find any +difficulty managing it?" + +"Not at all," answered Tom, who was in the cabin then, having set +the automatic steering apparatus in the pilot house, and come back +to join the others. "It works as well as it did in good old York +State. Of course I can't tell what affect the continual hot and +moist air will have on the gas bag, but I guess we'll make out all +right." + +"I certainly hope so," put in Mr. Anderson. "It would be too bad to +be wrecked in the middle of Africa, with no way to get out." + +"Oh, you needn't worry about that," said Ned with a laugh. "If the +airship should smash, Tom would build another out of what was left, +and we'd sail away as good as before." + +"Hardly that," answered the young inventor. + +"But we won't cross a bridge until we hear it coming, as Eradicate +would say. Hello, that looks like some sort of native village." + +He pointed ahead to a little clearing in the forest, where a number +of mud and grass huts were scattered about. As they came nearer they +could see the black savages, naked save for a loin cloth, running +about in great excitement, and pointing upward. + +"Yes, that's one of the numerous small native villages we'll see +from now on," said Mr. Durban. "Many a night have I spent in those +same grass huts after a day's hunting. Sometimes, I've been +comfortable, and again not. I guess we've given those fellows a +scare." + +It did seem so, for by this time the whole population, including +women and children, were running about like mad. Suddenly, from +below there sounded a deep booming noise, which came plainly to the +ears of the elephant hunters through the opened windows of the +airship cabin. + +"Hark! What's that?" cried Tom, raising his hand for silence. + +"Bless my umbrella! it sounds like thunder," said Mr. Damon. + +"No, it's one of their war drums," explained Mr. Durban. "The +natives make large ones out of hollow trees, with animal skins +stretched over the ends, and they beat them to sound a warning, or +before going into battle. It makes a great noise." + +"Do you think they want to fight us?" asked Ned, looking anxiously +at Tom, and then toward where his rifle stood in a corner of the +cabin. + +"No, probably that drum was beaten by some of the native priests," +explained the hunter. "The natives are very superstitious, and +likely they took us for an evil spirit, and wanted to drive us +away." + +"Then we'll hustle along out of their sight," said Tom, as he went +to the pilot house to increase the speed of the airship, for he had +been letting it drift along slowly to enable the adventurers to view +the country over which they were passing. A few minutes later, under +the increased force of the machinery, the Black Hawk left the native +village, and the crowd of frightened blacks, far behind. + +The travelers passed over a succession of wild stretches of forest +or jungle, high above big grassy plains, over low but rugged +mountain ranges, and big rivers. Now and then they would cross some +lake, on the calm surface of which could be made out natives, in big +canoes, hollowed out from trees. In each case the blacks showed +every appearance of fright at the sight of the airship throbbing +along over their heads. + +On passing over the lake, Ned Newton looked down and cried out +excitedly: + +"Look! Elephants! They're in swimming, and the natives are shooting +them! Now's our chance, Tom!" + +Mr. Anderson and Mr. Durban, after a quick glance, drew back +laughing. + +"Those are hippopotami!" exclaimed the old elephant man. "Good +hunting, if you don't care what you shoot, but not much sport in it. +It will be some time yet before we see any elephants, boys." + +Ned was rather chagrined at his mistake, but the African travelers +told him that any one, not familiar with the country, would have +made it, especially in looking down from a great height. + +They sailed along about half a mile above the earth, Tom gradually +increasing the speed of the ship, as he found the machinery to be +working well. Dinner was served as they were crossing a high grassy +plateau, over which could be seen bounding a number of antelopes. + +"Some of those would go good for a meal," said Mr. Durban, after a +pause during which he watched the graceful creatures. + +"Then we'll go down and get some for supper," decided Tom, for in +that hot climate it was impossible to carry fresh meat on the +airship. + +Accordingly, the Black Hawk was sent down, and came to rest in a +natural clearing on the edge of the jungle. After waiting until the +fierce heat of noonday was over, the travelers got out their rifles +and, under the leadership of Mr. Durban and Mr. Anderson, who was +also an experienced hunter, they set off. + +Game was plentiful, but as they could only eat a comparatively small +quantity, and as it would not keep, they only shot what they needed. +Tom had his electric rifle, but hesitated to use it, as Mr. Durban +and Mr. Anderson had each already bowled over a fine buck. + +However, a chance came most unexpectedly, for, as they were passing +along the banks of a little stream, which was almost hidden from +view by thick weeds and rank grass, there was a sudden commotion in +the bushes, and a fierce wild buffalo sprang out at the party. + +There are few animals in Africa more dreaded by hunters than the +wild buffalo, for the beast, with its spreading sharp horns is a +formidable foe, and will seldom give up the attack until utterly +unable to move. They are fierce and relentless. + +"Look out!" yelled Mr. Durban. "To cover, everybody! If that beast +gets after you it's no fun! You and I will fire at him, Mr. Anderson!" + +Mr. Durban raised his rifle, and pulled the trigger, but, for some +reason, the weapon failed to go off. Mr. Anderson quickly raised +his, but his foot slipped in a wet place and he fell. At that moment +the buffalo, with a snort of rage, charged straight for the fallen man. + +"Tom! your electric rifle!" yelled Ned Newton, but he need not have +done so, for the young inventor was on the alert. + +Taking instant aim, and adjusting his weapon for the heaviest +charge, Tom fired at the advancing beast. The result was the same as +in the case of the whale, the buffalo seemed to melt away. And it +was stopped only just in time, too, for it was close to the +prostrate Mr. Anderson, who had sprained his ankle slightly, and +could not readily rise. + +It was all over in a few seconds, but it was a tense time while it +lasted. + +"You saved my life again, Tom Swift," said Mr. Anderson, as he +limped toward our hero. "Once on Earthquake Island, and again now. I +shan't forget it," and he shook hands with the young inventor. + +The others congratulated Tom on his quick shot, and Mr. Damon, as +usual blessed everything in sight, and the electric rifle +especially. + +They went back to the airship, taking the fresh meat with them, but +on account of the injury to Mr. Anderson's ankle could not make +quick progress, so that it was almost dusk when they reached the +craft. + +"Well, we'll have supper, and then start off," proposed Tom, "I +don't think it would be wise to remain on the ground so near the +jungle." + +"No' it's safer in the air," agreed Mr. Durban. The meal was much +enjoyed, especially the fresh meat, and, after it was over, Tom took +his place in the pilot house to start the machinery, and send the +airship aloft. + +The motor hummed and throbbed, and the gas hissed into the bag, for +the ground was not level enough to permit of a running start by +means of the planes. Lights gleamed from the Black Hawk and the big +search-lantern in front cast a dazzling finger of light into the +black forest. + +"Well, what are you waiting for?" called Ned, who heard the +machinery in motion, but who could not feel the craft rising. "Why +don't you go up, Tom?" + +"I'm trying to," answered the young inventor. "Something seems to be +the matter." He pulled the speed lever over a few more notches, and +increased the power of the gas machine. Still the Black Hawk did not +rise. + +"Bless my handkerchief box!" cried Mr. Damon, "what's the matter?" + +"I don't know," answered Tom. "We seem to be held fast." + +He further increased the speed of the propellers, and the gas +machine was set to make vapor at its fullest capacity, and force it +into the bag. Still the craft was held to the earth. + +"Maybe the gas has no effect in this climate," called Ned. + +"It can't be that," replied Tom. "The gas will operate anywhere. It +worked all right today." + +Suddenly she airship moved up a little way, and then seemed to be +pulled down again, hitting the ground with a bump. + +"Something is holding us!" cried Tom. "We're anchored to earth! I +must see what it is!" and, catching up his electric rifle, he dashed +out of the cabin. + + + + +CHAPTER XII + +AMONG THE NATIVES + + +For a moment after Tom's departure the others stared blankly at one +another. They could hear the throbbing and hum of the machinery, and +feel the thrill of the anchored airship. But they could not +understand what the trouble was. + +"We must help Tom!" cried Ned Newton at length as he caught up his +rifle. "Maybe we are in the midst of a herd of elephants, and they +have hold of the ship in their trunks." + +"It couldn't be!" declared Mr. Durban, yet they soon discovered that +Ned's guess was nearer the truth then any of them had suspected at +the time. + +"We must help him, true enough!" declared Mr. Anderson, and he and +the others followed Ned out on deck. + +"Where are you Tom?" called his chum. + +"Here." was the answer. "I'm on the forward deck." + +"Do you see anything?" + +"No, it's too dark. Turn the search-light this way." + +"I will," shouted Mr. Damon, and a moment later the gleam of the +powerful lantern brought Tom clearly into view, as he stood on the +small forward observation platform in the bow of the Black Hawk. + +An instant later the young inventor let out a startled cry. + +"What is it?" demanded Mr. Durban. + +"An immense snake!" shouted Tom. "It's wound around a tree, and +partly twined around the ship! That's why we couldn't go up! I'm +going to shoot it." + +They looked to where he pointed, and there, in the glare of the +light, could be seen an immense python, fully twenty-five feet long, +the forward part of its fat ugly body circled around the slender +prow of the airship, while the folds of the tail were about a big +tree. + +Tom Swift raised his electric rifle, took quick aim, and, having set +it to deliver a moderate charge, pressed the button. The result was +surprising, for the snake being instantly killed the folds uncoiled +and the ship shot upward, only, instead of rising on an even keel, +the bow pointed toward the sky, while the stern was still fast to +the earth. Tilted at an angle of forty-five degrees the Black Hawk +was in a most peculiar position, and those standing on the deck +began to slide along it. + +"There's another snake at the stern!" cried Mr. Damon as he grasped +a brace to prevent falling off. "Bless my slippers! it's the mate of +the one you killed! Shoot the other one, Tom!" + +The young inventor needed no urging. Making his way as best he could +to the stern of the airship, he killed the second python, which was +even larger than the first, and in an instant the Black Hawk shot +upward, this time level, and as it should be. Things on board were +soon righted, and the travelers could stand upright. High above the +black jungle rose the craft, moving forward under the full power of +the propellers, until Tom rushed into the engine room, and reduced +speed. + +"Well, talk about things happening!" exclaimed Ned, when they had +somewhat recovered from the excitement. "I should say they were +beginning with a vengeance!" + +"That's the way in Africa," declared Mr. Durban. "It's a curious +country. Those pythons generally go in pairs, but it's the first +time I ever knew them to tackle an airship. They probably stay +around here where there is plenty of small game for them, and very +likely they merely anchored to our craft while waiting for a supper +to come along." + +"It was a very odd thing," said Tom. "I couldn't imagine what held +us. After this I'll see that all is clear before I try to go up. +Next time we may be held by a troop of baboons and it strains the +machinery to have it pull against dead weight in that way." + +However, it was found no harm had resulted from this experience, +and, after reducing the gas pressure, which was taking them too +high, Tom set the automatic rudders. + +"We'll keep on at slow speed through the night," he explained, "and +in the morning we'll be pretty well into the interior. Then we can +lay our course for wherever we want to go. Where had we better head +for?" + +"I don't want to interfere with your plans," said Mr. Anderson, "but +I would like to rescue those missionaries. But the trouble is, I +don't know just where to look for them. We couldn't get much of a +line in Majumba on where the country of the red pygmies is located. +What do you think about it, Mr. Durban?" + +"As far as elephant hunting goes we can probably do as well in the +pygmy land as anywhere else," answered the veteran, "and perhaps it +will be well to head for that place. If we run across any elephant +herds in the meanwhile, we can stop, get the ivory, and proceed." + +They discussed this plan at some length, and agreed that it was the +best thing to do. Mr. Durban had a map of the country around the +center of Africa, and he marked on it, as nearly as he could, the +location of the pygmies' country, while Mr. Anderson also had a +chart, showing the location of the mission which had been wiped out +of existence. It was in the midst of a wild and desolate region. + +"We'll do the best we can," declared Tom, "and I think we'll +succeed. We ought to be there in about a week, if we have no bad +luck." + +All that night the Black Hawk flew on over Africa, covering mile +after mile, passing over jungle, forest, plains, rivers and lakes, +and, doubtless, over many native villages, though they could not be +seen. + +Morning found the travelers above a great, grassy plain, dotted here +and there with negro settlements which were separated by rivers, +lakes or thin patches of forest. + +"Well, we'll speed up a bit," decided Tom after breakfast, which was +eaten to the weird accompaniment of hundreds of native warning-drums, +beaten by the superstitious blacks. + +Tom went to the engine room, and turned on more speed. He was about +to go back to the pilot house, to set the automatic steering +apparatus to coincide with the course mapped out, when there was a +crash of metal, an ominous snapping and buzzing sound, followed by a +sudden silence. + +"What's that?" cried Ned, who was in the motor compartment with his +chum. + +"Something's gone wrong!" exclaimed the young inventor, as he sprang +back toward the engine. The propellers had ceased revolving, and as +there was no gas in the bag at that time, it having been decided to +save the vapor for future needs, the Black Hawk began falling toward +the earth. + +"We're going down!" yelled Ned. + +"Yes, the main motor has broken!" exclaimed Tom. "We'll have to +descend to repair it." + +"Say!" yelled Mr. Damon, rushing in, "we're right over a big African +village! Are we going to fall among the natives?" + +"It looks that way," admitted Tom grimly, as he hastened to the +pilot house to shift the wings so that the craft could glide easily +to the ground. + +"Bless my shoe blacking!" cried the eccentric man as he heard the +beating of drums, and the shouts of the savages. + +A little later the airship had settled into the midst of a crowd of +Africans, who swarmed all about the craft. + + + + +CHAPTER XIII + +ON AN ELEPHANT TRAIL + + +"Get ready with your guns, everybody!" cried the old elephant +hunter, as he prepared to leave the cabin of the Black Hawk. "Tom +Swift, don't forget your electric rifle. There'll be trouble soon!" + +"Bless my cartridge belt!" gasped Mr. Damon. "Why? What will happen?" + +"The natives," answered Mr. Durban. "They'll attack us sure as fate! +See, already they're getting out their bows and arrows, and +blowguns! They'll pierce the gas bag in a hundred places!" + +"If they do, it will be a bad thing for us," muttered Tom. "We can't +have that happen." + +He followed the old elephant hunter outside, and Mr. Anderson, Ned +Newton and Mr. Damon trailed after, each one with a gun, while Tom +had his electric weapon. The airship rested on its wheels on some +level ground, just in front of a large hut, surrounded by a number +of smaller ones. All about were the natives, tall, gaunt black men, +hideous in their savagery, wearing only the loin cloth, and with +their kinky hair stuck full of sticks, bones and other odd objects +they presented a curious sight. + + Some of them were dancing about, brandishing their weapons--clubs +spears, bows, and arrows, or the long, slender blowguns, consisting +merely of a hollow reed. Women and children there were, too, also +dancing and leaping about, howling at the tops of their voices. +Above the unearthly din could be heard the noise of the drums and +tom-toms, while, as the adventurers drew up in front of their +airship, there came a sort of chant, and a line of natives, dressed +fantastically in the skins of beasts, came filing out of the large +hut. + +"The witch-doctors!" exclaimed Tom, who had read of them in African +travel books. + +"Are they going to attack us?" cried Ned. + +"Bless my hymn book! I hope not!" came from Mr. Damon. "We wouldn't +have any chance at all in this horde of black men. I wish Eradicate +Sampson and his mule Boomerang were here. Maybe he could talk their +language, and tell them that we meant no harm." + +"If there's any talking to be done, I guess our guns will have to do +it," said Tom grimly. + +"I can speak a little of their language," remarked Mr. Durban, "but +what in the world are the beggars up to, anyhow? I supposed they'd +send a volley of arrows at us, first shot, but they don't seem to be +going to do that." + +"No, they're dancing around us," said Tom. + +"That's it!" exclaimed Mr. Anderson. "I have it! Why didn't I think +of it before? The natives are welcoming us!" + +"Welcoming us?" repeated Ned. + +"Yes," went on the missionary seeker. "They are doing a dance in our +honor, and they have even called out the witch-doctors to do us +homage." + +"That's right," agreed Mr. Durban, who was listening to the chanting +of the natives dressed in animal skins. "They take us for spirits +from another land, and are making us welcome here. Listen, I'll see +if I can make out what else they are saying." + +The character of the shouts and chants changed abruptly, and the +dancing increased in fervor, even the children throwing themselves +wildly about. The witch-doctors ran around like so many maniacs, and +it looked as much like an American Indian war dance as anything +else. + +"I've got it!" shouted Mr. Durban, for he had to call loudly to be +heard above the din. "They are asking us to make it rain. It seems +there has been a dry spell here, and their own rain-makers and +witch-doctors haven't been able to get a drop out of the sky. Now, +they take it that we have come to help them. They think we are going +to bring rain." + +"And if we don't, what will happen?" asked Tom. + +"Maybe they won't be quite so glad to see us," was the answer. + +"Well, if they don't mean war, we might as well put up our weapons," +suggested Mr. Anderson. "If they're going to be friendly, so much +the better, and if it should happen to rain while we're here, they'd +think we brought it, and we could have almost anything we wanted. +Perhaps they have a store of ivory hidden away, Mr. Durban. Some of +these tribes do." + +"It's possible, but the chances for rain are very small. How long +will we have to stay here, Tom Swift?" asked the elephant hunter +anxiously. + +"Well, perhaps I can get the motor mended in two or three days," +answered the young inventor. + +"Then we'll have to stay here in the meanwhile," decided Mr. Durban. +"Well, we'll make the best of it. Ha, here comes the native king to +do us honor," and, as he spoke there came toward the airship a +veritable giant of a black man, wearing a leopard skin as a royal +garment, while on his head was a much battered derby hat, probably +purchased at a fabulous price from some trader. The king, if such he +could be called, was accompanied by a number of attendants and +witch-doctors. In front walked a small man, who, as it developed, +was an interpreter. The little cavalcade advanced close to the +airship, and came to a halt. The king made a low bow, either to the +craft or to the elephant hunters drawn up in front of it. His +attendants followed his example, and then the interpreter began to +speak. + +Mr. Durban listened intently, made a brief answer to the little man, +and then the elephant hunter's face lighted up. + +"It's all right," he said to Tom and the others. "The king takes us +for wonderful spirits from another land. He welcomes us, says we can +have whatever we want, and he begs us to make it rain. I have said +we will do our best, and I have asked that some food be sent us. +That's always the first thing to do. We'll be allowed to stay here +in peace until Tom can mend the ship, and then we'll hit the air +trail again." + +The talk between Mr. Durban and the interpreter continued for some +little time longer. Then the king went back to his hut, refusing, as +Mr. Durban said, an invitation to come aboard and see how a modern +airship was constructed. The natives, too, seemed anxious to give +the craft a wide berth. + +The excitement had quieted down now, and, in a short time a crowd of +native women came toward the airship, bearing, in baskets on their +heads, food of various kinds. There were bananas, some wild fruits, +yams, big gourds of goats' milk, some boiled and stewed flesh of +young goats, nicely cooked, and other things, the nature of which +could only be guessed at. + +"Shall we eat this stuff, or stick to Mr. Damon's cooking?" asked +Tom. + +"Oh, you'll find this very good," explained Mr. Durban. "I've eaten +native cookery before. Some of it is excellent and as this appears +to be very good, Mr. Damon can have a vacation while we are here." + +The old elephant hunter proved the correctness of his statement by +beginning to eat, and soon all the travelers were partaking of the +food left by the native women. They placed it down on the ground at +a discreet distance from the airship, and hurriedly withdrew. But if +the women and men were afraid, the children were not, and they were +soon swarming about the ship, timidly touching the sides with their +little black fingers, but not venturing on board. + +Tom, with Ned and Mr. Damon to help him, began work on the motor +right after dinner. He found the break to be worse than he had +supposed, and knew that it would take at least four days to repair +it. + +Meanwhile the airship continued to be a source of wonder to the +natives. They were always about it, save at night, but their +admiration was a respectful one. The king was anxious for the +rain-making incantations to begin, but Mr. Durban put him off. + +"I don't want to deceive these simple natives," he said, "and for +our own safety we can't pretend to make rain, and fail. As soon as +we have a chance we'll slip away from here." + +But an unexpected happening made a change in their plans. It was on +the afternoon of their third day in the native village, and Tom and +his assistants were working hard at the motor. Suddenly there seemed +to be great excitement in the vicinity of the king's hut. A native +had rushed into the village from the jungle, evidently with some +news, for presently the whole place was in a turmoil. + +Once more the king and his attendants filed out toward the airship. +Once more the interpreter talked to Mr. Durban, who listened +eagerly. + +"By Jove! here's our chance!" he cried to Tom, when the little man +had finished. + +"What is it?" asked the young inventor. + +"A runner has just come in with news that a large herd of wild +elephants is headed this way. The king is afraid the big beasts will +trample down all their crops, as often occurs, and he begs us to go +out and drive the animals away. It's just what we want. Come on, +Tom, and all of you. The airship will be safe here, for the natives +think that to meddle with it would mean death or enchantment for +then. We'll get on our first elephant trail!" + +The old hunter went into the cabin for his big game gun, while Tom +hastened to get out his electric rifle. Now he would have a chance +to try it on the powerful beasts which he had come to Africa to +hunt. + +Amid the excited and joyous shouts of the natives, the hunters filed +out of the village, led by the dusky messenger who had brought the +news of the elephants. And, as Tom and the others advanced, they +could hear a distant trumpeting, and a crashing in the jungle that +told of the near presence of the great animals. + + + + +CHAPTER XIV + +A STAMPEDE + + +"Look to your guns, everybody!" cautioned Mr. Durban. "It's no joke +to be caught in an elephant herd with an unloaded rifle. Have you +plenty of ammunition, Mr. Damon?" + +"Ammunition? Bless my powder bag, I think I have enough for all the +elephants I'll kill. If I get one of the big beasts I'll be +satisfied. Bless my piano keys! I think I see them, Tom!" + +He pointed off through the thick jungle. Surely something was moving +there amid the trees; great slate-colored bodies, massive forms and +waving trunks! The trumpeting increased, and the crashing of the +underbrush sounded louder and nearer. + +"There they are!" cried Tom Swift joyously. + +"Now for my first big game!" yelled Ned Newton. + +"Take it easy," advised Mr. Anderson. "Remember to aim for the spot +I mentioned to you as being the best, just at the base of the skull. +If you can't make a head shot, or through the eye, try for the +heart. But with the big bullets we have, almost any kind of a shot, +near a vital spot, will answer." + +"And Tom can fire at their TOES and put them out of business," +declared Ned, who was eagerly advancing. "How about it, Tom?" + +"Well, I guess the electric rifle will come up to expectations. Say, +Mr. Durban, they seem to be heading this way!" excitedly cried Tom, +as the herd of big beasts suddenly turned and changed their course. + +"Yes, they are," admitted the old elephant hunter calmly. "But that +won't matter. Take it easy. Kill all you can." + +"But we don't want to put too many out of business," said Tom, who +was not needlessly cruel, even in hunting. + +"I know that," answered Mr. Durban. "But this is a case of +necessity. I've got to get ivory, and we have to kill quite a few +elephants to accomplish this. Besides the brutes will head for the +village and the natives' grain fields, and trample them down, if +they're not headed back. So all together now, we'll give them a +volley. This is a good place! There they are. All line up now. Get +ready!" + +He halted, and the others followed his example. The natives had come +to a stop some time before, and were huddled together in the jungle +back of our friends, waiting to see the result of the white men's +shots. + +Tom, Ned, Mr. Damon, and the two older hunters were on an irregular +line in the forest. Before them was the mass of elephants advancing +slowly, and feeding on the tender leaves of trees as they came on. +They would reach up with their long trunks, strip off the foliage, +and stuff it into their mouths. Sometimes, they even pulled up small +trees by the roots for the purpose of stripping them more easily. + +"Jove! There are some big tuskers in that bunch!" cried Mr. Durban. +"Aim for the bulls, every one, don't kill the mothers or little +ones." Tom now saw that there were a number of baby Elephants in the +herd, and he appreciated the hunter's desire to spare them and their +mothers. + +"Here we go!" exclaimed Mr. Durban, as he saw that Tom and the +others were ready. "Aim! Fire!" + +There were thundering reports that awoke the echoes of the jungle, +and the sounds of the rifles were followed by shrill trumpets of +rage. When the smoke blew away three elephants were seen prostrate, +or, rather two, and part of another one. The last was almost blown +to pieces by Tom Swift's electric rifle; for the young inventor had +used a little too heavy charge, and the big beast had been almost +annihilated. + +Mr. Durban had dropped his bull with a well-directed shot, and Mr. +Anderson had a smaller one to his credit. + +"I guess I missed mine," said Ned ruefully. + +"Bless my dress-suit case!" exclaimed Mr. Damon. "So did I!" + +"One of you hit that fellow!" cried Mr. Durban. "He's wounded." + +He pointed to a fair-sized bull who was running wildly about, +uttering shrill cries of anger. The other beasts had gathered in a +compact mass, with the larger bulls, or tuskers, on the outside, to +protect the females and young. + +"I'll try a shot at him," said Tom, and raising his electric, gun, +he took quick aim. The elephant dropped in his tracks, for this time +the young inventor had correctly adjusted the power of the wireless +bullet. + +"Good!" cried Mr. Durban. "Give them some more! This is some of the +best ivory I've seen yet!" + +As he spoke he fired, and bowled over another magnificent specimen. +Ned Newton, determined to make a record of at least one, fired +again, and to his delight, saw a big fellow drop. + +"I got him!" he yelled. + +Mr. Anderson also got another, and then Mr. Damon, blessing +something which his friends could not make out, fired at one of the +largest bulls in the herd. + +"You only nipped him!" exclaimed Mr. Durban when the smoke had +drifted away. "I guess I'll put him out of his misery!" + +He raised his weapon and pulled the trigger but no report followed. +He uttered an exclamation of dismay. + +"The breech-action has jammed!" he exclaimed. "Drop him, Tom. He's +scented us, and is headed this way. The whole herd will follow in a +minute." + +Already the big brute wounded by Mr. Damon had trumpeted out a cry +of rage and defiance. It was echoed by his mates. Then, with +upraised trunk, he darted forward, followed by a score of big +tuskers. + +But Tom had heard and understood. The leading beast had not taken +three steps before he dropped under the deadly and certain fire of +the young inventor. + +"Bless my wishbone!" cried Mr. Damon when he saw how effective the +electric weapon was. + +There was a shout of joy from the natives in the rear. They saw the +slain creatures and knew there would be much fresh meat and feasting +for them for days to come. + +Suddenly Mr. Durban cried out: "Fire again, Tom! Fire everybody! The +whole herd is coming this way. If we don't stop them they'll overrun +the fields and village, and may smash the airship! Fire again!" + +Almost as he spoke, the rush, which had been stopped momentarily, +when Tom dropped the wounded elephant, began again. With shrill +menacing cries the score of bulls in the lead came on, followed this +time by the females and the young. + +"It's a stampede!" yelled Mr. Anderson, firing into the midst of the +herd. Mr. Durban was working frantically at his clogged rifle. Ned +and Mr. Damon both fired, and Tom Swift, adjusting his weapon to +give the heaviest charges, shot a fusillade of wireless bullets into +the center of the advancing elephants, who were now wild with fear +and anger. + +"It's a stampede all right!" said Tom, when he saw that the big +creatures were not going to stop, in spite of the deadly fire poured +into them. + + + + +CHAPTER XV + +LIONS IN THE NIGHT + + +Shouting, screaming, imploring their deities in general, and the +white men in particular for protection, the band of frightened +natives broke and ran through the jungle, caring little where they +went so long as they escaped the awful terror of the pursuing herd +of maddened elephants. Behind them came Tom Swift and the others, +for it were folly to stop in the path of the infuriated brutes. + +"Our only chance is to get on their flank and try to turn them!" +yelled Mr. Durban. "We may beat them in getting to the clearing, for +the trail is narrow. Run, everybody!" + +No one needed his excited advice to cause them to hurry. They +scudded along, Mr. Damon's cap falling off in his haste. But he did +not stop to pick it up. + +The hunters had one advantage. They were on a narrow but well-cleared +trail through the jungle, which led from the village where they +were encamped, to another, several miles away. This trail was +too small for the elephants, and, indeed, had to be taken in single +file by the travelers. + +But it prevented the elephants making the same speed as did our +friends, for the jungle, at this point, consisted of heavy trees, +which halted the progress of even the strongest of the powerful +beasts. True, they could force aside the frail underbrush and the +small trees, but the others impeded their progress. + +"We'll get there ahead of them!" cried Tom. "Have you got your rifle +in working order yet, Mr. Durban?" + +"No, something has broken, I fear. We'll have to depend on your +electric gun, Tom. Have you many charges left?" + +"A dozen or so. But Ned and the others have plenty of ammunition." + +"Don't count--on--me!" panted Mr. Damon, who was well-nigh +breathless from the run. "I--can't--aim--straight--any--more!" + +"I'll give 'em a few more bullets!" declared Mr. Anderson. + +The fleeing natives were now almost lost to sight, for they could +travel through the jungle, ignoring the trail, at high speed. They +were almost like snakes or animals in this respect. Their one +thought was to get to their village, and, if possible, protect their +huts and fields of grain from annihilation by the elephants. + +Behind our friends, trumpeting, bellowing and crashing came the +pachyderms. They seemed to be gaining, and Tom, looking back, saw +one big brute emerge upon the trail, and follow that. + +"I've got to stop him, or some of the others will do the same," +thought the young inventor. He halted and fired quickly. The +elephant seemed to melt away, and Tom with regret, saw a pair of +fine tusks broken to bits. "I used too heavy a charge," he murmured, +as he took up the retreat again. + +In a few minutes the party of hunters, who were now playing more in +the role of the hunted, came out into the open. They could hear the +natives beating on their big hollow tree drums, and on tom-toms, +while the witch-doctors and medicine men were chanting weird songs +to drive the elephants away. + +But the beasts came on. One by one they emerged from the jungle, +until the herd was gathered together again in a compact mass. Then, +under the leadership of some big bulls, they advanced. It seemed as +if they knew what they were doing, and were determined to revenge +themselves by trampling the natives' huts under their ponderous +feet. + +But Tom and the others were not idle. Taking a position off to one +side, the young inventor began pouring a fusillade of the electric +bullets into the mass of slate-colored bodies. Mr. Anderson was also +firing, and Ned, who had gotten over some of his excitement, was +also doing execution. Mr. Durban, after vainly trying to get his +rifle to work, cast it aside. "Here! Let me take your gun!" he cried +to Mr. Damon, who, panting from the run, was sitting beneath a tree. + +"Bless my cartridge belt! Take it and welcome!" assented the +eccentric man. It still had several shots in the magazine, and these +the old hunter used with good effect. + +At first it seemed as if the elephants could not be turned back. +They kept on rushing toward the village, which was not far away, and +Tom and the others followed at one side, as best they could, firing +rapidly. The electric rifle did fearful execution. + +Emboldened by the fear that all their possessions would be destroyed +a body of the natives rushed out, right in front of the elephants, +and beat tom-toms and drums, almost under their feet, at the same +time singing wild songs. + +"I'm afraid we can't stop them!" muttered Mr. Anderson. "We'd better +hurry to the airship, and protect that, Tom." + +But, almost as he spoke, the tide of battle turned. The elephants +suddenly swung about, and began a retreat. They could not stand the +hot fire of the four guns, including Tom's fearful weapon. With wild +trumpetings they fled back into the jungle, leaving a number of +their dead behind. + +"A close call," murmured Tom, as he drew a breath of relief. Indeed +this was true, for the tide had turned when the foremost elephants +were not a hundred feet away from the first rows of native huts. + +"I should say it was," agreed Ned Newton, wiping his face with his +handkerchief. He, as well as the others, was an odd-looking sight. +They were blackened by powder smoke, scratched by briars, and red +from exertion. + +"But we got more ivory in this hour than I could have secured in a +week of ordinary hunting," declared Mr. Durban. "If this keeps up we +won't have to get much more, except that I don't think any of the +tusks to-day are large enough for the special purpose of my +customer." + +"The sooner we get enough ivory the quicker we can go to the rescue +of the missionaries," said Mr. Anderson. + +"That's so," remarked Tom. "We must not forget the red pygmies." + +The natives were now dancing about, wild in delight at the prospect +of unlimited eating, and also thankful for what the white men had +done for them. Alone, the blacks would never have been able to stop +the stampede. They were soon busy cutting up the elephants ready for +a big feast, and runners were sent to tell neighboring tribes, in +adjoining villages, of the delights awaiting them. + +Mr. Durban gave instructions about saving the ivory tusks, and the +valuable teeth, each pair worth about $1,000, were soon cut out and +put away for our friends. Some had been lost by the excessive power +of Tom's gun, but this could not be helped. It was necessary to stop +the rush at any price. + +There was soon a busy scene at the native village, and with the +arrival of other tribesmen it seemed as if Bedlam had broken loose. +The blacks chattered like so many children as they prepared for the +feast. + +"Do white men ever eat elephant meat?" asked Mr. Damon, as the +adventurers were gathered about the airship. + +"Indeed they do," declared Mr. Durban. "Baked elephant foot is a +delicacy that few appreciate. I'll have the natives cook some for +us." + +He gave the necessary orders, and the travelers had to admit that it +was worth coming far to get. + +For the next few days and nights there was great feasting in that +African village, and the praises of the white men, and power of Tom +Swift's electric rifle, were sung loud and long. + +Our friends had resumed work on repairing the airship, and the young +inventor declared, one night, that they could proceed the next day. + +They were seated around a small campfire, watching the dancing and +antics of some natives who were at their usual work of eating meat. +All about our friends were numerous blazes for the cooking of the +feasts, and some were on the very edge of the jungle. + +Suddenly, above the uncouth sounds of the merry-making, there was +heard a deep vibration and roar, not unlike the distant rumble of +thunder or the hum of a great steamer's whistle heard afar in the +fog. + +"What's that?" cried Ned. + +"Lions," said Mr. Durban briefly. "They have been attracted by the +smell of cooking." + +At that moment, and instantly following a very loud roar, there was +an agonized scream of pain and terror. It sounded directly in back +of the airship. + +"A lion!" cried Mr. Anderson. "One of the brutes has grabbed a +native!" + +Tom Swift caught up his rifle, and darted off toward the dark +jungle. + + + + +CHAPTER XVI + +SEEKING THE MISSIONARIES + + +"Here! Come back!" yelled Mr. Damon and Mr. Anderson, in the same +breath, while the old elephant hunter cried out: "Don't you know +you're risking your life, Tom to go off in the dark, to trail a +lion?" + +"I can't stand it to let the native be carried off!" Tom shouted +back. + +"But you can't see in the dark," objected Mr. Anderson. He had +probably forgotten the peculiar property of the electric rifle. Tom +kept on, and the others slowly followed. + +The natives had at once ceased their merrymaking at the roaring of +the lions, and now all were gathered close about the campfires, on +which more wood had been piled, to drive away the fearsome brutes. + +"There must be a lot of them," observed Mr. Durban, as menacing +growls and roars came from the jungle, along the edge of which Tom +and the others were walking just then. "There are so many of the +brutes that they are bold, and they must be hungry, too. They came +close to our fire, because it wasn't so bright as the other blazes, +and that native must have wandered off into the forest. Well, I +guess it's all up with him." + +"He's screaming yet," observed Ned. + +Indeed, above the rumbling roars of the lions, and the crackling of +the campfires, could be heard the moaning cries of the unfortunate +black. + +"He's right close here!" suddenly called Tom. "He's skirting the +jungle. I think I can get him!" + +"Don't take any risks!" called Mr. Durban, who had caught up his own +rifle, that was now in working order again. + +Tom Swift was not in sight. He had now penetrated into the jungle--into +the black forest where stalked the savage lions, intent on +getting other prey. Mr. Durban and Mr. Anderson vainly tried to +pierce the darkness to see something at which to shoot. Ned Newton +had eagerly started to follow his chum, but could not discern where +Tom was. A nameless fear clutched at the lad's heart. Mr. Damon was +softly blessing everything of which he could think. + +Once more came that pitiful cry from the native, who was, as they +afterward learned, being dragged along by the lion, who had grabbed +him by the shoulder. + +Suddenly in the dense jungle there shone a purple-bluish light. It +illuminated the scene like some great sky-rocket for an instant, and +in that brief time Ned and the others caught sight of a great, tawny +form, bounding along. It was a lion, with head held high, dragging +along a helpless black man. + +A second later, and before the intense glare had died away, the +watchers saw the lion gently sink down, as though weary. He stopped +short in his tracks, his head rolled back, the jaws relaxed and the +native, who was unconscious now, toppled to one side. + +"Tom's killed him with the electric rifle!" cried Mr. Durban. + +"Bless my incandescent lamp! so he has," agreed Mr. Damon. "Bless my +dynamo! but that's a wonderful gun, it's as powerful as a +thunderbolt, or as gentle as a summer shower." + +Mr. Durban seeing that the lion was dead, in that brief glance he +had had of the brute, called to some of the natives to come and get +their tribesman. They came, timidly enough at first, carrying many +torches, but when they understood that the lion was dead, they +advanced more boldly. They carried the wounded black to a hut, where +they applied their simple but effective remedies for the cruel bite +in his shoulder. + +After Tom had shot several other of the illuminated charges into the +jungle, to see if he could discover any more lions, but failed to do +so, he and his friends returned to the anchored airship, amid the +murmured thanks of the Africans. + +Bright fires were kept blazing all the rest of the night, but, +though lions could be heard roaring in the jungle, and though they +approached alarmingly close to the place where our friends were +encamped, none of the savage brutes ventured within the clearing. + +With the valuable store of ivory aboard the Black Hawk, which was +now completely repaired, an early start was made the next morning. +The Africans besought Tom and his companions to remain, for it was +not often they could have the services of white men in slaying +elephants and lions. + +"But, we've got to get on the trail," decided Tom, when the natives +had brought great stores of food, and such simple presents as they +possessed, to induce the travelers to remain. + +"Every hour may add to the danger of the missionaries in the hands +of the red pygmies." + +"Yes," said Mr. Anderson gravely, "it is our duty to save them." + +And so the airship mounted into the air, our friends waving +farewells to the simple-hearted blacks, who did a sort of farewell +war-dance in their honor, shouting their praises aloud, and beating +the drums and tom-toms, so that the echoes followed for some time +after the Black Hawk had begun to mount upward toward the sky. + +The craft was in excellent shape, due to the overhauling Tom had +given it while making the repairs. With the propellers beating the +air, and the rudder set to hold them about two thousand feet high, +the travelers moved rapidly over clearings, forests and jungles. + +It was agreed that now, when they had made such a good start in +collecting ivory, that they would spend the next few days in trying +to get on the trail of the red pygmies. It might seem a simple +matter, after knowing the approximate location of the land of these +fierce little natives, to have proceeded directly to it. But Africa +is an immense continent, and even in an airship comparatively little +of the interior can be seen at a time. + +Besides, the red pygmies had a habit of moving from place to place, +and they were so small, and so wild, capable of living in very tiny +huts or caves, and so primitive, not building regular villages as +the other Africans do, that as Ned said, they were as hard to locate +as the proverbial flea. + +Our friends had a general idea of where to look for them, but on +nearing that land, and making inquiries of several friendly tribes, +they learned that the red pygmies had suddenly disappeared from +their usual haunts. + +"I guess they heard that we were after them," said Tom, with a grim +smile one day, as he sent the airship down toward the earth, for +they were over a great plain, and several native villages could be +seen dotted on its surface. + +"More likely they are in hiding because they have as captives two +white persons," said Mr. Anderson. "They are fierce and fearless, +but, nevertheless, they have, in times past, felt the vengeance of +the white man, and perhaps they dread that now." + +They made a descent, and spent several days making inquiries from +the friendly blacks about the race of little men. But scarcely +anything was learned. Some of the negro tribes admitted having heard +of the red pygmies, and others, with superstitious incantations and +imprecations, said they had never heard of them. + +One tribe of very large negroes had heard a rumor to the effect that +the band of the pygmies was several days' journey from their +village, across the mountains, and when Tom sent his airship there, +the searchers only found an impenetrable jungle, filled with lions +and other wild beasts, but not a sign of the pygmies, and with no +elephants to reward their search. + +"But we're not going to give up," declared Tom, and the others +agreed with him. Forward went the Black Hawk in the search for the +imprisoned ones, but, as the days passed, and no news was had, it +seemed to grow more and more hopeless. + +"I'm afraid if we do find them now," remarked Mr. Anderson at +length, "that we'll only recover the bodies of the missionaries." + +"Then we'll avenge them," said Tom quietly. + +They had stopped at another native village to make inquiries, but +without result, and were about to start off again that night when a +runner came in to announce that a herd of big elephants was feeding +not many miles away. + +"Well, we'll stay over a day or so, and get some more ivory," +decided Mr. Durban and that night they got ready for what was to +prove a big hunt. + + + + +CHAPTER XVII + +SHOTS FROM ABOVE + + +"There they are!" + +"My, what a lot of big ones!" + +"Jove! Mr. Anderson, see those tusks!" + +"Yes, you ought to get what you want this time, Mr. Durban." + +"Bless my hatband! There must be two hundred of them!" exclaimed Mr. +Damon. + +"I'm glad I recharged my rifle last night!" exclaimed Tom Swift. +"It's fully loaded now." + +Then followed exulting cries and shouts of the natives, who were +following our friends, the elephant hunters, who had given voice to +the remarks we have just quoted. + +It was early in the morning, and the hunt was about to start, for +the news brought in by the runner the night before had been closely +followed by the brutes themselves, and at dawn our friends were +astir, for scouts brought in word that the elephants, including many +big ones, were passing along only a few miles from the African +village. + +Cautiously approaching, with the wind blowing from the elephants to +them, the white hunters made their way along. Mr. Durban was in the +lead, and when he saw a favorable opportunity he motioned for the +others to advance. Then, when he noticed the big bull sentinels of +the herd look about as if to detect the presence of enemies, he gave +another signal and the hunters sank out of sight in the tall grass. + +As for the natives, they were like snakes, unseen but ever present, +wriggling along on their hands and knees. They were awaiting the +slaughter, when there would be fresh meat in abundance. + +At length the old elephant hunter decided that they were near enough +to chance some shots. As a matter of fact, Tom Swift, with his +electric rifle, had been within range some time before, but as he +did not want to spoil the sport for the others, by firing and +killing, and so alarming the herd, he had held back. Now they could +all shoot together. + +"Let her go!" suddenly cried Mr. Durban, and they took aim. + +There was a fusillade of reports and several of the big brutes +toppled over. + +"Bless my toothbrush!" cried Mr. Damon, "that's the time I got one!" + +"Yes, and a fine specimen, too!" added Mr. Durban, who had only +succeeded in downing a small bull, with an indifferent pair of +tusks. "A fine specimen, Mr. Damon, I congratulate you!" + +As for Tom Swift, he had killed two of the largest elephants in the +herd. + +But now the hunters had their work cut out for them, since the +beasts had taken fright and were charging away at what seemed an +awkward gait, but which, nevertheless, took them rapidly over the +ground. + +"Come on!" cried Mr. Durban. "We must get some more. Some of the +finest tusks I have ever seen are running away from us!" + +He began to race after the retreating herd, but it is doubtful if he +would have caught up to them had not a band of natives, who had +crept up and surrounded the beasts, turned them by shouts and the +beating of tom-toms. Seeing an enemy in front of them, the elephants +turned, and our friends were able to get in several more shots. Tom +Swift picked out only those with immense tusks, and soon had several +to his credit. Ned Newton also bagged some prizes. + +But finally the elephants, driven to madness by the firing and the +yells of the natives, broke through the line of black men, and +charged off into the jungle, where it was not only useless but +dangerous to follow them. + +"Well, we have enough," said Mr. Durban, and when the tusks had been +collected it was found that indeed a magnificent and valuable supply +had been gathered. + +"But I have yet to get my prize ones," said the old hunter with a +sigh. "Maybe we'll find the elephant with them when we locate the +red pygmies." + +"If we do, we'll have our work cut out for us," declared Tom. + +As on the other occasion after the hunt, there was a great feast for +the natives, who invited tribes from miles around, and for two days, +while the tusks were being cut out and cleaned, there were barbeques +on every side. + +It was one afternoon, when they were seated in the shade of the +airship, cleaning their guns, and discussing the plans they had best +follow next, that our travellers suddenly heard a great commotion +amongst the Africans, who had for the past hour been very quiet, +most of them sleeping after the feasts. They yelled and shouted, and +began to beat their drums. + +"Something is coming," said Ned. + +"Perhaps there's going to be a fight," suggested Tom. + +"Maybe it's the red pygmies," said Mr. Damon. "Bless my--" + +But what he was going to bless he did not say, for at that instant +it seemed as if every native in sight suddenly disappeared, almost +like magic. They sank down into the grass, darted into their huts, +or hid in the tall grass. + +"What can it be?" cried Tom, as he looked to see that his rifle was +in working order. + +"Some enemy," declared Mr. Anderson. + +"There they are!" cried Ned Newton, and as he spoke there burst into +view, coming from the tall grass that covered the plain about the +village, a herd of savage, wild buffaloes. On rushed the shaggy +creatures, their long, sharp horns seeming like waving spears as +they advanced. + +"Here's more sport!" cried Tom. + +"No! Not sport! Danger!" yelled Mr. Durban. "They're headed right +for us!" + +"Then we'll stop them," declared the young inventor, as he raised +his gun. + +"No! No!" begged the old hunter. "It's as much as our lives are +worth to try to stop a rush of wild buffaloes. You couldn't do it +with Gatling guns. We can kill a few, but the rest won't stop until +they've finished us and the aeroplane too." + +"Then what's to be done?" demanded Mr. Anderson. + +"Get into the airship!" cried Mr. Durban. "Send her up. It's the +only way to get out of their path. Then we can shoot them from +above, and drive them away!" + +Quickly the adventurers leaped into the craft. On thundered the +buffaloes. Tom feared he could not get the motor started quickly +enough. He did not dare risk rising by means of the aeroplane +feature, but at once started the gas machine. + +The big bag began to fill. Nearer came the wild creatures, +thundering over the ground, snorting and bellowing with rage. + +"Quick, Tom!" yelled Ned, and at that instant the Black Hawk shot +upward, just as the foremost of the buffaloes passed underneath, +vainly endeavoring to gore the craft with their sweeping horns. The +air-travelers had risen just in time. + +"Now it's our turn!" shouted Ned, as he began firing from above into +the herd of infuriated animals below him. Tom, after seeing that the +motor was working well, sent the airship circling about, while +standing in the steering tower, he guided his craft here and there, +meanwhile pouring a fusillade of his wireless bullets into the +buffaloes. Many of them dropped in their tracks, but the big herd +continued to rush here and there, crashing into the frail native +huts, tearing them down, and, whenever a black man appeared, chasing +after him infuriatedly. + +"Keep at it!" cried Mr. Durban, as he poured more lead into the +buffaloes. "If we don't kill enough of them, and drive the others +away, there won't be anything left of this village." + + + + +CHAPTER XVIII + +NEWS OF THE RED PYGMIES + + +Seldom had it been the lot of Tom and his companions to take part in +such a novel hunting scene as that in which they were now +participating. With the airship moving quickly about, darting here +and there under the guidance of the young inventor, the erratic +movements hither and thither of the buffaloes could be followed +exactly. Wherever the mass of the herd went the airship hovered over +them. + +"Want any help, Tom?" called Ned, who was firing as fast as his gun +could be worked. + +"I guess not," answered the steersman of the Black Hawk, who was +dividing his attention between managing the craft and firing his +electric rifle. + +The others, too, were kept busy with their weapons, shooting down on +the infuriated animals. It seemed like a needless slaughter, but it +was not. Had it not been for the white men, the native village, +which consisted of only frail huts, would have been completely wiped +out by the animals. As it was they were kept "milling" about in a +circle in an open space, just as stampeded cattle on the western +ranges are kept from getting away, by being forced round and round. + +Not a native was in sight, all being hidden away in the jungle or +dense grass. The white hunters in their airship had matters to +themselves. + +At last the firing proved even too much for the buffaloes which, as +we have said, are among the most dreaded of African beasts. With +bellows of fear, the leading bulls of the herd unable to find the +enemy above their heads, darted off into the forest the way they had +come. + +"There they go!" yelled Mr. Durban. + +"Yes, and I'm glad to see the last of them," added Mr. Anderson, +with a breath of relief. + +"Score another victory for the electric rifle," exclaimed Ned. + +"Oh, you did as much execution as I did," declared the inventor of +the weapon. + +"Bless my ramrod!" cried Mr. Damon. "I never shot so much in all my +life before." + +"Yes, there is enough food to last the natives for a week," observed +Mr. Durban, as Tom adjusted the deflecting rudder to send the +airship down. + +"It won't last much longer at the rate they eat," spoke the young +inventor with a laugh. "I never saw such fellows for appetites! They +seem to eat in their sleep." + +There were many dead buffaloes, but there was no fear that the meat, +which was much prized by the Africans, would be wasted. Already the +natives were coming from their hiding places, knowing that the +danger was over. Once more they sang the praises of the mighty white +hunters, and the magical air craft in which they moved about. + +With the elephants previously killed, the buffaloes provided +material for a great feast, preparations for which were at once +gotten under way, in spite of the fact that the blacks had hardly +stopped eating since the big hunt began. But it was about all they +had to do. + +Some of the buffaloes were very large, and there were a number of +pairs of fine horns. Tom and Ned had some of the blacks cut them off +for trophies, and they were stored in the airship together with the +ivory. + +Becoming rather tired of seeing so much feasting, our friends bade +the Africans farewell the next day, and once more resumed their +quest. They navigated through the air for another week, stopping at +several villages, and scanning the jungles and plains by means of +powerful telescopes, for a sight of the red pygmies. They also asked +for news of the sacking of the missionary settlement, but, beyond +meager facts, could learn nothing. + +"Well, we've got to keep on, that's all," decided Mr. Durban. "We +may find them most unexpectedly." + +"I'm sorry if I have taken you away from your work of gathering +ivory," spoke Mr. Anderson. "Perhaps you had better let me go, and +I'll see if I can't organize a band of friendly blacks, and search +for the red dwarfs myself." + +"Not much!" exclaimed Tom warmly. "I said we'd help rescue those +missionaries, and we'll do it, too!" + +"Of course," declared the old elephant hunter. "We have quite a lot +of ivory and, while we need more to make it pay well, we can look +for it after we rescue the missionaries as well as before. Perhaps +there will be a lot of elephants in the pygmies' land." + +"I was only thinking that we can't go on forever in the airship." +said Mr. Anderson. "You'll have to go back to civilization soon, +won't you, Tom, to get gasolene?" + +"No, we have enough for at least a month," answered the young +inventor. "I took aboard an unusually large supply when we started." + +"What would happen if we ran out of it in the jungle?" asked Ned. + +"Bless my pocketbook! What an unpleasant question!" exclaimed Mr. +Damon. "You are almost as cheerful, Ned, as was my friend Mr. +Parker, the gloomy scientist, who was always predicting dire +happenings." + +"Well, I was only wondering," said Ned, who was a little abashed by +the manner in which his inquiry was received. + +"Oh, it would be all right," declared Tom. "We would simply become a +balloon, and in time the wind would blow us to some white +settlement. There is plenty of material for making the lifting gas." + +This was reassuring, and, somewhat easier in mind, Ned took his +place in the observation tower which looked down on the jungle over +which they were passing. + +It was a dense forest. At times there could be seen, in the little +clearings, animals darting along. There were numbers of monkeys, an +occasional herd of buffaloes were observed, sometimes a solitary +stray elephant was noted, and as for birds, there were thousands of +them. It was like living over a circus, Ned declared. + +They had descended one day just outside a large native village to +make inquiries about elephants and the red pygmies. Of the big +beasts no signs had been seen in several months, the hunters of the +tribe told Mr. Durban. And concerning the red pygmies, the blacks +seemed indisposed to talk. + +Tom and the others could not understand this, until a witch-doctor, +whom the elephant hunter had met some time ago, when he was on a +previous expedition, told him that the tribe had a superstitious +fear of speaking of the little men. + +"They may be around us--in the forest or jungle at any minute," the +witch-doctor said. "We never speak of them." + +"Say, do you suppose that can be a clew?" asked Tom eagerly. "They +may be nearer at hand than we think." + +"It's possible." admitted the hunter. "Suppose we stay here for a +few days, and I'll see if I can't get some of the natives to go off +scouting in the woods, and locate them, or at least put us on the +trail of the red dwarfs." + +This was considered good advice, and it was decided to adopt it. +Accordingly the airship was put in a safe place, and our friends +prepared to spend a week, if necessary, in the native village. Their +presence with the wonderful craft was a source of wonder, and by +means of some trinkets judiciously given to the native king, and +also to his head subjects, and to the witch-doctors (who were a +power in the land), the good opinion of the tribe was won. Then, by +promising rewards to some of the bolder hunters, Mr. Durban finally +succeeded in getting them to go off scouting in the jungle for a +clew to the red pygmies. + +"Now we'll have to wait," said Mr. Anderson, "and I hope we get good +news." + +Our friends spent their time observing some of the curious customs +of the natives, and in witnessing some odd dances gotten up in their +honor. They also went hunting, and got plenty of game, for which +their hosts were duly grateful. Tom did some night stalking and +found his illuminating bullets a great success. + +One hot afternoon Tom and Mr. Damon strolled off a little way into +the jungle, Tom with his electric weapon, in case he saw any game. +But no animals save a few big monkeys where to be seen, and the +young inventor scorned to kill them. It seemed too much like firing +at a human being he said, though the natives stated that some of the +baboons and apes were fierce, and would attack one on the slightest +provocation. + +"I believe I'll sit down here and rest," said Tom, after a mile's +tramp, as he came to a little clearing in the woods. + +"Very well, I'll go on," decided Mr. Damon. "Mr. Durban said there +were sometimes rare orchids in these jungles, and I am very fond of +those odd flowers. I'm going to see if I can get any." + +He disappeared behind a fringe of moss-grown trees, and Tom sat +down, with his rifle across his knees. He was thinking of many +things, but chiefly of what yet lay before them--the discovery of +the red dwarfs and the possible rescue of the missionaries. + +He might have been thus day-dreaming for perhaps a half hour, when +he suddenly heard great commotion in the jungle, in the direction in +which Mr. Damon had vanished. It sounded as though some one was +running rapidly. Then came the report of the odd man's gun. + +"He's seen some game!" exclaimed Tom, jumping up, and preparing to +follow his friend. But he did not have the chance. An instant later +Mr. Damon burst through the bushes with every appearance of fright, +his gun held above his head with one hand, and his pith helmet +swaying to and fro in the other. + +"They're coming!" he cried to Tom. + +"Who, the red pygmies?" + +"No, but a couple of rhinoceroses are after me. I wounded one, and +he and his mate are right behind. Don't let them catch me, Tom!" + +Mr. Damon was very much alarmed, and there was good occasion for it, +as Tom saw a moment later, for two fierce rhinoceroses burst out of +the jungle almost on the heels of the fleeing man. + +Thought was not quicker than Tom Swift. He raised his deadly rifle, +and pressed the button. A charge of wireless electricity shot toward +the foremost animal, and it was dropped in its tracks. The other +came on woofing and snorting with rage. It was the one Mr. Damon had +slightly wounded. + +"Come on!" yelled the young inventor, for his friend was in front of +the beast, and in range with the rifle. "Jump to one side, Mr. +Damon." + +Mr. Damon tried, but his foot slipped, and there was no need for +jumping. He fell and rolled over. The rhinoceros swerved toward him, +with the probable intention of goring the prostrate man with the +formidable horn, but it had no chance. Once more the young inventor +fired, this time with a heavier charge, and the animal instantly +toppled over dead. + +"Are you hurt?" asked Tom anxiously, as he ran to his friend. Mr. +Damon got up slowly. He felt all over himself, and then answered: + +"No, Tom, I guess I'm not hurt, except in my dignity. Never again +will I fire at a sleeping rhinoceros unless you are with me. I had a +narrow escape," and he shook Tom's hand heartily. + +"Did you see any orchids?" asked the lad with a smile. + +"No, those beasts didn't give me a chance! Bless my tape measure! +but they're big fellows!" + +Indeed they were fine specimens, and there was the usual rejoicing +among the natives when they brought in the great bodies, pulling +them to the village with ropes made of vines. + +After this Mr. Damon was careful not to go into the jungle alone, +nor, in fact, did any of our friends so venture. Mr. Durban said it +was not safe. + +They remained a full week in the native village, and received no +news. In fact, all but one of the hunters came back to report that +there was no sign of the red pygmies in that neighborhood. + +"Well, I guess we might as well move on, and see what we can do +ourselves," said Mr. Durban. + +"Let's wait until the last hunter comes back," suggested Tom. "He +may bring word." + +"Some of his friends think he'll never come back," remarked Mr. +Anderson. + +"Why not?" asked Ned. + +"They think he has been killed by some wild beast." + +But this fear was ungrounded. It was on the second day after the +killing of the rhinoceroses that, as Tom was tinkering away in the +engine-room of the airship, and thinking that perhaps they had +better get under way, that a loud shouting was heard among the +natives. + +"I wonder what's up now?" mused the young inventor as he went +outside. He saw Mr. Durban and Mr. Anderson running toward the ship. +Behind them was a throng of blacks, led by a weary man whom Tom +recognized as the missing hunter. The lad's heart beat high with +hope. Did the African bring news? + +On came Mr. Durban, waving his hands to Tom. + +"We've located 'em!" he shouted. + +"Not the red pygmies?" asked Tom eagerly. + +"Yes; this hunter has news of them. He has been to the border of +their country, and narrowly escaped capture. Then he was attacked by +a lion, and slightly wounded. But, Tom, now we can get on the +trail!" + +"Good!" cried the young inventor. "That's fine news!" and he +rejoiced that once more there would be activity, for he was tired of +remaining in the African camp, and then, too, he wanted to proceed +to the rescue. Already it might be too late to save the unfortunate +missionaries. + + + + +CHAPTER XIX + +AN APPEAL FOR HELP + + +The African hunter's story was soon told. He had gone on farther +than had any of his companions, and, being a bold and brave man, had +penetrated into the very fastness of the jungle where few would dare +to venture. + +But even he had despaired of getting on the trail of the fierce +little red men, until one afternoon, just at dusk he had heard +voices in the forest. Crouching behind a fallen tree, he waited and +saw passing by some of the pygmy hunters, armed with bows and +arrows, and blowguns. They had been out after game. Cautiously the +hunter followed them, until he located one of their odd villages, +which consisted of little mud huts, poorly made. + +The black hunter remained in the vicinity of the pygmies all that +night, and was almost caught, for some wild dogs which hung around +the village smelled him out, and attracted to him the attention of +the dwarf savages. The hunter took to a tree, and so escaped. Then, +carefully marking the trail, he came away in the morning. When near +home, a lion had attacked him, but he speared the beast to death, +after a hand-to-hand struggle in which his leg was torn. + +"And do you think we can find the place?" asked Ned, when Mr. Durban +had finished translating the hunter's story. + +"I think so," was the reply. + +"But is this the settlement where the missionaries are?" asked Tom +anxiously. + +"That is what we don't know," said Mr. Anderson. "The native scout +could not learn that. But once we get on the trail of the dwarfs, I +think we can easily find the particular tribe which has the +captives." + +"At any rate, we'll get started and do something," declared Tom, and +the next day, after the African hunter had described, as well as he +could, where the place was, the Black Hawk was sent up into the air, +good-bys were called down, and once more the adventurers were under +way. + +It was decided that they had better proceed cautiously, and lower +the airship, and anchor it, sometime before getting above the place +where the pygmy village was. + +"For they may see us, and, though they don't know what our craft is, +they may take the alarm and hide deeper in the jungle with the +prisoners, where we can't find them," said Tom. + +His plan was adopted, and, while it had taken the native hunter +several days to reach the borders of the dwarfs' land, those in the +airship made the trip in one day. That is, they came as far toward +it as they thought would be safe, and one night, having located a +landmark which Mr. Durban said was on the border, the nose of the +Black Hawk was pointed downward, and soon they were encamped in a +little clearing in the midst of the dense jungle which was all about +them. + +With his electric rifle, Tom noiselessly killed some birds, very +much like chicken, of which an excellent meal was made and then, as +it became dark very early, and as nothing could be done, they +lighted a campfire, and retired inside their craft to pass the +night. + +It must have been about midnight that Tom, who was a light sleeper +at times, was awakened by some noise outside the window near which +his stateroom was. He sat up and listened, putting out his hand to +where his rifle stood in the corner near his bunk. The lad heard +stealthy footsteps pattering about on the deck of the airship. There +was a soft, shuffling sound, such as a lion or a tiger makes, when +walking on bare boards. In spite of himself, Tom felt the hair on +his head beginning to creep, and a shiver ran down his back. + +"There's something out there!" he whispered. "I wonder if I'd better +awaken the others? No, if it's a sneaking lion, I can manage to kill +him, but--" + +He paused as another suggestion came to him. + +The red pygmies! They went barefoot! Perhaps they were swarming +about the ship which they might have discovered in the darkness. + +Tom Swift's heart beat rapidly. He got softly out of his bunk, and, +with his rifle in hand made his way to the door opening on deck. On +his way he gently awakened Ned and Mr. Durban, and whispered to them +his fear. + +"If the red pygmies are out there we'll need all our force," said +the old elephant hunter. "Call Mr. Damon and Mr. Anderson, Ned, and +tell them to bring their guns." + +Soon they were all ready, fully armed. They listened intently. The +airship was all in darkness, for lights drew a horde of insects. The +campfire had died down. The soft footsteps could still be heard +moving about the deck. + +"That sounds like only one person or animal," whispered Ned. + +"It does," agreed Tom. "Wait a minute, I'll fire an illuminating +charge, and we can see what it is." + +The others posted themselves at windows that gave a view of the +deck. Tom poked his electric rifle out of a crack of the door, and +shot forth into the darkness one of the blue illuminations. The deck +of the craft was instantly lighted up brilliantly, and in the glare, +crouched on the deck, could be seen a powerful black man, nearly +naked, gazing at the hunters. + +"A black!" gasped Tom, as the light died out. "Maybe it is one from +the village we just left. What do you want? Who are you?" called the +lad, forgetting that the Africans spoke only their own language. To +the surprise of all, there came his reply in broken English: + +"Me Tomba! Me go fo' help for Missy Illingway--fo' Massy Illingway. +Me run away from little red men! Me Christian black man. Oh, if you +be English, help Missy Illingway--she most die! Please help. Tomba +go but Tomba be lost! Please help!" + + + + +CHAPTER XX + +THE FIGHT + + +Surprise, for the moment, held Tom and the others speechless. To be +answered in English, poor and broken as it was, by a native African, +was strange enough, but when this same African was found aboard the +airship, in the midst of the jungle, at midnight, it almost passed +the bounds of possibility. + +"Tomba!" mused Tom, wondering where he had heard that name before. +"Tomba?" + +"Of course!" cried Mr. Anderson, suddenly. "Don't you remember? +That's the name of the servant of Mr. and Mrs. Illingway, who +escaped and brought news of their capture by the pygmies. That's who +Tomba is." + +"Yes, but Tomba escaped," objected Mr. Durban. "He went to the white +settlements with the news. How comes he here?" + +"We'll have to find out," said Tom, simply. "Tomba, are you there?" +he called, as he fired another illuminating charge. It disclosed the +black man standing up on the deck, and looking at them appealingly. + +"Yes, Tomba here," was the answer. "Oh, you be English, Tomba know. +Please help Missy and Massy Illingway. Red devils goin' kill 'em +pretty much quick." + +"Come in!" called Tom, as he turned on the electric lights in the +airship. "Come in and tell us all about it. But how did you get +here?" + +"Maybe there are two Tombas," suggested Ned. + +"Bless my safety razor!" cried Mr. Damon "perhaps Ned is right!" + +But he wasn't, as they learned when they had questioned the African, +who came inside the airship, looking wonderingly around at the many +strange things he saw. He was the same Tomba who had escaped the +massacre, and had taken news of the capture of his master and +mistress to the white settlement. In vain after that he had tried to +organize a band to go back with him to the rescue, but the whites in +the settlement were too few, and the natives too timid. Then Tomba, +with grief in his heart, and not wanting to live while the +missionaries whom he had come to care for very much, were captives, +he went back into the jungle, determined, if he could not help them, +that at least he would share their fate, and endeavor to be of some +service to them in their captivity. + +After almost unbelievable hardships, he had found the red pygmies, +and had allowed himself to be captured by them. They rejoiced +greatly in the possession of the big black man, and for some strange +reason had not killed him. He was allowed to share the captivity of +his master and mistress. + +Time went on, and the pygmies did not kill their prisoners. They +even treated them with some kindness but were going to sacrifice +them at their great annual festival, which was soon to take place. +Mr. and Mrs. Illingway, Tomba told our friends in his broken +English, had urged him to escape at the first opportunity. They knew +if he could get away he would travel through the jungle. They could +not, even if they had not been so closely guarded that escape was +out of the question. + +But Tomba refused to go until Mr. Illingway had said that perhaps he +might get word to some white hunters, and so send help to the +captives. This Tomba consented to do, and, watching his chance, he +did escape. That was several nights ago, and he had been traveling +through the jungle ever since. It was by mere accident that he came +upon the anchored airship, and his curiosity led him to board her. +The rest is known. + +"Well, of all queer yarns, this is the limit!" exclaimed Tom, when +the black had finished. "What had we better do about it?" + +"Get ready to attack the red pygmies at once!" decided Mr. Durban. +"If we wait any longer it may be too late!" + +"My idea, exactly," declared Mr. Anderson. + +"Bless my bowie-knife!" cried Mr. Damon. "I'd like to get a chance +at the red imps! Come on, Tom! Let's start at once." + +"No, we need daylight to fight by," replied Tom, with a smile at his +friend's enthusiasm. "We'll go forward in the morning." + +"In the airship?" asked Mr. Damon. + +"I think so," answered Tom. "There can be no advantage now in trying +to conceal ourselves. We can move upon them from where we are so +quickly that they won't have much chance to get away. Besides it +will take us too long to make our way through the jungle afoot. For, +now that the escape of Tomba must be known, they may kill the +captives at once to forestall any rescue." + +"Then we'll move forward in the morning," declared Mr. Durban. + +They took Tomba with them in the airship the next day, though he +prayed fervently before he consented to it. But they needed him to +point out the exact location of the pygmies' village, since it was +not the one the hunter-scout had been near. + +The Black Hawk sailed through the air. On board eager eyes looked +down for a first sight of the red imps. Tomba, who was at Tom's side +in the steering tower, told him, as best he could, from time to +time, how to set the rudders. + +"Pretty soon by-em-by be there," said the black man at length. "Pass +ober dat hill, den red devils live." + +"Well, we'll soon be over that hill," announced Tom grimly. "I guess +we'd better get our rifles ready for the battle." + +"Are you going to attack them at once?" asked Mr. Damon. + +"Well," answered the young inventor, "I don't believe we ought to +kill any of them if we can avoid it. I don't like to do such a thing +but, perhaps we can't help ourselves. My plan is to take the airship +down, close to the hut where the missionaries are confined. Tomba +can point it out to us. If we can rescue them without bloodshed, so +much the better. But we'll fight if we have to." + +Grimly they watched as the airship sailed over the hill. Then +suddenly there came into view a collection of mud huts on a vast +plain, surrounded by dense jungle on every side. As the travelers +looked, they could see little creatures running wildly about. Even +without a glass it could be noted that their bodies were covered +with a curious growth of thick sandy hair. + +"The red pygmies!" cried Tom. "Now for the rescue!" + +Eagerly Tomba indicated the hut where his master and mistress were +held. Telling his friends to have their weapons in readiness, Tom +steered the airship toward the rude shelter whence he hoped to take +the missionaries. Down to the ground swiftly shot the Black Hawk. +Tom checked her with a quick movement of the deflecting rudder, and +she landed gently on the wheels. + +"Mr. Illingway! Mrs. Illingway! We have come to rescue you!" yelled +the young inventor, as he stepped out on the deck, with his electric +rifle in his hand. "Where are you? Can you come out?" + +The door of the hut was burst open, and a white man and woman, +recognizable as such, even in the rude skins that clothed them, +rushed out. Wonder spread over their faces as they saw the great +airship. They dropped on their knees. + +The next instant a swarm of savage little red men surrounded them, +and rudely bore them, strugglingly, back into the hut. + +"Come on!" cried Tom, about to leap to the ground. "It's now or +never! We must save them!" + +Mr. Durban pulled him back, and pointed to a horde of the red-haired +savages rushing toward the airship. "They'd tear you to pieces in a +minute!" cried the old hunter. "We must fight them from the ship." + +There was a curious whistling sound in the air. Mr. Durban looked +up. + +"Duck, everybody!" he yelled. "They're firing arrows at us! Get +under shelter, for they may be poisoned!" + +Tom and the others darted into the craft. The arrows rattled on deck +in a shower, and hundreds of the red imps were rushing up to give +battle. Inside the hut where the missionaries were, it was now +quiet. Tom Swift wondered if they still lived. + +"Give 'em as good as they send!" cried Mr. Durban. "We will have to +fire at them now. Open up with your electric rifle, Tom!" + +As he spoke the elephant hunter fired into the midst of the +screaming savages. The battle had begun. + + + + +CHAPTER XXI + +DRIVEN BACK + + +What the travelers had heard regarding the fierceness and courage of +the red pygmies had not been one bit exaggerated. Never had such +desperate fighting ever taken place. The red dwarfs, scarcely one of +whom was more than three feet high, were strongly built, and there +were so many of them, and they battled together with such singleness +of purpose, that they were more formidable than a tribe of ordinary-sized +savages would have been. + +And their purpose was to utterly annihilate the enemy that had so +unexpectedly come upon them. It did not matter to them that Tom and +the others had arrived in an airship. The strange craft had no +superstitious terror for them, as it had for the simpler blacks. + +"Bless my multiplication tables!" cried Mr. Damon. "What a mob of +them!" + +"Almost too many!" murmured Tom Swift, who was rapidly firing his +electric rifle at them. "We can never hope to drive them back, I'm +afraid." + +Indeed from every side of the plain, and even from the depths of the +jungle the red dwarfs were now pouring. They yelled most horribly, +screaming in rage, brandishing their spears and clubs, and keeping +up an incessant fire of big arrows from their bows, and smaller ones +from the blowguns. + +As yet none of our friends had been hit, for they were sheltered in +the airship, and as the windows were covered with a mesh of wire, to +keep out insects, this also served to prevent the arrows from +entering. There were loopholes purposely made to allow the rifles to +be thrust out. + +Mercifully, Tom and the others fired only to disable, and not to +kill the red pygmies. Wounded in the arms or legs, the little +savages would be incapable of fighting, and this plan was followed. +But so fierce were they that some, who were wounded twice, still +kept up the attack. + +Tom's electric rifle was well adapted for this work, as he could +regulate the charge to merely stun, no matter at what part of the +body it was directed. So he could fire indiscriminantly, whereas the +others had to aim carefully. And Tom's fire was most effective. He +disabled scores of the red imps, but scores of others sprang up to +take their places. + +After their first rush the pygmies had fallen back before the +well-directed fire of our friends, but as their chiefs and head men +urged them to the attack again, they came back with still fiercer +energy. Some, more bold than the others, even leaped to the deck of the +airship, and tried to tear the screens from the windows. They partly +succeeded, and in one casement from which Ned was firing they made a +hole. + +Into this they shot a flight of arrows, and one slightly wounded the +bank clerk on the arm. The wound was at once treated with +antiseptics, after the window had been barricaded, and Ned declared +that he was ready to renew the fight. Tom, too, got an arrow scratch +on the neck, and one of the barbs entered Mr. Durban's leg, but the +sturdy elephant hunter would not give up, and took his place again +after the wound had been bandaged. + +From time to time as he worked his electric gun, which had been +charged to its utmost capacity, Tom glanced at the hut where the +missionaries were prisoners. There was no movement noticed about it, +and no sound came from it. Tom wondered what had happened inside--he +wondered what was happening as the battle progressed. + +Fiercely the fight was kept up. Now the red imps would be driven +back, and again they would swarm about the airship, until it seemed +as if they must overwhelm it. Then the fire of the white adventurers +was redoubled. The electric rifle did great work, and Tom did not +have to stop and refill the magazine, as did the others. + +Suddenly, above the noise of the conflict, Tom Swift heard an +ominous sound. It was a hissing in the air, and well he knew what it +was. + +"The gas bag!" he cried. "They've punctured it! The vapor is +escaping. If they put too many holes in the bag it will be all up +with us!" + +"What's to be done?" asked Mr. Durban. + +"If we can't drive them back we must retreat ourselves!" declared +Tom desperately. "Our only hope is to keep the airship safe from +harm." + +Once more came a rush of the savages. They had discovered that the +gas bag was vulnerable, and were directing their arrows against +that. It was punctured in several more places. The gas was rapidly +escaping. + +"We've got to retreat!" yelled Tom. He hurried to the engine-room, +and turned on the power. The great propellers revolved, and sent the +Black Hawk scudding across the level plain. With yells of surprise +the red dwarfs scattered and made way for it. + +Up into the air it mounted on the broad wings. For the time being +our friends has been driven back, and the missionaries whom they had +come to rescue were still in the hands of the savages. + + + + +CHAPTER XXII + +A NIGHT ATTACK + + +"Well, what's to be done?" + +Tom Swift asked that question. + +"Bless my percussion cap! They certainly are the very worst imps for +fighting that I ever heard of," commented Mr. Damon helplessly. + +"Is the gas bag much punctured?" asked Ned Newton. + +"Wait a minute," resumed the young inventor, as he pulled the speed +lever a trifle farther over, thereby sending the craft forward more +swiftly, "I think my question ought to be answered first. What's to +be done? Are we going to run away, and leave that man and woman to +their fate?" + +"Of course not!" declared Mr. Durban stoutly, "but we couldn't stay +there, and have them destroy the airship." + +"No, that's so," admitted Tom, "if we lost the airship it would be +all up with us and our chances of rescuing the missionaries. But +what can we do? I hate to retreat!" + +"But what else is there left for us?" demanded Ned. + +"Nothing, of course. But we've got to plan to get the best of those +red pygmies. We can't go back in the airship, and give them open +battle. There are too many of them, and, by Jove! I believe more are +coming every minute!" + +Tom and the others looked down. From all sides of the plain, +hastening toward the village of mud huts, from which our friends +were retreating, could be seen swarms of the small but fierce +savages. They were coming from the jungle, and were armed with war +clubs, bows and arrows and the small but formidable blowguns. + +"Where are they coming from?" asked Mr. Damon. + +"From the surrounding tribes," explained Mr. Durban. "They have been +summoned to do battle against us." + +"But how did the ones we fought get word to the others so soon?" Ned +demanded. + +"Oh, they have ways of signaling," explained Mr. Anderson. "They can +make the notes of some of their hollow-tree drums carry a long +distance, and then they are very swift runners, and can penetrate +into the jungle along paths that a white man would hardly see. They +also use the smoke column as a signal, as our own American Indians +used to do. Oh, they can summon all their tribesmen to the fight, +and they probably will. Likely the sound of our guns attracted the +imps, though if we all had electric rifles like Tom's they wouldn't +make any noise." + +"Well, my rifle didn't appear to do so very much good this time," +observed the young inventor, as he stopped the forward motion of the +ship now, and let it hover over the plain in sight of the village, +the gas bag serving to sustain the craft, and there was little wind +to cause it to drift. "Those fellows didn't seem to mind being hurt +and killed any more than if mosquitoes were biting them." + +"The trouble is we need a whole army, armed with electric rifles to +make a successful attack," said Mr. Durban. "There are swarms of +them there now, and more coming every minute. I do hope Mr. and Mrs. +Illingway are alive yet." + +"Yes," added Mr. Anderson solemnly, "we must hope for the best. But, +like Tom Swift, I ask, what's to be done?" + +"Bless my thinking cap!" exclaimed Mr. Damon. "It seems to me if we +can't fight them openly in the daytime, there's only one other thing +to do." + +"What's that?" asked Tom. "Go away? I'll not do it!" + +"No, not go away," exclaimed Mr. Damon, "but make a night attack. We +ought to be able to do something then, and with your illuminating +rifle, Tom, we'd have an advantage! What do you say?" + +"I say it's the very thing!" declared Tom, with sudden enthusiasm. +"We'll attack them to-night, when they're off their guard, and we'll +see if we can't get the missionaries out of that hut. And to better +fool the savages, we'll just disappear now, and make 'em believe +we've flown away." + +"Then the missionaries will think we're deserting them," objected +Mr. Anderson. + +But there was no help for it, and so Tom once more turned on the +power and the craft sailed away. + +Tomba, the faithful black, begged to be allowed to go down, and tell +his master and mistress that help would soon be at hand again, even +though it looked like a retreat on the part of the rescuers, but +this could not be permitted. + +"They'd tear you in pieces as soon as you got among those red imps," +said Tom. "You stay here, Tomba, and you can help us to-night." + +"A'right, me glad help lick red fellows," said the black, with as +cheerful a grin as he could summon. + +The Black Hawk circled around, with Tom and the others looking for a +good place to land. They were out of sight of the village now but +did not doubt but that they were observed by the keen eyes of the +little men. + +"We want to pick out a place where they won't come upon us as we +descend," declared Tom. "We've got to mend some leaks in the gas +bag, for, while they are not serious, if we get any more punctures +they may become so. So we've got to pick out a good place to go +down." + +Finally, by means of powerful glasses, a desolate part of the jungle +was selected. No files of the red dwarfs, coming from their +scattered villages to join their tribesmen, had been noted in the +vicinity picked out, and it was hoped that it would answer. Slowly +the airship settled to earth, coming to rest in a thick grove of +trees, where there was an opening just large enough to allow the +Black Hawk to enter. + +Our friends were soon busy repairing the leaks in the bag, while Mr. +Damon got a meal ready. As they ate they talked over plans for the +night attack. + +It was decided to wait until it was about two o'clock in the +morning, as at that hour the dwarfs were most generally asleep, +Tomba said. They always stayed up quite late, sitting around camp-fires, +and eating the meat which the hunters brought in each day. But their +carousings generally ended at midnight, the black said, and then they +fell into a heavy sleep. They did not post guards, but since they knew +of the presence of the white men in the airship, they might do it +this time. + +"Well, we've got to take our chance," decided Tom. "We'll start off +from here about one o'clock, and I'll send the ship slowly along. +We'll get right over the hut where the captives are, if possible, +and then descend. I'll manage the ship, and one of you can work the +electric rifle if they attack us. We'll make a dash, get Mr. and +Mrs. Illingway from the hut, and make a quick get-away." + +It sounded good, and they were impatient to put it into operation. +That afternoon Tom and his friends went carefully over every inch of +their craft, to repair it and have it in perfect working order. Guns +were cleaned, and plenty of ammunition laid out. Then, shortly after +one o'clock in the morning the ship was sent up, and with the +searchlight ready to be turned on instantly, and with his electric +rifle near at hand, Tom Swift guided his craft on to the attack. +Soon they could see the glow of dying fires in the dwarfs' village, +but no sound came from the sleeping hordes of red imps. + + + + +CHAPTER XXIII + +THE RESCUE + + +"Can you make out the hut, Tom?" asked Ned, as he stood at his +chum's side in the steering tower, and gazed downward on the silent +village. + +"Not very clearly. Suppose you take a look through the night-glasses. +Maybe you'll have better luck." + +Ned peered long and earnestly. + +"No, I can't see a thing." he said. "It all looks to be a confused +jumble of huts. I can't tell one from the other. We'll have to go +lower." + +"I don't want to do that," objected Tom. "If this attack succeeds at +all, it will have to be sharp and quick. If we go down where they +can spot us, and work our way up to the hut where the captives are, +we'll run the chance of an attack that may put us out of business." + +"Yes, we ought to get right over the hut, and then make a sudden +swoop down," admitted Ned, "but if we can't see it--" + +"I have it!" cried Tom suddenly. "Tomba! That African can see in the +dark like a cat. Why, just before we started I dropped a wrench, and +I didn't have any matches handy to look for it. I was groping around +in the dark trying to get my hands on it, and you know it was pretty +black in the jungle. Well, along come Tomba. And he spotted it at +once and picked it up. We'll call him here and get him to point out +the hut. He can tell me how to steer." + +"Good!" cried Ned, and the black was soon standing in the pilot +house. He comprehended what was wanted of him, and peered down, +seeking to penetrate the darkness. + +"Shall I go down a little lower?" asked Tom. + +For a moment Tomba did not answer. Then he uttered an exclamation of +pleasure. + +"Me see hut!" he said, clutching Tom's arm. "Down dere!" He pointed, +but neither Tom nor Ned could see it. However, as Tomba was now +giving directions, telling Tom when to go to the left or the right, +as the wind currents deflected they were certain of soon reaching +the place where Mr. and Mrs. Illingway were concealed, if they were +still alive. + +The Black Hawk was moving slowly, and was not under as good control +as if she had been making ninety miles an hour. As it was desired to +proceed as quietly as possible, the craft was being used as a +dirigible balloon, and the propellers were whirled around by means +of a small motor, worked by a storage battery. While not much power +was obtained this way, there was the advantage of silence, which was +very necessary. Slowly the Black Hawk sailed on through the night. +In silence the adventurers waited for the moment of action. They had +their weapons in readiness. Mr. Durban was to work the electric +rifle, as all Tom's attention would be needed at the machinery. As +soon as the craft had made a landing he was to leap out, carrying a +revolver in either hand, and, followed by Tomba, would endeavor to +gain entrance to the hut, break through the flimsy grass-woven +curtain over the doorway, and get Mr. and Mrs. Illingway out. Ned, +Mr. Damon and the other two men would stand by to fire on the red +pygmies as soon as they commenced the attack, which they would +undoubtedly do as soon as the guards of the captives raised the +alarm. + +The airship was in darkness, for it would have been dangerous to +show a light. Some wakeful dwarf might see the moving illumination +in the sky, and raise a cry. + +"Mos' dere," announced Tomba at length. And then, for the first +time, Ned and Tom had a glimpse of the hut. It stood away from the +others, and was easy to pick out in daylight, but even the darkness +offered no handicap to Tomba. "Right over him now," he suddenly +called, as he leaned out of the pilot house window, and looked down. +"Right over place. Oh, Tomba glad when he see Missy an' Massy!" + +"Yes, I hope you do see them," murmured Tom, as he pulled the lever +which would pump the gas from the inflated bag, and compress it into +tanks, until it was needed again to make the ship rise. Slowly the +Black Hawk sank down. + +"Get ready!" called Tom in a low voice. + +It was a tense moment. Every one of the adventurers felt it, and all +but Tom grasped their weapons with tighter grips. They were ready to +spring out as soon as a landing was made. Tom managed the machinery +in the dark, for he knew every wheel, gear and lever, and could have +put his hand on any one with his eyes shut. The two loaded revolvers +were on a shelf in front of him. The side door of the pilot house +was ajar, to allow him quick egress. + +Tomba, armed with a big club he had picked up in the jungle, was +ready to follow. The black was eager for the fray to begin, though +how he and the others would fare amid the savages was hard to say. + +Still not a sound broke the quiet. It was very dark, for nearly all +the camp fires, over which the nightly feast had been prepared, were +out. The hut could be dimly made out, however. + +Suddenly there was a slight tremor through the ship. She seemed to +shiver, and bound upward a little. + +"We've landed!" whispered Tom. "Now for it! Come on, Tomba!" + +The big black glided after the lad like a shadow. With his two +weapons held in readiness our hero went out on deck. The others, +with cocked rifles, stood ready for the attack to open. It had been +decided that as soon as the first alarm was given by the dwarfs, +which would probably be when Tom broke into the hut, the firing +would begin. + +"Open!" called Tom to Tomba, and the big black dashed his club +through the grass curtain over the doorway of the hut. He fairly +leaped inside, with a cry of battle on his lips. + +"Mr. Illingway! Mrs. Illingway!" called Tom, "We've come to save +you. Hurry out. The airship is just outside!" + +He fired one shot through the roof of the hut, so that the flash +would reveal to him whether or not the two missionaries were in the +place. He saw two forms rise up in front of him, and knew that they +were the white captives he had observed daring the former attack. + +"Oh, what is it?" he heard the woman ask. + +"A rescue! Thank the dear Lord!" answered her husband fervently. +"Oh, whoever you are, God bless you!" + +"Come quickly!" cried Tom, "we haven't a moment to lose!" + +He was speaking to absolute blackness now, for it was darker +immediately following the revolver flash than before. But he felt a +man's hand thrust about his arm, and he knew it was Mr. Illingway. + +"Take your wife's hand, and follow me," ordered Tom. "Come, Tomba! +Are there any of the red pygmies in here?" + +He had not seen any at the weapon's flash, but his question was +answered a moment later, for there arose from within and without the +hut a chorus of wild yells. At the same time Tom felt small arms +grasp him about the legs. + +"Come on!" he yelled. "They're awake and after us!" + +The din outside increased. Tom heard the rifles of his friends +crack. He saw, through the torn door curtain, the flashes of fire. +Then came a blue glare, and Tom knew that Mr. Durban was using the +electric weapon. + +By these intermittent gleams Tom managed to see sufficiently to +thrust Mr. and Mrs. Illingway ahead of him. Tomba was at their side. +The yells inside the hut were almost deafening. All the red dwarfs +left to guard the captives had awakened, and they could see well +enough to attack Tom. Fortunately they had no weapons, but they +fairly threw themselves upon the sturdy lad, trying to pull him +down. + +"Go on! Go on!" he yelled to the captives, fairly pushing them +along. Then, knowing they were out of the way, he turned and fired +his two revolvers as fast as he could pull the triggers, into the +very faces of the red imps who were seeking to drag him down. Again +and again he fired, until he had emptied both cylinders of his +weapons. + +He felt the grasps of the fiendish little men relax one by one. Tom +finally dragged himself loose, and staggered out of the hut. The +captives and Tomba were right in front of him. At the airship, which +loomed up in the flashes from the guns and electric rifle, Tom's +friends were giving battle. About them swarmed the hordes of +savages, with more of the imps pouring in every moment. + +"Get aboard!" cried Tom to the missionaries. "Get on the airship, +and we'll move out of this!" + +He felt a stinging pain in his neck, where an arrow struck him. He +tore the arrow out, and rushed forward. Fairly pushing Mr. and Mrs. +Illingway up on deck before him, Tom followed. Tomba was capering +about his master and mistress, and he swung his big club savagely. +He had not been idle, and many a red imp had gone down under his +blows. + +"Rescued! Rescued!" murmured Mr. Illingway, as Tom hastened to the +pilot house to start the motor. + + + + +CHAPTER XXIV + +TWO OTHER CAPTIVES + + +But the rescue was not yet accomplished. Those on the airship were +still in danger, and grave peril, for all about them were the red +savages, shouting, howling, yelling and capering about, as they were +now thoroughly aroused, and realized that their captives had been +taken away from them. They determined to get them back, and were +rallying desperately to battle. Nearly all of them were armed by +this time, and flight after flight of spears and arrows were thrown +or shot toward the airship. + +Fortunately it was too dark to enable the pygmies to take good aim. +They were guided, to an extent, by the flashes of fire from the +rifles, but these were only momentary. Still some of our friends +received slight wounds, for they stood on the open deck of the +craft. + +"Bless my eye-glasses!" suddenly exclaimed Mr. Damon. "I'm stuck!" + +"Don't mind that!" advised Ned. "Keep on pouring lead into them. +We'll soon be away from here!" + +"Don't fire any more!" called Mr. Durban. "The gun-flashes tell them +where to shoot. I'll use the electric rifle. It's better." + +They followed his advice, and put aside their weapons. By means of +the electric flash, which he projected into the midst of the +savages, without the glare coming on the airship, Mr. Durban was +able to tell where to aim. Once he had a mass of red pygmies +located, he could keep on shooting charge after charge into their +midst. + +"Use it full power!" called Tom, as he opened the gas machine to its +widest capacity, so the bag would quickly fill, and the craft be +sent forward, for it was so dark, and the ground near the huts so +uneven, that the Black Hawk could not rise as an aeroplane. + +The elephant hunter turned on full strength in the electric gun and +the wireless bullets were sent into the midst of the attackers. The +result was surprising. They were so closely packed together that +when one was hit the electrical shock was sent through his nearly +naked body into the naked bodies of his tribesmen who pressed on +every side of him. In consequence whole rows of the savages went +down at a time, disabled from fighting any more. + +Meanwhile Tom was working frantically to hasten the rising of the +airship. His neck pained him very much where the arrow had struck +him, but he dared not stop now to dress the wound. He could feel the +blood running down his side, but he shut his teeth grimly and said +nothing. + +The two missionaries, scarcely able to believe that they were to be +saved, had been shown into an inner cabin by Tomba, who had become +somewhat used to the airship by this time, and who could find his +way about well in the dark, for no lights had yet been turned on. + +Hundreds of pygmies had been disabled, yet still others came to take +their places. The gas bag was again punctured in several places, but +the rents were small, and Tom knew that he could make the gas faster +than it could escape, unless the bag was ripped open. + +"They're climbing up the sides!" suddenly called Ned Newton, for he +saw several of the little men clambering up. "What shall we do?" + +"Pound their fingers!" called Mr. Anderson. "Get clubs and whack +them!" It was good advice. Ned remembered on one occasion when he +and Tom were looking at Andy Foger's airship, how this method had +been proposed when the bank clerk hung on the back fence. As he +grabbed up a stick, and proceeded to pound the hands and bare arms +of the savages who were clinging to the railing, Ned found himself +wondering what had become of the bully. He was to see Andy sooner +than he expected. + +Suddenly in the midst of the fighting, which was now a hand-to-hand +conflict, there was a tremor throughout the length of the airship. + +"She's going up!" yelled Ned. + +"Bless my check-book!" cried Mr. Damon, "if we don't look out some +of these red imps will go up with us, too!" + +As he spoke he whacked vigorously at the hands of several of the +pygmies, who dropped off with howls of anguish. + +The craft quickly shot upward. There were yells of terror from a few +of the red savages who remained clinging to different parts of the +Black Hawk and then, fearing they might be taken to the clouds, +they, too, dropped off. The rescuers and rescued mounted higher and +higher, and, when they were far enough up so that there was no +danger from the spears or arrows, Tom switched on the lights, and +turned the electric current into the search-lantern, the rays of +which beamed down on the mass of yelling and baffled savages below. + +"A few shots for them to remember us by!" cried Mr. Durban, as he +sent more of the paralyzing electric currents into the red imps. +Their yell of rage had now turned to shouts of terror, for the +gleaming beam of light frightened them more than did the airship, or +the bullets of the white men. The red pygmies fled to their huts. + +"I guess we gave them a lesson," remarked Tom, as he started the +propellers and sent the ship on through the night. + +"Why, Tom! You're hurt!" cried Ned, who came into the pilot house at +that moment, and saw blood on his chum. + +"Only a scratch," the young inventor declared. + +"It's more than that," said Mr. Durban who looked at it a little +later. "It must be bound up, Tom." + +And, while Ned steered the ship back to the jungle clearing whence +they had come to make the night attack, Tom's wound was dressed. + +Meanwhile the two missionaries had been well taken care of. They +were given other garments, even some dresses being provided for Mrs. +Illingway, for when the voyage was begun Tom had considered the +possibility of having a woman on board, and had bought some ladies' +garments. Then, having cast down to earth the ill-smelling skins +which formed their clothes while captives, Mr. and Mrs. Illingway, +decently dressed, thanked Tom and the others over and over again. + +"We had almost given up hope," said the lady, "when we saw them +drive you back after the first attack. Oh, it is wonderful to think +how you saved us, and in an airship!" and she and her husband began +their thanks over again. + +A good meal was prepared by Mr. Damon, for the rescuers and rescued +ones were hungry, and since they had been held prisoners the two +missionaries had not been given very good food. + +"Oh, it hardly seems possible that we are eating with white men +again," said Mr. Illingway, as he took a second cup of coffee, +"hardly possible!" + +"And to see electric lights, instead of a camp-fire," added his +wife. "What a wonderful airship you have, Tom Swift." + +"Yes, it's pretty good," he admitted. "It came in useful to-night, +all right." + +They were now far enough from the savages, and the pygmies' fires, +which had been set aglow anew when the attack began, could no longer +be observed. + +"We'll land at the place where we camped before," said Tom, who had +again assumed charge of the ship, "and in the morning we'll start +for civilization." + +"No can get two other white men?" suddenly asked Tomba, who had been +sitting, gazing at his recovered master and mistress. "Fly-ship go +back, an' leave two white mans here?" the black asked. + +"What in the world does he mean?" demanded Tom. "Of course we're not +going to leave any of our party behind!" + +"Let me question him," suggested Mr. Illingway, and he began to talk +to the African in his own tongue. A rapid conversation followed, and +a look of amazement spread over the faces of the two missionaries, +as they listened. + +"What is it?" asked Mr. Durban. "What does Tomba say?" + +"Why the pygmies have two other white men in captivity," said Mr. +Illingway. "They were brought in yesterday, after you were driven +away. Two white men, or, rather a white man and a youth, according +to Tomba. They are held in one of the huts near where we were, but +tied so they couldn't escape in the confusion." + +"How does Tomba know this?" asked Mr. Damon. + +"He says," translated Mr. Illingway, after more questioning of the +black, "that he heard the red pygmies boasting of it after we had +escaped. Tomba says he heard them say that, though we were gone, and +could not be killed, or sacrificed, the other two captives would +meet that horrible fate." + +"Two other white captives in the hands of the red imps!" murmured +Tom. "We must rescue them!" + +"You're not going to turn back now, are you?" asked Mr. Durban. + +"No, but I will as soon as I look the ship over. We'll come back +to-morrow. And we'll have to make a day attack or it will be too late +to save them. Two other white captives! I wonder who they can be." + +There was a big surprise in store for Tom Swift. + + + + +CHAPTER XXV + +THE ROGUE ELEPHANT--CONCLUSION + + +Early the next day the airship was again afloat. The night, what +little of darkness remained after the rescue, had been spent in the +clearing in the dense jungle. Some slight repairs had been made to +the craft, and it was once more in readiness to be used in battle +against the relentless savages. + +"We can't wait for darkness," declared Tom. "In the first place +there isn't time, and again, we don't know in what part of the +village the other captives are. We'll have to hunt around." + +"And that means going right down into the midst of the imps and +fighting them hand to hand," said Ned. + +"That's what it means," assented Tom grimly, "but I guess the powder +bombs will help some." + +Before starting they had prepared a number of improvised bombs, +filled with powder, which could be set off by percussion. It was the +plan to drop these down from the airship, into the midst of the +savages. When the bomb struck the ground, or even on the bodies of +the red dwarfs, it would explode. It was hoped that these would so +dismay the little men that they would desert the village, and leave +the way clear for a search to be made for the other captives. + +On rushed the Black Hawk. There was to be no concealment this time, +and Tom did not care how much noise the motors made. Accordingly he +turned on full speed. + +It was not long before the big plain was again sighted. Everything +was in readiness, and the bombs were at hand to be dropped +overboard. Tom counted on the natives gathering together in great +masses as soon as they sighted the airship, and this would give him +the opportunity wanted. + +But something different transpired. No sooner was the craft above +the village, than from all the huts came pouring out the little red +men. But they did not gather together--at least just then. They ran +about excitedly, and it could be seen that they were bringing from +the huts the rude household utensils in which they did their +primitive cooking. The women had their babies, and some, not so +encumbered, carried rolls of grass matting. The men had all their +weapons. + +"Bless my wagon wheel!" cried Mr. Damon. "What's going on?" + +"It looks like moving day," suggested Ned Newton. + +"That's just what it is!" declared Mr. Durban. "They are going to +migrate. Evidently they have had enough of us, and they're going to +get out of the neighborhood before we get a chance to do any more +damage. They're moving, but where are the white captives?" + +He was answered a moment later, for a crowd of the dwarfs rushing to +a certain hut, came out leading two persons by means of bark ropes +tied about their necks. It was too far off to enable Tom or the +others to recognize them, but they could tell by the clothing that +they were white captives. + +"We've got to save them!" exclaimed the young inventor. + +"How?" asked Mr. Damon. And, indeed, it did seem a puzzle for, even +as Tom looked, the whole tribe of red imps took up the march into +the jungle, dragging the white persons with them. The captives +looked up, saw the airship, and made frantic motions for help. It +was too far off, yet, to hear their voices. But the distance was +lessening every moment, for Tom had speeded the motor to the highest +pitch. + +"What are you going to do?" demanded Ned. + +"I'll show you," answered his chum. "Take some of those bombs, and +be ready to drop them overboard when I give the word." + +"But we may kill those white people," objected Ned. + +"Not the way I'm going to work it. You drop them when I give the +word." + +Tom steered the airship toward the head of the throng of blacks. The +captives were in the rear, and the van of the strange procession was +near the edge of the jungle now. Once the red dwarfs got into the +tangle of underbrush they could never be found, and their captives +would die a miserable death. + +"We've got to stop them," murmured Tom. "Are you ready, Ned?" + +"Ready!" + +"Then drop the bombs!" + +Ned dropped them. A sharp explosion was heard, and the head of the +procession was blown apart and thrown into confusion. The throng +halted. + +"Drop more!" cried Tom, sending the ship about in a circle, and +hovering it over the middle of the press of savages. + +More of the deadly bombs exploded. The pygmies were running about +wildly. Tom, who was closely watching the rear of the cavalcade, +suddenly called out: + +"Now's our chance! They've let their captives go, and are running +into the jungle. We must swoop down, and get the prisoners!" + +It was no sooner said than the nose of the Black Hawk was pointed +downward. Onward it flew, the two captives wildly waving their hands +to the rescuers. There was no more danger from the red savages. They +had been thrown into panic and confusion, and were rapidly +disappearing into the forest. The terrible weapons of the whites had +been too much for them. + +"Quick! Get on board!" called Tom, as he brought the machinery to a +stop. The airship now rested on the ground, close to the former +captives. "Get in here!" shouted the young inventor. "They may +change their minds and come back." + +The two white persons ran toward the Black Hawk. Then one of them--the +smaller--halted and cried out: + +"Why, it's Tom Swift!" + +Tom turned and glanced at the speaker. A look of astonishment spread +over his face. + +"Andy Foger--here!" gasped Tom. "How in the world--?" + +"I dink besser as ve git on der board, und dalk aftervard!" +exclaimed Andy's companion, who spoke with a strong German accent. +"I like not dose red little mans." + +In another minute the two rescued ones were safe on Tom Swift's +airship, and it had arisen high enough to be out of all danger. + +"How in the world did you ever get here?" asked Tom of the lad who +had so often been his enemy. + +"I'll tell you soon," spoke Andy, "but first, Tom, I want to ask +your forgiveness for all I've done to you, and to thank you, from +the bottom of my heart, for saving us. I thought we were going to be +killed by those dwarfs; didn't you, Herr Landbacher?" + +"Sure I did. But ve are all right now. Dis machine is efen besser as +mine vot vos lost. Is dere anyt'ing to eats, on board, if you vill +excuse me for being so bolt as to ask?" + +"Plenty to eat," said Tom, laughing, "and while you eat you can tell +us your story. And as for you, Andy, I hope we'll be friends from +now on," and Tom held out his hand. + +There was not much to tell that the reader has not already guessed. +Andy and the German, as has been explained, went abroad to give +airship flights. They were in the lower part of Egypt, and a sudden +gale drove them into Africa. + +For a long time they sailed on, and then their fuel gave out, and +they had to descend into the jungle. They managed to fall in with +some friendly blacks, who treated them well. The airship was useless +without gasolene, and it was abandoned. + +Andy and the German inventor were planning to walk to some white +settlement, when the tribe they were with was attacked by the red +dwarfs and vanquished. Andy and his friend were taken prisoners, and +carried to the very village where the missionaries were, just before +the latter's rescue. + +Then came the fight, and the saving of Andy and the German, almost +at the last minute. + +"Well, you certainly had nearly as many adventures as we did," said +Tom. "But I guess they're over now." + +But they were not. For several days the airship sailed on over the +jungles without making a descent. Mr. and Mrs. Illingway wished to +be landed at a white settlement where they had other missionary +friends. Tom would go with them. This was done, and Tom and the +others spent some time in this place, receiving so many kinds of +thanks that they had to protest. + +Andy and Herr Landbacher asked to be taken back to the coast, where +they could get a steamer to America. Andy was a very different lad +now, and not the bully of old. + +"Well, hadn't we better be thinking of getting back home?" asked Tom +one day. + +"Not until we get some more ivory," declared Mr. Durban. "I think +we'll have to have another elephant hunt." + +They did, about a week later, and got some magnificent tusks. Tom's +electric rifle did great work, to the wonder of Andy and Mr. +Landbacher, who had never before seen such a curious weapon. They +also did some night hunting. + +"But we haven't got that pair of extra large tusks that I want," +said the old hunter, as he looked at the store of ivory accumulated +after the last hunt. "I want those, and then I'll be satisfied. +There is one section of the country that we have not touched as yet, +and I'd like to visit that." + +"Then let's go," proposed Tom, so, good-bys having been said to the +missionaries, who sent greetings to their friends in America, and to +the church people who had arranged for their rescue, the airship was +once more sent to the deepest part of a certain jungle, where Mr. +Durban hoped to get what he wanted. + +They had another big hunt, but none of the elephants had any +remarkable tusks, and the hunter was about to give up in despair, +and call the expedition over, when one afternoon, as they were +sailing along high enough to merely clear the tops of the trees, Tom +heard a great crashing down below. + +"There's something there," he called to Mr. Durban. "Perhaps a small +herd of elephants. Shall we go down?" + +Before Mr. Durban could answer there came into view, in a small +clearing, an elephant of such size, and with such an enormous pair +of tusks, that the young inventor and the old hunter could not +repress cries of astonishment. + +"There's your beast!" said Tom. "I'll go down and you can pot him," +and, as he spoke, Tom stopped the propellers, so that the ship hung +motionless in the air above where the gigantic brute was. + +Suddenly, as though possessed by a fit of rage, the elephant rushed +at a good-sized tree and began butting it with his head. Then, +winding his trunk around it he pulled it up by the roots, and began +trampling on it out of a paroxysm of anger. + +"A rogue elephant!" exclaimed Mr. Durban. "Don't go down if you +value your life, or the safety of the airship. If we attacked that +brute on the ground, we would be the hunted instead of the hunters. +That's a rogue elephant of the worst kind, and he's at the height of +his rage." + +This was indeed so, for the beast was tearing about the clearing +like mad, breaking off trees, and uprooting them in sheer +wantonness. Tom knew what a "rogue" elephant was. It is a beast that +goes away from the herd, and lives solitary and alone, attacking +every living thing that comes in his way. It is a species of +madness, a disease which attacks elephants and sometimes passes +away. More often the afflicted creature gives battle to everything +and every animal he meets until he is killed or carried off by his +malady. It was such an elephant that Tom now saw, and he realized +what the hunter said about attacking one, as he saw the brute's mad +rushes. + +"Well, if it's dangerous to attack him on the ground, we'll kill him +from up above," said the young inventor. "Here is the electric +rifle, Mr. Durban. I'll let you have the honor of getting those +tusks. My! But they're whoppers! Better use almost a full charge. +Don't take any chances on merely wounding him, and having him rush +off to the jungle." + +"I won't," said the old hunter, and he adjusted the electric rifle +which Tom handed him. + +As the great beast was tearing around, trumpeting shrilly and +breaking off trees Mr. Durban fired. The creature sank down, +instantly killed, and was out of his misery, for often it is great +pain which makes an otherwise peaceable elephant become a "rogue." + +"He's done for," said Ned. "I guess you have the tusks you want now, +Mr. Durban." + +"I think so," agreed the hunter, and when the airship was sent down, +and the ivory cut out, it was found that the tusks were even larger +than they had supposed. "It is a prize worth having," said Mr. +Durban. "I'm sure my customer will think so, too. Now I'm ready to +head for the coast." + +Tom Swift went to the engine room, while the last big tusks were +being stored away with the other ivory. Several parts of the motor +needed oiling, and Ned was assisting in this work. + +"Going to start soon?" asked Mr. Durban, appearing in the doorway. + +"Yes; why?" inquired Tom, who noted an anxious note in the voice of +the hunter. + +"Well, I don't like staying longer in this jungle than I can help. +It's not healthy in the first place, and then it's a wild and +desolate place, where all sorts of wild beasts are lurking, and +where wandering hands of natives may appear at any time." + +"You don't mean that the red pygmies will come back; do you?" asked +Ned. + +"There's no telling," replied Mr. Durban with a shrug of his +shoulders. "Only, as long as we've got what we're after, I'd start +off as soon as possible." + +"Yes, don't run any chances with those little red men," begged Andy +Foger, who had given himself up for lost when he and his companion +fell into their hands. + +"Radder vould I be mit cannibals dan dose little imps!" spoke the +German fervently. + +"We'll start at once," declared Tom. "Are you all aboard, and is +everything loaded into the airship?" + +"Everything, I guess." answered Mr. Anderson. + +Tom looked to the motor, saw that it was in working order, and +shoved over the lever of the gas machine to begin the generating of +the lifting vapor. To his surprise there was no corresponding hiss +that told of the gas rushing into the bag. + +"That's odd," he remarked. "Ned, see if anything is wrong with that +machine. I'll pull the lever again." + +The bank clerk stood beside the apparatus, while Tom worked the +handle, but whatever was the matter with it was too intricate or +complicated for Ned to solve. + +"I can't see what ails it," he called to his chum. "You better have +a peep." + +"All right, I'll look if you work the handle." + +The passengers on the airship, which now rested in a little clearing +in the dense jungle, gathered at the engine room door, looking at +Tom and Ned as they worked over the machine. + +"Bless my pulley wheel!" exclaimed Mr. Damon "I hope nothing has +gone wrong." + +"Well something has!" declared the young inventor in a muffled +voice, for he was down on his hands and knees peering under the gas +apparatus. "One of the compression cylinders has cracked," he added +dubiously. "It must have snapped when we landed this last time. I +came down too heavily." + +"What does that mean?" asked Mr. Durban, who did not know much about +machinery. + +"It means that I've got to put a new cylinder in," went on Tom. +"It's quite a job, too, but we can't make gas without it!" + +"Well, can't you do it just as well up in the air as down here?" +asked Mr. Durban. "Make an ascension, Tom, and do the repairs up +above, where we've got good air, and where--" + +He paused suddenly, and seemed to be listening. + +"What is it?" asked the young inventor quickly. There was no need to +answer, for, from the jungle without, came the dull booming of the +war drums of some natives. + +"That's what I was afraid of!" cried the old elephant hunter, +catching up his gun. "Some black scout has seen us and is summoning +his tribesmen. Hurry, Tom, send up the ship, and we'll take care of +the savages." + +"But I CAN'T send her up!" cried Tom. + +"You can't? Why not?" + +"Because the gas machine won't work until I put in a new cylinder, +and that will take at least a half a day." + +"Go up as an aeroplane then!" cried Mr. Damon. "Bless my monkey +wrench, Tom, you've often done it before." + +For answer Tom waved his hand toward the thick jungle all about +them. + +"We haven't room to get a running start of ten feet." he said, "and +without a start the airship can never rise as a mere aeroplane. The +only way we can get up from the jungle is like a balloon, and +without the gas--" + +He paused significantly. The sound of the war drums became louder, +and to it was added a weird singing chant. + +"The natives!" cried Mr. Anderson. "They're coming right this way! +We must fight them off if they attack us!" + +"Where's the electric rifle?" asked Ned. "Get that out, Tom!" + +"Wait!" suggested Mr. Durban. "This is serious! It looks as if they +were going to attack us, and they have us at a disadvantage. Our +only safety is in flight, but as Tom says we can't go up until the +gas machine is fixed, he will have to attend to that part of it +while we keep off the black men. Tom, we can't spare you to fight +this time! You repair the ship as soon as you can, and we'll guard +her from the natives. And you've got to work lively!" + +"I will!" cried the young inventor. "It's luck we have a spare +cylinder!" + +Suddenly there was a louder shout in the jungle and it was followed +by a riot of sound. War drums were beaten, tom-toms clashed and the +natives howled. + +"Here they are!" cried Mr. Anderson. + +"Bless my suspenders!" shouted Mr. Damon. "Where is my gun?" + +"Here, you take mine, and I'll use the electric rifle," answered the +elephant hunter. As he spoke there was a hissing sound in the air +and a flight of spears passed over the airship. + +The defenders slipped outside, while Tom, with Ned to help him, +worked feverishly to repair the break. They were in a serious +strait, for with the airship practically helpless they were at the +mercy of the natives. And as Tom glanced momentarily from the +window, he saw scores of black, half-naked forms slipping in and out +among the trees and trailing vines. + +Soon the rifles of his friends began to crack, and the yells of the +natives were changed to howls of anguish. The electric weapon, +though it made no noise, did great execution. + +"I only hope they don't puncture the gas bag," murmured Tom, as he +began taking the generating machine apart so as to get out the +cracked cylinder. + +"If they do, it's all up with us," murmured Ned. + +After their first rush, finding that the white men were on the +alert, the blacks withdrew some distance, where their spears and +arrows were not so effective. Our friends, including Andy Foger, and +the German, kept up a hot fire whenever a skulking black form could +be seen. + +But, though the danger from the spears and arrows was less, a new +peril presented itself. This was from the blow guns. The curious +weapons shot small arrows, tipped with tufts of a cottony substance +in place of feathers, and could be sent for a long distance. The +barbs were not strong enough to pierce the tough fabric of the gas +bag, as a spear or arrow would have done, but there was more danger +from them to our friends who were on deck. + +"Those barbs may be poisoned," said Mr. Durban, "and in case any one +is wounded, the wound, though it be but a scratch, must be treated +with antiseptics. I have some." + +This course was followed, the elephant hunter being wounded twice, +and Andy Foger and Mr. Damon once each. There was not a native to be +seen now, for they were hiding behind the trees of the jungle, but +every now and then a blowgun barb would whizz out of the forest. + +Finally Mr. Durban suggested that they erect improvised shelters, +behind which they could stand with their rifle, and breastworks were +made out of packing boxes. Then our friends were comparatively safe. +But they had to be on the alert, and it was nervous work, for they +could not tell what minute the blacks would rush from the jungle, +and, in spite of the fire from the electric rifle and other guns, +overwhelm the ship. + +It was very trying to Tom and Ned, for they had to work hard and +rapidly in the close engine room. The sweat dripped down off them, +but they kept at it. It was three hours before the broken cylinder +was removed, and it was no light task to put in the other, for the +valves had to be made very tight to prevent leakage. + +The two lads stopped to get something to eat, while the guards kept +sharp watch against a surprise. At intervals came a flight of barbs, +and occasionally a black form could be seen, when it was instantly +fired at. Several times the barbaric noise of the tom-toms and war +drums, with which the shouts of the natives mingled, broke out +deafeningly. + +"Think you can repair it by night?" asked Mr. Durban anxiously of +Tom. + +"I hope so," was the response. + +"Because if we have to stay here after dark--well, I don't want to +do it if I can help it," finished the hunter. + +Neither did the young inventor, and he redoubled his efforts to make +the repairs. It was getting dark when the last belt was in place, +and it was high time, too, for the natives were getting bolder, +creeping up through the forest to within shooting distance with +their arrows and spears. + +"There!" cried Tom at length. "Now we'll see if she works!" Once +more he pulled the starting lever, and this time there was the +welcome hiss of the gas. + +"Hurrah!" cried Ned. + +The young inventor turned the machine on at full power. In a few +minutes the Black Hawk trembled through her length. + +"She's going up! Bless my balloon basket! She's going up!" cried Mr. +Damon. + +The natives must have suspected that something unusual was going on, +for they made a sudden rush, yelling and beating their drums. Mr. +Durban and the others hurried out on deck and fired at them, but +there was little more need. With a bound the airship left the earth, +being rapidly carried up by the gas. The blacks sent a final shower +of spears after her, but only one was effective, slightly wounding +the German. Then Tom started the motor, the propellers whizzed, and +the Black Hawk was once more under way, just as night settled over +the jungle, and upon the horde of black and howling savages that +rushed around, maddened over the escape of their intended victims. + +No further accidents marred the trip to the coast, which was reached +in due time, and very glad our friends were to be away from the +jungle and the land of the red pygmies. + +A division was made of the ivory, and Tom's share was large enough +to provide him with a substantial amount. Ned and Mr. Damon were +also given a goodly sum from the sale of the tusks. The big ones, +from the "rogue," were shipped to the man who had commissioned Mr. +Durban to secure them for him. + +"Well, now for home," said Tom, when the airship had been taken +apart for shipment. "I guess you'll be glad to get back to the +United States, won't you, friends?" + +"That's what," agreed Andy Foger. "I think I'm done with airships. +Ugh! When I think of those red dwarfs I can't sleep nights!" + +"Yah, dot iss so!" agreed the German. + +"Well, I'm going to settle down for a time," declared Tom. "I've had +enough adventures for a while, but those in elephant land--" + +"They certainly put it all over the things that happen to some +people!" interrupted Ned with a laugh. + +"Bless my fish-line, that's so!" agreed Mr. Damon. + +But Tom Swift was not done with adventures, and what farther +happened to him may be learned by reading the next volume of this +series, which will be entitled, "Tom Swift in the City of Gold; or, +Marvelous Adventures Underground." + +They all made a safe and pleasant voyage home, and as news of the +rescue of the missionaries had been cabled to America, Tom and his +friends were met, as they left the steamer, by a crowd of newspaper +reporters, who got a good story of the battle with the red pygmies, +though Tom was inclined to make light of his part in the affair. + +"Now for Shopton, home, Dad, Eradicate Sampson and his mule!" +exclaimed Tom, as they boarded a train in New York. + +"And somebody else, too, I guess; eh?" asked Ned of his chum, +with a laugh. + +"That's none of your affair!" declared Tom, as he blushed, +and then he, too, joined in the merriment. + +And now, for a time, we will say good-by to the young inventor +and his friends. + + + + + + + + +End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of Tom Swift and his Electric Rifle, by +Victor Appleton + +*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK TOM SWIFT AND HIS ELECTRIC RIFLE *** + +***** This file should be named 3777.txt or 3777.zip ***** +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: + https://www.gutenberg.org/3/7/7/3777/ + +Produced by This etext was produced by Charles Franks, +Greg Weeks, and the Online Distributed Proofreading Team. + + +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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FOR PUBLIC DOMAIN ETEXTS*Ver.07/27/01*END* + + + + + +This etext was produced by Charles Franks, Greg Weeks, and the +Online Distributed Proofreading Team. + + + + + + +TOM SWIFT AND HIS ELECTRIC RIFLE + +OR + +Daring Adventures in Elephant Land + +by VICTOR APPLETON + + + + +CONTENTS + + I TOM WANTS EXCITEMENT + II TRYING THE NEW GUN + III A DIFFICULT TEST + IV BIG TUSKS WANTED + V RUSH WORK + VI NEWS FROM ANDY + VII THE BLACK HAWK FLIES + VIII OFF FOR AFRICA + IX ATTACKED BY A WHALE + X OFF IN THE AIRSHIP + XI ANCHORED TO EARTH + XII AMONG THE NATIVES + XIII ON THE ELEPHANT TRAIL + XIV A STAMPEDE + XV LIONS IN THE NIGHT + XVI SEEKING THE MISSIONARIES + XVII SHOTS FROM ABOVE + XVIII NEWS OF THE RED PYGMIES + XIX AN APPEAL FOR HELP + XX THE FIGHT + XXI DRIVEN BACK + XXII A NIGHT ATTACK + XXIII THE RESCUE + XXIV TWO OTHER CAPTIVES + XXV THE ROGUE ELEPHANT--CONCLUSION + + + + +CHAPTER I + +TOM WANTS EXCITEMENT + + +"Have you anything special to do to-night, Ned?" asked Tom Swift, +the well-known inventor, as he paused in front of his chum's window, +in the Shopton National Bank. + +"No, nothing in particular," replied the bank clerk, as he stacked +up some bundles of bills. "Why do you ask?" + +"I wanted you to come over to the house for a while." + +"Going to have a surprise party, or something like that?" + +"No, only I've got something I'd like to show you." + +"A new invention?" + +"Well, not exactly new. You've seen it before, but not since I've +improved it. I'm speaking of my new electric rifle. I've got it +ready to try, now, and I'd like to see what you think of it. There's +a rifle range over at the house, and we can practice some shooting, +if you haven't anything else to do." + +"I haven't, and I'll be glad to come. What are you doing in the +bank, anyhow; putting away more of your wealth, Tom?" + +"Yes, I just made a little deposit. It's some money I got from the +government for the patents on my sky racer, and I'm salting it down +here until Dad and I can think of a better investment." + +"Good idea. Bring us all the money you can," and the bank clerk, who +held a small amount of stock in the financial institution, laughed, +his chum joining in with him. + +"Well, then. I'll expect you over this evening," went on the +youthful inventor, as he turned to leave the bank. + +"Yes, I'll be there. Say, Tom, have you heard the latest about Andy +Foger?" + +"No, I haven't heard much since he left town right after I beat him +in the aeroplane race at Eagle Park." + +"Well, he's out of town all right, and I guess for a long time this +trip. He's gone to Europe." + +"To Europe, eh? Well, he threatened to go there after he failed to +beat me in the race, but I thought he was only bluffing." + +"No, he's really gone this time." + +"Well, I, for one, am glad of it. Did he take his aeroplane along?" + +"Yes, that's what he went for. It seems that this Mr. Landbacher, +the German who really invented it, and built it with money which Mr. +Foger supplied, has an idea he can interest the German or some other +European government in the machine. Andy wanted to go along with +him, and as Mr. Foger financed the scheme, I guess he thought it +would be a good thing to have some one represent him. So Andy's +gone." + +"Then he won't bother me. Well, I must get along. I'll expect you +over to-night," and with a wave of his hand Tom Swift hurried from +the bank. + +The young inventor jumped into his electric runabout which stood +outside the institution, and was about to start off when he saw a +newsboy selling papers which had just come in from New York, on the +morning train. + +"Here, Jack, give me a TIMES," called Tom to the lad, and he tossed +the newsboy a nickel. Then, after glancing at the front page, and +noting the headings, Tom started off his speedy car, in which, on +one occasion, he had made a great run, against time. He was soon at +home. + +"Well, Dad, I've got the money safely put away," he remarked to an +aged gentleman who sat in the library reading a book. "Now we won't +have to worry about thieves until we get some more cash in." + +"Well, I'm glad it's coming in so plentifully," said Mr. Swift with +a smile. "Since my illness I haven't been able to do much, Tom, and +it all depends on you, now." + +"Don't let that worry you, Dad. You'll soon be as busy as ever," +for, following a serious operation for an ailment of the heart, Mr. +Swift, who was a veteran inventor, had not been able to do much. But +the devices of his son, especially a speedy monoplane, which Tom +invented, and sold to the United States Government, were now +bringing them in a large income. In fact with royalties from his +inventions and some gold and diamonds which he had secured on two +perilous trips, Tom Swift was quite wealthy. + +"I'll never be as busy as I once was," went on Mr. Swift, a little +regretfully, "but I don't know that I care as long as you continue +to turn out new machines, Tom. By the way, how is the electric rifle +coming on? I haven't heard you speak of it lately." + +"It's practically finished, Dad. It worked pretty well the time I +took it when we went on the trip to the caves of ice, but I've +improved it very much since then. In fact I'm going to give it a +severe test to-night. Ned Newton is coming over, and it may be that +then we'll find out something about it that could be bettered. But I +think not. It suits me as it is." + +"So Ned is coming over to see it; eh? You ought to have Mr. Damon +here to bless it a few times." + +"Yes, I wish I did. And he may come along at any moment, as it is. +You never can tell when he is going to turn up. Mrs. Baggert says +you were out walking while I was at the bank, Dad. Do you feel +better after it?" + +"Yes, I think I do, Tom. Oh, I'm growing stronger every day, but it +will take time. But now tell me something about the electric gun." + +Thereupon the young inventor related to his father some facts about +the improvements he had recently made to the weapon. It was dinner +time when he had finished, and, after the meal Tom went out to the +shed where he built his aeroplanes and his airships, and in which +building he had fitted up a shooting gallery. + +"I'll get ready for the trial to-night," he said "I want to see what +it will do to a dummy figure. Guess I'll make a sort of scarecrow +and stuff it with straw. I'll get Eradicate to help me. Rad! I say, +Rad! Where are you?" + +"Heah I is, Massa Tom! Heah I is" called a colored man as he came +around the corner of a small stable where he kept his mule +Boomerang. "Was yo'-all callin' me?" + +"Yes, Rad, I want you to help make a scarecrow." + +"A scarecrow, Massa Tom! Good land a' massy! What fo' yo' want ob a +scarecrow? Yo'-all ain't raisin' no corn, am yo'?" + +"No, but I want something to shoot at when Ned Newton comes over to- +night." + +"Suffin t' shoot at? Why Massa Tom! Good land a' massy! Yo'-all +ain't gwine t' hab no duel, am yo'?" + +"No, Rad, but I want a life-size figure on which to try my new +electric gun. Here are some old clothes, and if you will stuff them +with rags and straw and fix them so they'll stand up, they'll do +first-rate. Have it ready by night, and set it up at the far end of +the shooting gallery." + +"All right, Massa Tom. I'll jest do dat, fo' yo'," and leaving the +colored man to stuff the figure, after he had showed him how, Tom +went back into the house to read the paper which he had purchased +that morning. + +He skimmed over the news, thinking perhaps he might see something of +the going abroad of Andy Foger with the German aeroplane, but there +was nothing. + +"I almost wish I was going to Europe," sighed Tom. "I will certainly +have to get busy at something, soon. I haven't had any adventure +since I won the prize at the Eagle Park aviaton meet in my sky +racer. Jove! That was some excitement! I'd like to do that over +again, only I shouldn't want to have Dad so sick," for just before +the race, Tom had saved his father's life by making a quick run in +the aeroplane, to bring a celebrated surgeon to the invalid's aid. + +"I certainly wish I could have some new adventures," mused Tom, as +he turned the pages of the paper. "I could afford to take a trip +around the earth after them, too, with the way money is coming in +now. Yes, I do wish I could have some excitement. Hello, what's +this! A big elephant hunt in Africa. Hundreds of the huge creatures +captured in a trap--driven in by tame beasts. Some are shot for +their tusks. Others will be sent to museums." + +He was reading the headlines of the article that had attracted his +attention, and, as he read, he became more and more absorbed in it. +He read the story through twice, and then, with sparkling eyes, he +exclaimed: + +"That's just what I want. Elephant shooting in Africa! My! With my +new electric rifle, and an airship, what couldn't a fellow do over +in the dark continent! I've a good notion to go there! I wonder if +Ned would go with me? Mr. Damon certainly would. Elephant shooting +in Africa! In an airship! I could finish my new sky craft in short +order if I wanted to. I've a good notion to do it!" + + + + +CHAPTER II + +TRYING THE NEW GUN + + +While Tom Swift is thus absorbed in thinking about a chance to hunt +elephants, we will take the opportunity to tell you a little more +about him, and then go on with the story. + +Many of you already know the young inventor, but those who do not +may be interested it hearing that he is a young American lad, full +of grit and ginger, who lives with his aged father in the town of +Shopton, in New York State. Our hero was first introduced to the +public in the book, "Tom Swift and His Motorcycle." + +In that volume it was related how Tom bought a motor-cycle from a +Mr. Wakefield Damon, of Waterford. Mr. Damon was an eccentric +individual, who was continually blessing himself, some one else, or +something belonging to him. His motor-cycle tried to climb a tree +with him, and that was why he sold it to Tom. The two thus became +acquainted, and their friendship grew from year to year. + +After many adventures on his motor-cycle Tom got a motor-boat, and +had some exciting times in that. One of the things he and his father +and his chum, Ned Newton, did, was to rescue, from a burning balloon +that had fallen into Lake Carlopa, an aeronaut named John Sharp. +Later Tom and Mr. Sharp built an airship called the Red Cloud, and +with Mr. Damon and some others had a series of remarkable fights. + +In the Red Cloud they got on the track of some bank robbers, and +captured them, thus foiling the plans of Andy Foger, a town bully, +and one of Tom's enemies, and putting to confusion the plot of Mr. +Foger, Andy's father. + +After many adventures in the air Tom and his friends, in a submarine +boat, invented by Mr. Swift, went under the ocean for sunken +treasure and secured a large part of it. + +It was not long after this that Tom conceived the idea of a powerful +electric car, which proved, to be the speediest of the road, and in +it he won a great race, and saved from ruin a bank in which his +father and Mr. Damon were interested. + +The sixth book of the series, entitled "Tom Swift and His Wireless +Message," tells how, in testing a new electric airship, which a +friend of Mr. Damon's had invented, Tom, the inventor and Mr. Damon +were lost on an island in the middle of the ocean. There they found +some castaways, among whom were Mr. and Mrs. Nestor, parents of Mary +Nestor of Shopton, a girl of whom Tom was quite fond. + +Tom Swift, after his arrival home, went on an expedition among a +gang of men known as the "Diamond Makers" who were hidden in the +Rocky Mountains. He was accompanied by Mr. Barcoe Jenks, one of the +castaways of Earthquake Island. They found the diamond makers, and +had some surprising adventures, barely escaping with their lives. + +This did not daunt Tom, however, and he once more started off on an +expedition in his airship the Red Cloud to Alaska, amid the caves of +ice. He was searching for a valley of gold, and though he and his +friends found it, they came to grief. The Fogers, father and son, +tried to steal the gold from them, and, failing in that, incited the +Eskimos against our friends. There was a battle, but the forces of +nature were even more to be dreaded than the terrible savages. + +The ice cave, in which the Red Cloud was stored, collapsed, crushing +the gallant craft, and burying it out of sight forever under +thousand of tons of the frozen bergs. + +After a desperate journey Tom and his friends reached civilization, +with a large supply of gold. Tom regretted very much the destruction +of the airship, but he at once set to work on another--a monoplane +this time, instead of a combined aeroplane and dirigible balloon. +This new craft he called the Humming Bird and it was a "sky racer" +of terrific speed. In it, as we have said, Tom brought a specialist +to operate on his father, when, because of a broken railroad bridge, +the physician could not otherwise have gotten to Shopton. He and Tom +traveled through the air at the rate of over one hundred miles an +hour. Later, Tom took part in a big race for a ten-thousand-dollar +prize, and won, defeating Andy Foger, and a number of well-known +"bird-men" who used biplanes and monoplanes of a more or less +familiar type. + +The government became interested in Tom's craft, the Humming Bird, +and, as told in the ninth book of this series, Tom Swift and His Sky +Racer, they secured some rights in the invention. + +And now Tom, who had done nothing for several months following the +great race--that is, nothing save to work on his new rifle--Tom, we +say, sighed for new adventures. + +"Well, Tom, what is on your mind?" asked his father at the supper +table that evening. "What is worrying you?" + +"Nothing is worrying me, Dad." + +"You are thinking of something. I can see that. Are you afraid your +electric rifle won't work as well as you hope, when Ned comes over +to try it?" + +"No, it isn't that, Dad. But I may as well tell you, I guess. I've +been reading in the paper about a big elephant hunt in Africa, and +I--" + +"That's enough, Tom! You needn't say any more," interrupted Mr. +Swift. "I can see which way the wind is blowing. You want to go to +Africa with your new rifle." + +"Well, Dad, not exactly--that is--" + +"Now, Tom, you needn't deny it," and Mr. Swift laughed. "Well, I +don't blame you a bit. You have been rather idle of late." + +"I would like to go, Dad," admitted the young inventor, "only I'd +never think of it while you weren't well." + +"Don't worry about me, Tom. Of course I will be lonesome while you +are gone, but don't let that stand in the way. If you want to go to +Africa, you may start to-morrow, and take your new rifle with you." + +"The rifle part would be all right, Dad, but if I went I'd want to +take an airship along, and it will take me some little time to +finish the Black Hawk, as I have named my new craft." + +"Well, there's no special hurry, is there?" asked Mr. Swift. "The +elephants in Africa are likely to stay there for some time. If you +want to go, why don't you get right to work on the Black Hawk and +make the trip? I'd like to go myself." + +"I wish you would, Dad," exclaimed Tom eagerly. + +"No, son, I couldn't think of it. I want to stay here and get well. +Then I am going to resume work on my wireless motor. Perhaps I'll +have it finished when you come back from Africa with an airship load +of elephants' tusks." + +"Perhaps," admitted the young inventor. "Well, Dad, I'll think of +it. But now I'm going after my rifle, and--" + +Tom was interrupted by a ring of the front-door bell, and Mrs. +Baggert, the housekeeper, who was almost like a mother to the youth, +went to answer it. + +"It's Ned Newton, I guess," murmured Tom, and, a little later, his +chum entered the room. + +"Oh, I guess I'm early," said Ned. "Haven't you had supper yet, +Tom'" + +"Yes, we're just finished. Come on out and we'll try the gun." + +"And practice shooting elephants," added Mr. Swift with a laugh, as +he mentioned to Ned the latest idea of Tom. + +"Say! That would he great!" cried the bank clerk. "I wish I could +go!" + +"Come along!" invited Tom cordially. "We'll have more fun than we +did in the caves of ice," for Ned had gone on the voyage to Alaska. + +The two youths went out to the shed where the rifle gallery had been +built. The new electric weapon was out there, and Eradicate Sampson, +the colored man, who was a sort of servant and man-of-all-work about +the Swift household, had set up the scarecrow figure at the end of +the gallery. + +"Now we'll try some shots," said Tom, as he took the gun out of the +case. "Just turn on a few more lights, will you, Mr. Jackson," and +the engineer, who was employed by Tom and his father to aid them in +their inventive work, did as requested. + +The gallery was now brilliantly illuminated, with the reflectors +throwing the beams on the big stuffed figure, which, save for a +face, looked very much like a human being, standing at the end of +the gallery. + +"I don't suppose you want to go down there and hold it, while I +shoot at it; do you, Rad?" asked Tom jokingly, as he prepared the +electric rifle for use. + +"No indeedy, I don't!" cried Eradicate. "Yo'-all will hab t' scuse +me, Massa Tom. I think I'll be goin' now." + +"What's your hurry?" asked Ned, as he saw the colored man hastily +preparing to leave the improvised gallery. + +"I spects I'd better fro' down some mo' straw fo' a bed fo' my mule +Boomerang!" exclaimed Eradicate, as he hastily slid out of the door, +and shut it after him. + +"Rad is nervous," remarked Tom. "He doesn't like this gun. Well, it +certainly does great execution." + +"How does it work'" asked Ned, as he looked at the curious gun. The +electric weapon was not unlike an ordinary heavy rifle in appearance +save that the barrel was a little longer, and the stock larger in +every way. There were also a number of wheels, levers, gears and +gages on the stock. + +"It works by electricity," explained Tom. + +"That is, the force comes from a powerful current of stored +electricity." + +"Oh, then you have storage batteries in the stock?" + +"Not exactly. There are no batteries, but the current is a sort of +wireless kind. It is stored in a cylinder, just as compressed air or +gases are stored, and can be released as I need it." + +"And when it's all gone, what do you do?" + +"Make more power by means of a small dynamo." + +"And does it shoot lead bullets?" + +"Not at all. There are no bullets used." + +"Then how does it kill?" + +"By means of a concentrated charge of electricity which is shot from +the barrel with great force. You can't see it, yet it is there. It's +just as if you concentrated a charge of electricity of five thousand +volts into a small globule the size of a bullet. That flies through +space, strikes the object aimed at and--well, we'll see what it does +in a minute. Mr. Jackson, just put that steel plate up in front of +the scarecrow; will you?" + +The engineer proceeded to put into place a section of steel armor- +plate before the stuffed figure. + +"You don't mean to say you're going to shoot through that, do you?" +asked Ned in surprise. + +"Surely. The electric bullets will pierce anything. They'll go +through a brick wall as easily as the x-rays do. That's one valuable +feature of my rifle. You don't have to see the object you aim at. In +fact you can fire through a house, and kill something on the other +side." + +"I should think that would be dangerous." + +"It would be, only I can calculate exactly, by means of an automatic +arrangement, just how far the charge of electricity will go. It +stops short just at the limit of the range, and is not effective +beyond that. Otherwise, if I did not limit it and if I fired at the +scarecrow, through the piece of steel, and the bullet hit the +figure, it would go on, passing through whatever else was in the +way, until its power was lost. I use the term 'bullet,' though as I +said, it isn't properly one." + +"By Jove, Tom, it certainly is a dangerous weapon!" + +"Yes, the range-limit idea is a new one. That's what I've been +working on lately. There are other features of the gun which I'll +explain later, particularly the power it has to shoot out luminous +bars of light. But now we'll see what it will do to the image." + +Tom took his place at the end of the range, and began to adjust some +valves and levers. In spite of the fact that the gun was larger than +an ordinary rifle, it was not as heavy as the United States Army +weapon. + +Tom aimed at the armor-plate, and, by means of an arrangement on the +rifle, he could tell exactly when he was pointing at the scarecrow, +even though he could not see it. + +"Here she goes!" he suddenly exclaimed. + +Ned watched his chum. The young inventor pressed a small button at +the side of the rifle barrel, about where the trigger should have +been. There was no sound, no smoke, no flame and not the slightest +jar. + +Yet as Ned watched he saw the steel plate move slightly. The next +instant the scarecrow figure seemed to fly all to pieces. There was +a shower of straw, rags and old clothes, which fell in a shapeless +heap at the end of the range. + +"Say. I guess you did for that fellow, all right!" exclaimed Ned. + +"It looks so," admitted Tom, with a note of pride in his voice. "Now +we'll try another test." + +As he laid aside his rifle in order to help Mr. Jackson shift the +steel plate there was a series of yells outside the shed. + +"What's that?" asked Tom, in some alarm. + +"Sounds like some one calling," answered Ned. + +"It is," agreed Mr. Jackson. "Perhaps Eradicate's mule has gotten +loose. I guess we'd better--" + +He did not finish, for the shouts increased in volume, and Tom and +Ned could hear some one yelling: + +"I'll have the law on you for this! I'll have you arrested, Tom +Swift! What do you mean by trying to kill me? Where are you? Don't +try to hide away, now. You were trying to shoot me, and I'm not +going to have it!" + +Some one pounded on the door of the shed. + +"It's Barney Moker!" exclaimed Tom. "I wonder what can have +happened?" + + + + +CHAPTER III + +A DIFFICULT TEST + + +Tom Swift opened the door of the improvised rifle gallery and looked +out. By the light of a full moon, which shone down from a cloudless +sky, he saw a man standing at the portal. The man's face was +distorted with rage, and he shook his fist at the young inventor. + +"What do you mean by shooting at me?" he demanded. "What do you +mean, I say? The idea of scaring honest folks out of their wits, and +making 'em think the end of the world has come! What do you mean by +it? Why don't you answer me? I say, Tom Swift, why don't you answer +me?" + +"Because you don't give me a chance, Mr. Moker," replied our hero. + +"I want to know why you shot at me? I demand to know!" and Mr. +Moker, who was a sort of miserly town character, living all alone in +a small house, just beyond Tom's home, again shook his fist almost +in the lad's face. "Why don't you tell me? Why don't you tell me?" +he shouted. + +"I will, if you give me a chance!" fairly exploded Tom. "If you can +be cool for five minutes, and come inside and tell me what happened +I'll be glad to answer any of your questions, Mr. Moker. I didn't +shoot at you." + +"Yes, you did! You tried to shoot a hole through me!" + +"Tell me about it?" suggested Tom, as the excited man calmed down +somewhat. "Are you hurt?" + +"No, but it isn't your fault that I'm not. You tried hard enough to +hurt me. Here I am, sitting at my table reading, and, all at once +something goes through the side of the house, whizzes past my ear, +makes my hair fairly stand up on end, and goes outside the other +side of the house. What kind of bullets do you use, Tom Swift? +that's what I want to know. They went through the side of my house, +and never left a mark. I demand to know what kind they are." + +"I'll tell you, if you'll only give me a chance," went on Tom +wearily. "How do you know it was me shooting?" + +"How do I know? Why, doesn't the end of this shooting gallery of +yours point right at my house? Of course it does; you can't deny +it!" + +Tom did not attempt to, and Mr. Moker went on: + +"Now what do you mean by it?" + +"If any of the bullets from my electric gun went near you, it was a +mistake, and I'm sorry for it," said Tom. + +"Well, they did, all right," declared the excited man. "They went +right past my ear." + +"I don't see how they could," declared Tom. "I was trying my new +electric rifle, but I had the limit set for two hundred feet, the +length of the gallery. That is, the electrical discharge couldn't go +beyond that distance." + +"I don't know what it was, but it went through the side of my house +all the same," insisted Mr. Moker. "It didn't make a hole, but it +scorched the wall paper a little." + +"I don't see how it could," declared Tom. "It couldn't possibly have +gone over two hundred feet with the gage set for that distance." He +paused suddenly, and hurried over to where he had placed his gun. +Catching up the weapon he looked at the gage dial. Then he uttered +an exclamation. + +"I'm sorry to admit that you are right, Mr. Moker!" he said finally. +"I made a mistake. The gage is set for a thousand feet instead of +two hundred. I forgot to change it. The charge, after passing +through the steel plate, and the scarecrow figure, destroying the +latter, went on, and shot through the side of your house." + +"Ha! I knew you were trying to shoot me!" exclaimed the still angry +man. "I'll have the law on you for this!" + +"Oh, that's all nonsense!" broke in Ned Newton. "Everybody knows Tom +Swift wouldn't try to shoot you, or any one else, Mr. Moker." + +"Then why did he shoot at me?" + +"That was a mistake," explained Tom, "and I apologize to you for +it." + +"Humph! A lot of good that would do me, if I'd been killed!" +muttered the miser. "I'm going to sue you for this. You might have +put me in my grave." + +"Impossible!" exclaimed Tom. + +"Why impossible?" demanded the visitor. + +"Because I had so set the rifle that almost the entire force of the +electrical bullet was expended in blowing apart the scarecrow figure +I made for a test," explained Tom. "All that passed through your +house was a small charge, and, if it HAD hit you there would have +been no more than a little shock, such as you would feel in taking +hold of an electric battery." + +"How do I know this?" asked the man cunningly. "You say so, but for +all I know you may have wanted to kill me." + +"Why?" asked Tom, trying not to laugh. + +"Oh, so you might get some of my money. Of course I ain't got none," +the miser went on quickly, "but folks thinks I've got a lot, and I +have to be on the lookout all the while, or they'd murder me for +it." + +"I wouldn't," declared the young inventor. "It was a mistake. Only +part of the spent charge passed near you. Why, if it had been a +powerful charge you would never have been able to come over here. I +set the main charge to go off inside the scarecrow, and it did so, +as you can see by looking at what's left of it," and he pointed to +the pile of clothes and rags. + +"How do I know this?" insisted the miser with a leer at the two +lads. + +"Because if the charge had gone off either before or after it passed +through the figure, it would not have caused such havoc of the cloth +and straw," explained Tom. "First the charge would have destroyed +the steel plate, which it passed through without even denting it. +Why, look here, I will now fire the rifle at short range, and set it +to destroy the plate. See what happens." + +He quickly adjusted the weapon, and aimed it at the plate, which, +had again been set up on the range. This time Tom was careful to set +the gage so that even a small part of the spent. charge would not go +outside the gallery. + +The young inventor pressed the button, and instantly the heavy steel +plate was bent, torn and twisted as though a small sized cannon ball +had gone through it. + +"That's what the rifle will do at short range," said Tom. "Don't +worry, Mr. Moker, you didn't have a narrow escape. You were in no +danger at all, though I apologize for the fright I caused you." + +"Humph! That's an easy way to get out of it!" exclaimed the miser. +"I believe I could sue you for damages, anyhow. Look at my scorched +wall paper." + +"Oh, I'll pay for that," said Tom quickly, for he did not wish to +have trouble with the unpleasant man. "Will ten dollars be enough?" +He knew that the whole room could be repapered for that, and he did +not believe the wall-covering was sufficiently damaged for such work +to be necessary. + +"Well, if you'll make it twelve dollars, I won't say anything more +about it," agreed the miser craftily, "though it's worth thirteen +dollars, if it is a penny. Give me twelve dollars, Tom Swift, and I +won't prosecute you." + +"All right, twelve dollars it shall be," responded the young +inventor, passing over the money, and glad to be rid of the +unpleasant character. + +"And after this, just fire that gun of yours the other way," +suggested Mr. Moker as he went out, carefully folding the bills +which Tom had handed him. + +"Hum! that was rather queer," remarked Ned, after a pause. + +"It sure was," agreed his chum. "This rifle will do more than I +thought it would. I'll have to be more careful. I was sure I set the +gage for two hundred feet. I'll have to invent some automatic +attachment to prevent it being discharged when the gage is set +wrong." Let us state here that Tom did this, and never had another +accident. + +"Well, does this end the test?" asked Ned. + +"No, indeed. I want you to try it, while I look on," spoke Tom. "We +haven't any more stuffed figures to fire at, but I'll set up some +targets. Come on, try your luck at a shot." + +"I'm afraid I might disturb Mr. Moker, or some of the neighbors." + +"No danger. I've got it adjusted right now. Come on, see if you can +shatter this steel target," and Tom set up a small one at the end of +the range. + +Then, having properly fixed the weapon, Tom handed it to his chum, +and, taking his place in a protected part of the gallery, prepared +to watch the effect of the shot. + +"Let her go!" cried Tom, and Ned pressed the button. + +The effect was wonderful. Though there was no noise, smoke nor +flame, the steel plate seemed to crumple up, and collapse as if it +had been melted in the fire. There was a jagged hole through the +center, but some frail boards back of it were not even splintered. + +"Good shot!" cried Tom enthusiastically. "I had the distance gage +right that time." + +"You sure did," agreed Ned. "The electric bullet stopped as soon as +it did its work on the plate. What's next?" + +"I'm going to try a difficult test," explained Tom. "You know I said +the gun would shoot luminous charges?" "Yes." + +"Well, I'm going to try that, now. I wish we had another image to +shoot at, but I'll take a big dry-goods box, and make believe it's +an elephant. Now, this is going to be a hard test, such as we'd meet +with, if we were hunting in Africa. I want you to help me." + +"What am I to do?" asked Ned. + +"I want you to go outside," explained Tom, "set up a dry-goods box +against the side of the little hill back of the shed, and not tell +me where you put it. Then I'll go out, and, by means of the luminous +charge, I'll locate the box, set the distance gage, and destroy it." + +"Well, you can see it anyhow, in the moonlight," objected Ned. + +"No, the moon is under a cloud now," explained Tom, looking out of a +window. "It's quite dark, and will give me just the test I want for +my new electric rifle." + +"But won't it be dangerous, firing in the dark? Suppose you misjudge +the distance, and the bullet, or charge, files off and hits some +one?" + +"It can't. I'll set the distance gage before I shoot. But if I +should happen to make a mistake the charge will go into the side of +the hill, and spend itself there. There is no danger. Go ahead, and +set up the box, and then come and tell me. Mr. Jackson will help +you." + +Ned and the engineer left the gallery. As Tom had, said, it was very +dark now, and if Tom could see in the night to hit a box some +distance away, his weapon would be all that he claimed for it. + +"This will do," said the engineer, as he pointed to a box, one of +several piled up outside the shed. The two could hardly see to make +their way along, carrying it to the foot of the hill, and they +stumbled several times. But at last it was in position, and then Ned +departed to call Tom, and have him try the difficult test--that of +hitting an object in the dark. + + + + +CHAPTER IV + +BIG TUSKS WANTED + + +"Well, are you all ready for me?" asked the young inventor, as he +took up his curious weapon, and followed Ned out into the yard. It +was so dark that they had fairly to stumble along. + +"Yes, we're ready," answered Ned. "And you'll be a good one, Tom, if +you do this stunt. Now stand here, "he went on, as he indicated a +place as well as he could in the dark. The box is somewhere in that +direction," and he waved his hand vaguely. "I'm not going to tell +you any more, and let's see you find it. + +"Oh, I will, all right--or, rather, my electric rifle will," +asserted Tom. + +The inventor of the curious and terrible weapon took his position. +Behind him stood Ned and Mr. Jackson, and just before Tom was ready +to fire, his father came stalking through the darkness, calling to +them. + +"Are you there, Tom?" + +"Yes Dad, is anything the matter?" + +"No, but I thought I'd like to see what luck you have. Rad was +saying you were going to have a test in the dark." + +"I'm about ready for it," replied Tom. "I'm going to blow up a box +that I can't see. You know how it's done, Dad, for you helped me in +perfecting the luminous charge, but it's going to be something of a +novelty to the others. Here we go, now!" + +Tom raised his rifle, and aimed it in the dark. Ned Newton, +straining his eyes to see, was sure the young inventor was pointing +the gun at least twenty feet to one side of where the box was +located, but he said nothing, for from experiences in the past, he +realized that Tom knew what he was doing. + +There was a little clicking sound, as the youth moved some gear +wheel on his gun. Then there came a faint crackling noise, like some +distant wireless apparatus beginning to flash a message through +space. + +Suddenly a little ball of purplish light shot through the darkness +and sped forward like some miniature meteor. It shed a curious +illuminating glow all about, and the ground, and the objects on it +were brought into relief as by a lightning flash. + +An instant later the light increased in intensity, and seemed to +burst like some piece of aerial fireworks. There was a bright glare, +in which Ned and the others could see the various buildings about +the shed. They could see each other's faces, and they looked pale +and ghastly in the queer glow. They could see the box, brought into +bold relief, where Ned and the engineer had placed it. + +Then, before the light had died away, they witnessed a curious +sight. The heavy wooden box seemed to dissolve, to collapse and to +crumple up like one of paper, and ere the last rays of the +illuminating bullet faded, the watchers saw the splinters of wood +fall back with a clatter in a little heap on the spot where the dry- +goods case had been. + +A silence followed, and the darkness was all the blacker by contrast +with the intense light. At length Tom spoke, and he could not keep +from his voice a note of triumph. + +"Well, did I do it?" he asked. + +"You sure did!" exclaimed Ned heartily. + +"Fine!" cried Mr. Swift. + +"Golly! I wouldn't gib much fo' de hide ob any burglar what comed +around heah!" muttered Eradicate Sampson. "Dat box am knocked clean +into nuffiness, Massa Tom." + +"That's what I wanted to do," explained the lad. "And I guess this +will end the test for tonight." + +"But I don't exactly understand it," spoke Ned, as they all moved +toward the Swift home, Eradicate going to the stable to see how his +mule was. "Do you have two kinds of bullets, Tom, one for night and +one for the daytime?" + +"No," answered Tom, "there is only one kind of bullet, and, as I +have said, that isn't a bullet at all. That is, you can't see it, or +handle it, but you can feel it. Strictly speaking, it is a +concentrated discharge of wireless electricity directed against a +certain object. You can't see it any more than you can see a +lightning bolt, though that is sometimes visible as a ball of fire. +My electric rifle bullets are similar to a discharge of lightning, +except that they are invisible." + +"But we saw the one just now," objected Ned. + +"No, you didn't see the bullet," said Tom. + +"You saw the illuminating flash which I send out just before I fire, +to reveal the object I am to hit. That is another part of my rifle +and is only used at night." + +"You see I shoot out a ball of electrical fire which will disclose +the target, or the enemy at whom I am firing. As soon as that is +discharged the rifle automatically gets ready to shoot the electric +charge, and I have only to press the proper button, and the +'bullet,' as I call it, follows on the heels of the ball of light. +Do you see?" + +"Perfectly," exclaimed Ned with a laugh. "What a gun that would be +for hunting, since most all wild beasts come out only at night." + +"That was one object in making this invention," said Tom. "I only +hope I get a chance to use it now." + +"I thought you were going to Africa after elephants," spoke Mr. +Swift. + +"Well, I did think of it." admitted Tom, "but I haven't made any +definite plans. But come into the house, Ned. and I'll show you more +in detail how my rifle works." + +Thereupon the two chums spent some time going into the mysteries of +the new weapon. Mr. Swift and Mr. Jackson were also much interested, +for, though they had seen the gun previously and had helped Tom +perfect it, they had not yet tired of discussing its merits. + +Ned stayed quite late that night, and promised to come over the next +day, and watch Tom do some more shooting. + +"I'll show you how to use it, too," promised the young inventor, and +he was as good as his word, initiating Ned into the mysteries of the +electric rifle, and showing him to store the charges of death- +dealing electricity in the queer-looking stock. + +For a week after that Tom and Ned practiced with the terrible gun, +taking care not to have any more mishaps like the one that had +marked the first night. They were both good shots with ordinary +weapons and it was not long before they had equaled their record +with the new instrument. + +It was one warm afternoon, when Tom was out in the meadow at one +side of his house, practicing with his rifle on some big boxes he +had set up for targets, that he saw an elderly man standing close to +the fence watching him. When Tom blew to pieces a particularly large +packing-case, standing a long distance away from it, the stranger +called to the youth. + +"I beg your pardon," he said, "but is that a dynamite gun you are +using?" + +"No, it's an electric rifle," was the answer. + +"Would you mind telling me something about it?" went on the elderly +man, and as Tom's weapon was now fully protected by patents, the +young inventor cordially invited the stranger to come nearer and see +how it worked. + +"That's the greatest thing I ever saw!" exclaimed the man +enthusiastically when Tom had blown up another box, and had told of +the illumination for night firing. "The most wonderful weapon I ever +heard of! What a gun it would be in my business." + +"What is your trade?" asked Tom curiously, for he had noted that the +man, while aged, was rugged and hearty, and his skin was tanned a +leathery brown, showing that he was much in the open air. + +"I'm a hunter," was the reply, "a hunter of big game, principally +elephants, hippos and rhinoceroses. I've just finished a season in +Africa, and I'm going back there again soon. I came on to New York +to get a new elephant gun. I've got a sister living over in +Waterford, and I've been visiting her. I went out for a stroll to- +day, and I came farther than I intended. That's how I happened to be +passing here." + +"A sister in Waterford, eh?" mused Tom, wondering whether the +elephant hunter had met Mr. Damon. "And how soon are you going hack +to Africa, Mr.--er--" and Tom hesitated. + +"Durban is my name, Alexander Durban," said the old man. "Why, I am +to start back in a few weeks. I've got an order for a pair of big +elephant tusks--the largest I can get for a wealthy New York man,-- +and I'm anxious to fulfil the contract. The game isn't what it once +was. There's more competition and the elephants are scarcer. So I've +got to hustle." + +"I got me a new gun. but my! it's nothing to what yours is. With +that weapon I could do about as I pleased. I could do night hunting, +which is hard in the African jungle. Then I wouldn't have any +trouble getting the big tusks I'm after. I could get a pair of them, +and live easy the rest of my life. Yes, I wouldn't ask anything +better than a gun like yours. But I s'pose they cost like the +mischief?" He looked a question at Tom. + +"This is the only one there is," was the lad's answer. "But I am +very glad to have met you, Mr. Durban. Won't you come into the +house? I'm sure my father will be glad to see you, and I have +something I'd like to talk to you about," and Tom, with many wild +ideas in his head, led the old elephant hunter toward the house. + +The dream of the young inventor might come true after all. + + + + +CHAPTER V + +RUSH WORK + + +Mr. Swift made the African hunter warmly welcome, and listened with +pride to the words of praise Mr. Durban bestowed on Tom regarding +the rifle. + +"Yes, my boy has certainly done wonders along the inventive line," +said Mr. Swift. + +"Not half as much as you have, Dad," interrupted the lad, for Tom +was a modest youth. + +"You should see his sky racer," went on the old inventor. + +"Sky racer? What's that?" asked Mr. Durban. "Is it another kind of +gun or cannon?" + +"It's an aeroplane--an airship," explained Mr. Swift. + +"An airship!" exclaimed the old elephant hunter. "Say, you don't +mean that you make balloons, do you?" + +"Well, they're not exactly balloons," replied Tom, as he briefly +explained what an aeroplane was, for Mr. Durban, having been in the +wilds of the jungle so much, had had very little chance to see the +wonders and progress of civilization. + +"They are better than balloons," went on Tom, "for they can go where +you want them to." + +"Say! That's the very thing!" cried the old hunter enthusiastically. +"If there's one thing more than another that is needed in hunting in +Africa it's an airship. The travel through the jungle is something +fierce, and that, more than anything else, interferes with my work. +I can't cover ground enough, and when I do get on the track of a +herd of elephants, and they get away, it's sometimes a week before I +can catch up to them again." + +"For, in spite of their size, elephants can travel very fast, and +once they get on the go, nothing can stop them. An airship would be +the very thing to hunt elephants with in Africa--an airship and this +electric rifle. I wonder why you haven't thought of going, Tom +Swift." + +"I have thought of it," answered the young inventor, "and that's why +I asked you in. I want to talk about it." + +"Do you mean you want to go?" demanded the old man eagerly. + +"I certainly do!" + +"Then I'm your man! Say, Tom Swift, I'd be proud to have you go to +Africa with me. I'd be proud to have you a member of my hunting +party, and, though I don't like to boast, still if you'll ask any of +the big-game people they'll tell you that not every one can +accompany Aleck Durban." + +Tom realized that he was speaking to an authority and a most +desirable companion, should he go to Africa, and he was very glad of +the chance that had made him acquainted with the veteran hunter. + +"Will you go with me?" asked Mr. Durban. "You and your electric gun +and your airship? Will you come to Africa to hunt elephants, and +help me get the big tusks I'm after?" + +"I will!" exclaimed Tom. + +"Then we'll start at once. There's no need of delaying here any +longer." + +"Oh, but I haven't an airship ready," said the young inventor. The +face of the old hunter expressed his disappointment. + +"Then we'll have to give up the scheme," he said ruefully. + +"Not at all," Tom told him. "I have all the material on hand for +building a new airship. I have had it in mind for some time, and I +have done some work on it. I stopped it to perfect my electric +rifle, but, now that is done, I'll tackle the Black Hawk again, and +rush that to completion."- + +"The Black Hawk?" repeated Mr. Durban, wonderingly. + +"Yes, that's what I will name my new craft. The RED CLOUD was +destroyed, and so I thought I'd change the color this time, and +avoid bad luck." + +"Good!" exclaimed the hunter. "When do you think you can have it +finished?" + +"Oh, possibly in a month--perhaps sooner, and then we will go to +Africa and hunt elephants!" + +"Bless my ivory paper cutter!" exclaimed a voice in the hall just +outside the library. "Bless my fingernails! But who's talking about +going to Africa?" + +The old hunter looked at Tom and his father in surprise, but the +young inventor laughing and going to the door, called out: + +"Come on in, Mr. Damon. I didn't hear you ring. There is some one +here from your town." + +"Is it my wife?" asked the odd gentleman who was always blessing +something. "She said she was going to her mother's to spend a few +weeks, and so I thought I'd come over here and see if you had +anything new on the program. The first thing I hear is that you are +going to Africa. And so there's some one from Waterford in there, +eh? Is it my wife?" + +"No," answered Tom with another laugh. "Come on in Mr. Damon." + +"Bless my toothpick!" exclaimed the odd gentleman, as he saw the +grizzled elephant hunter sitting between Tom and Mr. Swift. "I have +seen you somewhere before, my dear sir." + +"Yes," admitted Mr. Durban, "if you're from Waterford you have +probably seen me traveling about the streets there. I'm stopping +with my sister, Mrs. Douglass, but I can't stand it to be in the +house much, so I'm out of doors, wandering about a good bit of the +time. I miss my jungle. But we'll soon be in Africa, Tom Swift and +me." + +"Is it possible, Tom?" asked Mr. Damon. "Bless my diamond mines! but +what are you going to do next?" + +"It's hard to say," was the answer. "But you came just in time. Mr. +Damon. I'm going to rush work on the Black Hawk, my newest airship, +and we'll leave for elephant land inside of a month, taking my new +electric rifle along. Will you come" + +"Bless my penknife! I never thought of such a thing. I--I--guess-- +no, I don't know about it--yes, I'll go!" he suddenly exclaimed. +"I'll, go! Hurrah for the elephants!" and he jumped up and shook +hands in turn with Mr. Durban, to whom he had been formally +introduced, and with Tom and Mr. Swift. + +"Then it's all settled but the details," declared the youth, "and +now I'll call in Mr. Jackson, and we'll talk about how soon we can +have the airship ready." + +"My, but you folks are almost as speedy as a herd of the big +elephants themselves!" exclaimed Mr. Durban, and with the advent of +the engineer the talk turned to things mechanical among Tom and Mr. +Jackson and Mr. Damon, while Mr. Durban told Mr. Swift hunting +stories which the old inventor greatly enjoyed. + +The next day Tom engaged two machinists who had worked for him +building airships before, and in the next week rush work began on +the new Black Hawk. Meanwhile Mr. Durban was a frequent visitor at +Tom's home, where he learned to use the new rifle, declaring it was +even more wonderful than he had at first supposed. + +"That will get the elephants!" he exclaimed. It did, as you shall +soon learn, and it also was the means of saving several lives in the +wilds of the African jungle. + + + + +CHAPTER VI + +NEWS FROM ANDY + + +Tom Swift's former airship, the Red Cloud, had been such a fine +craft, and had done such good service that he thought, in building a +successor, that he could do no better than to follow the design of +the skyship which had been destroyed in the ice caves. But, on +talking with the old elephant hunter, and learning something of the +peculiarities of the African jungle the young inventor decided on +certain changes. + +In general the Black Hawk would be on the lines of the Red Cloud but +it would be smaller and lighter and would also be capable of swifter +motion. + +"You want it so that it will rise and descend quickly and at sharp +angles," said Mr. Durban. + +"Why," inquired Tom. + +"Because in Africa, at least in the part where we will go, there are +wide patches of jungle and forest, with here and there big open +places. If you are skimming along close to the ground, in an open +place, in pursuit of a herd of elephants and they should suddenly +plunge into the forest, you would want to be able to rise above the +trees quickly." + +"That's so," admitted Tom. "Then I'll have to use a smaller gas bag +than we had on the other ship, for the air resistance to that big +one made us go slowly at times." + +"Will it be as safe with a small bag?" Mr. Damon wanted to know. + +"Yes, for I will use a more powerful gas, so that we will be more +quickly lifted," said the young inventor. "I will also retain the +aeroplane feature, so that the Black Hawk will be a combined biplane +and dirigible balloon. But it will have many new features. I have +the plans all drawn for a new style of gas generating apparatus, and +I think it can be made in time." + +There were busy days about the Swift home. Mrs. Baggert, the +housekeeper, was in despair. She said the good meals she got ready +were wasted, because no one would come to table when they were +ready. She would ring the bell, and announce that dinner would be +served in five minutes. + +Then Tom would shout from his workshop that he could not leave until +he had inserted a certain lever in place. Mr. Jackson would +positively decline to sit down until he had screwed fast some part +of a machine. Even Mr. Swift, who, because of his recent illness, +was not allowed to do much, would often delay his meal to test some +new style of gears. + +As for Mr. Damon, it was to be expected that he would be eccentric +as he always was. He was not an expert mechanic, but he knew +something of machinery and was of considerable help to Tom in the +rush work on the airship. He would hear the dinner bell ring, and +would exclaim: + +"Bless my napkin ring! I can't come now. I have to fix up this +electrical register first." + +And so it would go. Eradicate and Boomerang, his mule, were the only +ones who ate regularly, and they always insisted on stopping at +exactly twelve o'clock to partake of the noonday meal. + +"'Cause ef I didn't," explained the colored man, "dat contrary mule +ob mine would lay down in de dust ob de road an' not move a step, +lessen' he got his oats. So dat's why we has t' eat, him an' me." + +"Well, I'm glad there's some one who's got sense," murmured Mrs. +Baggert. Eradicate and Boomerang were of great service in the +hurried work that followed, for the colored man in his cart brought +from town, or from the freight depot, many things that Tom needed. + +The young inventor was very enthusiastic about his proposed trip, +and at night, after a hard day's work in the shop, he would read +books on African hunting, or he would sit and listen to the stories +told by Mr. Durban. And the latter knew how to tell hunting tales, +for he had been long in his dangerous calling, and had had many +narrow escapes. + +"And there are other dangers than from elephants and wild beasts in +Africa," he said. + +"Bless my toothbrush!" exclaimed Mr. Damon. "Do you mean cannibals, +Mr. Durban?" + +"Some cannibals," was the reply. "but they're not the worst. I mean +the red pygmies. I hope we don't get into their clutches." + +"Red pygmies!" repeated Tom, wonderingly. + +"Yes, they're a tribe of little creatures, about three feet high, +covered with thick reddish hair, who live in the central part of +Africa, near some of the best elephant-hunting ground. They are +wild, savage and ferocious, and what they lack individually in +strength, they make up in numbers. They're like little red apes, and +woe betide the unlucky hunter who falls into their merciless hands. +They treat him worse than the cannibals do." + +"Then we'll look out for them," said Tom. "But I fancy my electric +rifle will make them give us a wide berth." + +"It's a great gun," admitted the old hunter with a shake of his +head, "but those red pygmies are terrible creatures. I hope we don't +get them on our trail. But tell me, Tom, how are you coming on with +the airship? for I don't know much about mechanics, and to me it +looks as if it would never be put together. I's like one of those +queer puzzles I've seen 'em selling in the streets of London." + +"Oh, it's nearer ready than it looks to be," said Tom. "We'll have +it assembled, and ready for a trial in about two weeks more." + +Work on the Black Hawk was rushed more than ever in the next few +days, another extra machinist being engaged. Then the craft began to +assume shape and form, and with the gas bag partly inflated and the +big planes stretching out from either side, it began to look +something like the ill-fated Red Cloud. + +"It's going to be a fine ship!" cried Tom enthusiastically, one day, +as he went to the far side of the ship to get a perspective view of +it. "We'll make good time in this." + +"Are you going to sail all the way to Africa--across the ocean--in +her?" asked Mr. Durban, in somewhat apprehensive tones. + +"Oh, no," replied Tom. "I believe she would be capable of taking us +across the ocean, but there is no need of running any unnecessary +risks. I want to get her safely to Africa, and have her do stunts in +elephant land." + +"Then what are your plans?" asked the hunter. + +"We'll put her together here," said Tom, "give her a good try-out to +see that she works well, and then pack her up for shipment to the +African coast by steamer. We'll go on the same ship, and when we +arrive we'll put the Black Hawk together again, and set sail for the +interior." + +"Good idea," commented Mr. Durban. "Now, if you've no objections, +I'm going to do a little practice with the electric rifle." + +"Go ahead," assented Tom. "There comes Ned Newton; he'll be glad of +a chance for a few shots while I work on this new propeller motor. +It just doesn't suit me." + +The bank clerk, who had arranged to go to Africa with Tom, was seen +advancing toward the aeroplane shed. In his hand Ned held a paper, +and as he saw Tom he called out: + +"Have you heard the news?" + +"What news?" inquired the young inventor. + +"About Andy Foger. He and his aeroplane are lost!" + +"Lost!" cried Tom, for in spite of the mean way the bully had +treated him our hero did not wish him any harm. + +"Well, not exactly lost," went on Ned, as he held out the paper to +Tom, "but he and his sky-craft have disappeared." + +"Disappeared?" + +"Yes. You know he and that German, Mr. Landbacher, went over to +Europe to give some aviation exhibitions. Well, I see by this paper +that they went to Egypt, and were doing a high-flying stunt there, +when a gale sprang up, they lost control of the aeroplane and it was +swept out of sight." + +"In which direction; out to sea?" + +"No, toward the interior of Africa." + +"Toward the interior of Africa!" cried Tom. "And that's where we're +going in a couple of weeks. Andy in Africa!" + +"'Maybe we'll see him there," suggested Ned. + +"Well, I certainly hope we do not!" exclaimed Tom, as he turned back +to his work, with an undefinable sense of fear in his heart. + + + + +CHAPTER VII + +THE BLACK HAWK FLIES + + +It was with no little surprise that the news of the plight that was +said to have befallen Andy Foger was received by Tom and his +associates. The newspaper had quite an account of the affair, and, +even allowing the usual discount for the press dispatches, it looked +as if the former bully was in rather distressing circumstances. + +"He won't have to be carried very far into Africa to be in a bad +country," said the old hunter. "Of course, some parts of the +continent are all right, and for me, I like it all, where there's +hunting to be had. But I guess your young friend Foger won't care +for it." + +"He's no friend of ours." declared Ned, as Tom was reading the +newspaper account. "Still, I don't wish him any bad luck, and I do +hope he doesn't become the captive of the red pygmies." + +"So do I," echoed the old hunter fervently. There was no news of +Andy in the papers the next day, though there were cable dispatches +speculating on what might have happened to him and the airship. In +Shopton the dispatches created no little comment, and it was said +that Mr. Foger was going to start for Africa at once to rescue his +son. This, however, could not he confirmed. + +Meanwhile Tom and his friends were very busy over the Black Hawk. +Every hour saw the craft nearer completion, for the young inventor +had had much experience in this sort of work now, and knew just how +to proceed. + +To Mr. Damon were intrusted certain things which he could well +attend to, and though he frequently stopped to bless his necktie or +his shoelaces, still he got along fairly well. + +There would be no necessity of purchasing supplies in this country, +for they could get all they needed in the African city of Majumba, +on the western coast, where they planned to land. There the airship +would be put together, stocked with provisions and supplies, and +they would begin their journey inland. They planned to head for Buka +Meala, crossing the Congo River, and then go into the very interior +of the heart of the dark continent. + +As we have described in detail, in the former books of this series, +the construction of Tom Swift's airship, the Red Cloud, and as the +Black Hawk was made in a similar manner to that, we will devote but +brief space to it now. As the story proceeds, and the need arises +for a description of certain features, we will give them to you, so +that you will have a clear idea of what a wonderful craft it was. + +Sufficient to say that there was a gas bag, made of a light but +strong material, and capable of holding enough vapor, of a new and +secret composition, to lift the airship with its load. This was the +dirigible-balloon feature of the craft, and with the two powerful +propellers, fore and aft (in which particular the Black Hawk +differed from the Red Cloud which had two forward propellers);--with +these two powerful wooden screws, as we have said, the new ship +could travel swiftly without depending on the wing planes. + +But as there is always a possibility of the gas bag being punctured, +or the vapor suddenly escaping from one cause or another, Tom did +not depend on this alone to keep his craft afloat. It was a perfect +aeroplane, and with the gas bag entirely empty could be sent +scudding along at any height desired. To enable it to rise by means +of the wings, however, it was necessary to start it in motion along +the ground, and for this purpose wheels were provided. + +There was a large body or car to the craft, suspended from beneath +the gas bag, and in this car were the cabins, the living, sleeping +and eating apartments, the storerooms and the engine compartment. + +This last was a marvel of skill, for it contained besides the gas +machine, and the motor for working the propellers, dynamos, gages, +and instruments for telling the speed and height, motors for doing +various pieces of work, levers, wheels, cogs, gears, tanks for +storing the lifting gas, and other features of interest. + +There were several staterooms for the use of the young captain and +the passengers, an observation and steering tower, a living-room, +where they could all assemble as the ship was sailing through the +air, and a completely equipped kitchen. + +This last was Mr. Damon's special pride, as he was a sort of cook, +and he liked nothing better than to get up a meal when the craft was +two or three miles high, and scudding along at seventy-five miles an +hour. + +In addition there were to be taken along many scientific +instruments, weapons of defense and offense, in addition to the +electric rifle, and various other objects which will be spoken of in +due time. + +"Well," remarked Tom Swift one afternoon, following a hard day's +work in the shop, "I think, if all goes well, and we have good +weather, I'll give the Black Hawk a trial tomorrow." + +"Do you think it will fly?" asked Ned. + +"There is no telling," was the answer of the young inventor. "These +things are more or less guesswork, even when you make two exactly +alike. As far as I can tell, we have now a better craft than the Red +Cloud was, but it remains to be seen how she will behave." + +They worked late that night, putting the finishing touches on the +Black Hawk, and in the morning the new airship was wheeled out of +the shed, and placed on the level starting ground, ready for the +trial flight. + +Only the bare machinery was in her, as yet, and the gas bag had not +been inflated as Tom wanted to try the plane feature first. But the +vapor machine was all ready to start generating the gas whenever it +was needed. Nor was the Black Hawk painted and decorated as she +would be when ready to be sent to Africa. On the whole, she looked +rather crude as she rested there on the bicycle wheels, awaiting the +starting of the big propellers. As the stores and supplies were not +yet in, Tom took aboard, in addition to Mr. Damon, Ned, his father, +Mr. Jackson and Mr. Durban, some bags of sand to represent the extra +weight that would have to be carried. + +"If she'll rise with this load she'll do," announced the young +inventor, as he went carefully over the craft, looking to see that +everything was in shape. + +"If she does rise it will be a new experience for me," spoke the old +elephant hunter. "I've never been in an airship before. It doesn't +seem possible that we can get up in the air with this machine." + +"Maybe we won't," spoke Tom, who was always a little diffident about +a new piece of machinery. + +"Well, if it doesn't do it the first time, it will the second, or +the fifty-second," declared Ned Newton. "Tom Swift doesn't give up +until he succeeds." + +"Stop it! You'll make me blush!" cried the Black Hawk's owner as he +tried the different gages and levers to see that they were all +right. + +After what seemed like a long time he gave the word for those who +were to make the trial trip to take their places. They did so, and +then, with Mr. Jackson, Tom went to the engine room. There was a +little delay, due to the fact that some adjustment was necessary on +the main motor. But at last it was fixed. + +"Are you all ready?" called Tom. + +"All ready," answered Mr. Damon. The old elephant hunter sat in a +chair, nervously gripping the arms, and with a grim look on his +tanned face. Mr. Swift was cool, as Ned, for they had made many +trips in the air. Outside were Eradicate Sampson and Mrs. Baggert. + +"Here we go!" suddenly cried Tom, and he yanked over the lever that +started the main motor and propellers. The Black Hawk trembled +throughout her entire length. She shivered and shook. Faster and +faster whirled the great wooden screws. The motor hummed and +throbbed. + +Slowly the Black Hawk moved across the ground. Then she gathered +speed. Now she was fairly rushing over the level space. Tom Swift +tilted the elevation rudder, and with a suddenness that was +startling, at least to the old elephant hunter, the new airship shot +upward on a steep, slant. + +"The Black Hawk flies!" yelled Ned Newton. "Now for elephant land +and the big tusks!" + +"Yes, and perhaps for the red pygmies, too," added Tom in a low +voice. Then he gave his whole attention to the management of his new +machine, which was rapidly mounting upward, with a speed rivalling +that of his former big craft. + + + + +CHAPTER VIII + +OFF FOR AFRICA + + +Higher and higher went the Black Hawk, far above the earth, until +the old elephant hunter, looking down, said in a voice which he +tried to make calm and collected, but which trembled in spite of +himself: + +"Of course I'm not an expert at this game, Tom Swift, but it looks +to me as if we'd never get down. Don't you think we're high enough?" + +"For the time being, yes," answered the young inventor. "I didn't +think she'd climb so far without the use of the gas. She's doing +well." + +"Bless my topknot, yes!" exclaimed Mr. Damon. "She beats the Red +Cloud, Tom. Try her on a straight-away course." + +Which the youth did, pointing the nose of the craft along parallel +to the surface of the earth, and nearly a mile above it. Then, +increasing the speed of the motor, and with the big propellers +humming, they made fast time. + +The old elephant hunter grew more calm as he saw that the airship +did not show any inclination to fall, and he noted that Tom and the +others not only knew how to manage it, but took their fight as much +a matter of course as if they were in an automobile skimming along +on the surface of the ground. + +Tom put his craft through a number of evolutions, and when he found +that she was in perfect control as an aeroplane, he started the gas +machine, filled the big black bag overhead, and, when it was +sufficiently buoyant, he shut off the motor, and the Black Hawk +floated along like a balloon. + +"That's what we'll do if our power happens to give out when we get +over an African jungle, with a whole lot of wild elephants down +below, and a forest full of the red pygmies waiting for us," +explained Tom to Mr. Durban. + +"And I guess you'll need to do it, too," answered the hunter. "I +don't know which I fear worse, the bad elephants wild with rage, as +they get some times, or the little red men who are as strong as +gorillas, and as savage as wolves. It would be all up with us if we +got into their hands. But I think this airship will be just what we +need in Africa. I'd have been able to get out of many a tight place +if I had had one on my last trip." + +While the Black Hawk hung thus, up the air, not moving, save as the +wind blew her, Tom with his father and Mr. Jackson made an +inspection of the machinery to find out whether it had been strained +any. They found that it had worked perfectly, and soon the craft was +in motion again, her nose this time being pointed toward the earth. +Tom let out some of the gas, and soon the airship was on the ground +in front of the shed she had so recently left. + +"She's all right," decided the young inventor after a careful +inspection. "I'll give her a couple more trials, put on the +finishing touches and then we'll be ready for our trip to Africa. +Have you got everything arranged to go, Ned?" + +"Sure. I have a leave of absence from the bank, thanks to your +father and Mr. Damon, most of my clothes are packed, I've bought a +gun and I've got a lot of quinine in case I get a fever." + +"Good!" cried the elephant hunter. "You'll do all right, I reckon. +I'm glad I met you young fellows. Well, I've lived through my first +trip in the air, which is more than I expected when I started." + +They discussed their plans at some length, for, now that the airship +had proved all that they had hoped for, it would not be long ere +they were under way. In the days that followed Tom put the finishing +touches on the craft, arranged to have it packed up for shipment, +and spent some time practicing with his electric rifle. He got to be +an expert shot, and Mr. Durban, who was a wonder with the ordinary +rifle, praised the young inventor highly. + +"There won't many of the big tuskers get away from you, Tom Swift," +he said. "And that reminds me, I got a letter the other day, from +the firm I collect ivory for, stating that the price had risen +because of a scarcity, and urging me to hurry back to Africa and get +all I could. It seems that war has broken out among some of the +central African tribes, and they are journeying about in the jungle, +on the war path here and there, and have driven the elephants into +the very deepest wilds, where the ordinary hunters can't get at +them." + +"Maybe we won't have any luck, either," suggested Ned. + +"Oh, yes, we will," declared the hunter. "With our airship, the +worst forest of the dark continent won't have any terrors for us, +for we can float above it. And the fights of the natives won't have +any effect. In a way, this will be a good thing, for with the price +of ivory soaring, we can make more money than otherwise. There's a +chance for us all to get a lot of money." + +"Bless my piano keys!" exclaimed Mr. Damon, "if I can get just one +elephant, and pull out his big ivory teeth, I'll be satisfied. I +want a nice pair of tusks to set up on either side of my fireplace +for ornaments." + +"A mighty queer place for such-like ornaments," said Mr. Durban in a +low voice. Then he added: "Well, the sooner we get started the +better I'll like it, for I want to get that pair of big tusks for a +special customer of mine." + +"I'll give the Black Hawk one more trial flight, and then take her +apart and ship her," decided Tom, and the final flight, a most +successful one, took place the following day. + +Then came another busy season when the airship was taken apart for +shipment to the coast of Africa by steamer. It was put into big +boxes and crates, and Eradicate and his mule took them to the +station in Shopton. + +"Don't you want to come to Africa with us, Rad?" asked Tom, when the +last of the cases had been sent off. "You'll find a lot of your +friends there." + +"No, indeedy, I doan't want t' go," answered the colored man, +"though I would like to see dat country." + +"Then why don't you come?" + +"Hu! Yo' think, Massa Tom, dat I go anywhere dat I might meet dem +little red men what Massa Durban talk about? No, sah, dey might hurt +mah mule Boomerang." + +"Oh, I wasn't going to take the mule along," said Tom, wondering how +the creature might behave in the airship. + +"Not take Boomerang? Den I SUTTINLY ain't goin," and Eradicate +walked off, highly offended, to give some oats to his faithful if +somewhat eccentric steed. + +After the airship had been sent off there yet remained much for Tom +Swift to do. He had to send along a number of special tools and +appliances with which to put the ship together again, and also some +with which to repair the craft in case of accident. So that this +time was pretty well occupied. But at length everything was in +readiness, and with his electric rifle knocked down for +transportation, and with his baggage, and that of the others, all +packed, they set off one morning to take the train for New York, +where they would get a steamer for Africa. + +Numerous good-bys had been said, and Tom had made a farewell call on +Mary Nestor, promising to bring her some trophy from elephant land, +though he did not quite know what it would be. + +Mr. Damon, as the train started, blessed everything he could think +of. Mr. Swift waved his hand and wished his son and the others good +luck, feeling a little lonesome that he could not make one of the +party. Ned was eager with excitement, and anticipation of what lay +before him. Tom Swift was thinking of what he could accomplish with +his electric rifle, and of the wonderful sights he would see, and, +as for the old elephant hunter, he was very glad to be on the move +again, after so many weeks of idleness, for he was a very active +man. + +Their journey to New York was uneventful, and they found that the +parts of the airship had safely arrived, and had been taken aboard +the steamer. The little party went aboard themselves, after a day +spent in sight-seeing, and that afternoon the Soudalar, which was +the vessel's name, steamed away from the dock at high tide. + +"Off for Africa!" exclaimed Tom to Ned, as they stood at the rail, +watching the usual crowd wave farewells. "Off for Africa, Ned." + +As Tom spoke, a gentleman who had been standing near him and his +chum, vigorously waving his hand to some one on the pier, turned +quickly. He looked sharply at the young inventor for a moment, and +then exclaimed: + +"Well, if it isn't Tom Swift! Did I hear you say you were going to +Africa?" + +Tom looked at the gentleman with rather a puzzled air for a moment. +The face was vaguely familiar, but Tom could not recall where he had +seen it. Then it came to him in a flash. + +"Mr. Floyd Anderson!" exclaimed our hero. "Mr. Anderson of--" + +"Earthquake Island!" exclaimed the gentleman quickly, as he extended +his hand. "I guess you remember that place, Tom Swift." + +"Indeed I do. And to think of meeting you again, and on this African +steamer," and Tom's mind went back to the perilous days when his +wireless message had saved the castaways of Earthquake Island, among +whom were Mr. Anderson and his wife. + +"Did I hear you say you were going to Africa?" asked Mr. Anderson, +when he had been introduced to Ned, and the others in Tom's party. + +"That's where we're bound for," answered the lad. "We are going to +elephant land. But where are you going, Mr. Anderson?" + +"Also to Africa, but not on a trip for pleasure or profit like +yourselves. I have been commissioned by a missionary society to +rescue two of its workers from the heart of the dark continent." + +"Rescue two missionaries?" exclaimed Tom, wonderingly. + +"Yes, a gentleman and his wife, who, it is reported, have fallen +into the hands of a race known as the red pygmies, who hold them +captives!" + + + + +CHAPTER IX + +ATTACKED BY A WHALE + + +Surprise at Mr. Anderson's announcement held Tom silent for a +moment. That the gentleman whom he had been the means of rescuing, +among others, from Earthquake Island, should be met with so +unexpectedly, was quite a coincidence, but when it developed that he +was bound to the same part of the African continent as were Tom and +his friends, and when he said he hoped to rescue some missionaries +from the very red pygmies so feared by the old elephant hunter--this +was enough to startle any one. + +"I see that my announcement has astonished you," said Mr. Anderson, +as he noted the look of surprise on the face of the young inventor. + +"It certainly has! Why, that's where we are bound for, in my new +airship. Come down into our cabin, Mr. Anderson, and tell us all +about it. Is your wife with you?" + +"No, it is too dangerous a journey on which to take her. I have +little hope of succeeding, for it is now some time since the +unfortunate missionaries were captured, but I am going to do my +best, and organize a relief expedition when I get to Africa." + +Tom said nothing at that moment, but he made up his mind that if it +was at all possible he would lend his aid, that of his airship, and +also get his friends to assist Mr. Anderson. They went below to a +special cabin that had been reserved for Tom's party, and there, as +the ship slowly passed down New York Bay, Mr. Anderson told his +story. + +"I mentioned to you, when we were on Earthquake Island," he said to +Tom, "that I had been in Africa, and had done some hunting. That is +not my calling, as it is that of your friend, Mr. Durban, but I know +the country pretty well. However, I have not been there in some +time." + +"My wife and I are connected with a church in New York that, several +years ago, raised a fund and sent two missionaries, Mr. and Mrs. +Jacob Illingway, to the heart of Africa. They built up a little +mission there, and for a time all went well, and they did good work +among the natives." + +"They are established in a tribe of friendly black men, of simple +nature, and, while the natives did not become Christianized to any +remarkable extent, yet they were kind to the missionaries. Mr. and +Mrs. Illingway used frequently to write to members of our church, +telling of their work. They also mentioned the fact that adjoining +the country of the friendly blacks there was a tribe of fierce +little red men,--red because of hair of that color all over their +bodies." + +"That's right," agreed Mr. Durban, shaking his head solemnly. +"They're red imps, too!" + +"Mr. Illingway often mentioned in his letters," went on Mr. +Anderson, "that there were frequent fights between the pygmies and +the race of blacks, but the latter had no great fear of their small +enemies. However, it seems that they did not take proper +precautions, for not long ago there was a great battle, the blacks +were attacked by a large force of the red pygmies, who overwhelmed +them by numbers, and finally routed them, taking possession of their +country." + +"What became of the missionaries?" asked Ned Newton. + +"I'll tell you," said Mr. Anderson. "For a long time we heard +nothing, beyond the mere news of the fight, which we read of in the +papers. The church people were very anxious about the fate of Mr. +and Mrs. Illingway, and were talking of sending a special messenger +to inquire about them, when a cablegram came from the headquarters +of the society in London." + +"It seems that one of the black natives, named Tomba, who was a sort +of house servant to Mr. and Mrs. Illingway, escaped the general +massacre, in which all his friends were killed. He made his way +through the jungle to a white settlement, and told his story, +relating how the two missionaries had been carried away captive by +the pygmies." + +"A terrible fate," commented Mr. Durban. + +"Yes, they might better be dead, from all the accounts we can hear," +went on Mr. Anderson. + +"Bless my Sunday hat! Don't say that!" exclaimed Mr. Damon. "Maybe +we can save them, Mr. Anderson." + +"That is what I am going to try to do, though it may be too late. As +soon as definite news was received, our church held a meeting, +raised a fund, and decided to send me off to find Mr. and Mrs. +Illingway, if alive, or give them decent burial, if I could locate +their bones. The reason they selected me was because I had been in +Africa, and knew the country." + +"I made hurried arrangements, packed up, said good-by to my wife, +and here I am. But to think of meeting you, Tom Swift! And to hear +that you are also going to Africa. I wish I could command an airship +for the rescue. It might be more easily accomplished!" + +"That's just what I was going to propose!" exclaimed Tom. "We are +going to the land of the red pygmies, and while I have promised to +help Mr. Durban in getting ivory, and while I want to try my +electric rifle on big game, still we can do both, I think. You can +depend on us, Mr. Anderson, and if the Black Hawk can be of any +service to you in the rescue, count us in!" + +"Gosh!" cried the former castaway of Earthquake Island. "This is the +best piece of luck I could have! Now tell me all about your plans." +which Tom and the others did, listening in turn, to further details +about the missionaries. + +Just how they would go to work to effect the rescue, or how they +could locate the particular tribe of little red men who had Mr. and +Mrs. Illingway, they did not know. + +"We may be able to get hold of this Tomba," said Mr. Durban. "If not +I guess between Mr. Anderson and myself we can get on the trail, +somehow. I'm anxious to get to the coast, see the airship put +together again, and start for the interior." + +"So am I," declared Tom, as he got out his electric rifle, and began +to put it together, for he wanted to show Mr. Anderson how it +worked. + +They had a pleasant and uneventful voyage for two weeks. The weather +was good, and, to tell the truth, it was rather monotonous for Torn +and the others, who were eager to get into activity again. Then came +a storm, which, while it was not dangerous, yet gave them plenty to +think and talk about for three days. Then came more calm weather, +when the Soudalar plowed along over gently heaving billows. + +They were about a week from their port of destination, which vas +Majumba, on the African coast, when, one afternoon, as Tom and the +others were in their cabin, they heard a series of shouts on deck, +and the sound of many feet running to and fro. + +"Something has happened!" exclaimed the young inventor. + +Tom raced for the companionway, and was soon on deck, followed by +Mr. Durban and the others. They saw a crowd of sailors and +passengers leaning over the port rail. + +"What's the matter?" asked Tom, of the second mate, who was just +passing. + +"Fight between a killer and a whale," was the reply. "The captain +has ordered the ship to lay-to so it can be watched." + +Tom made his way to the rail. About a quarter of a mile away there +could be observed a great commotion in the ocean. Great bodies +seemed to be threshing about, beating the water to foam, and, with +the foam could be seen bright blood mingled. Occasionally two jets +of water, as from some small fountain, would shoot upward. + +"He's blowing hard!" exclaimed one of the sailors. "I guess he's +about done for!" + +"Which one?" asked Tom. + +"The whale," was the reply. "The killer has the best of the big +fellow," and the sailor quickly explained how the smaller killer +fish, by the peculiarity of its attack, and its great ferocity, +often bested its larger antagonist. + +The battle was now at its height, and Tom and the others were +interested spectators. At times neither of the big creatures could +be seen, because of the smother of foam in which they rolled and +threshed about. The whale endeavored to sound, or go to the bottom, +but the killer stuck to him relentlessly. + +Suddenly, however, as Tom looked, the whale, by a stroke of his +broad tail, momentarily stunned his antagonist. Instantly realizing +that he was free the great creature, which was about ninety feet +long, darted away, swimming on the surface of the water, for he +needed to get all the air possible. + +Quickly acquiring momentum, the whale came on like a locomotive, +spouting at intervals, the vapor from the blowholes looking not +unlike steam from some submarine boat. + +"He looks to be heading this way," remarked Mr. Durban to Tom. + +"He is," agreed the young inventor, "but I guess he'll dive before +he gets here. He only wants to get away from the killer. Look, the +other one is swimming this way, too!" + +"Bless my harpoon, but he sure is!" called Mr. Damon. "They'll renew +the fight near here." + +But he was mistaken, for the killer, after coming a little distance +after the whale, suddenly turned, hesitated for a moment, and then +disappeared in the depths of the ocean. + +The whale, however, continued to come on, speeding through the water +with powerful strokes. There was an uneasy movement among some of +the passengers. + +"Suppose he strikes the ship," suggested one woman. + +"Nonsense! He couldn't," said her husband. + +"The old man had better get under way, just the same," remarked a +sailor near Tom, as he looked up at the bridge where the captain was +standing. + +The "old man," or commander, evidently thought the same thing, for, +after a glance at the oncoming leviathan, which was still headed +directly for the vessel, he shoved the lever of the telegraph signal +over to "full speed ahead." + +Hardly had he done so than the whale sank from sight. + +"Oh, I'm so glad!" exclaimed the woman who had first spoken of the +possibility of the whale hitting the ship, "I am afraid of those +terrible creatures." + +"They're as harmless as a cow, unless they get angry," said her +husband. + +Slowly the great ship began to move through the water. Tom and his +friends were about to go back to their cabin, for they thought the +excitement over, when, as the young inventor turned from the rail, +he felt a vibration throughout the whole length of the steamer, as +if it had hit on a sand-bar. + +Instantly there was a jangling of bells in the engine room, and the +Soudalar lost headway. + +"What's the matter?" asked several persons. + +They were answered a moment later, for the big whale, even though +grievously wounded in his fight with the killer, had risen not a +hundred feet away from the ship, and was coming toward it with the +speed of an express train. + +"Bless my blubber!" cried Mr. Damon. "We must have hit the whale, or +it hit us under the water and now it's going to attack us!" + +He had no more than gotten the words out of his mouth ere the great +creature of the deep came on full tilt at the vessel, struck it a +terrific blow which made it tremble from stem to stern, and careen +violently. + +There was a chorus of frightened cries, sailors rushed to and fro, +the engine-room bells rang violently, and the captain and mates +shouted hoarse orders. + +"Here he comes again!" yelled Mr. Durban, as he hurried to the side +of the ship. "The whale takes us for an enemy, I guess. and he's +going to ram us again!" + +"And if he does it many times, he'll start the plates and cause a +leak that won't be stopped in a hurry!" cried a sailor as he rushed +past Tom. + +The young inventor looked at the oncoming monster for a moment, and +then started on the run for his cabin. + +"Here! Where are you going?" cried Mr. Damon, but Tom did not +answer. + + + + +CHAPTER X + +OFF IN THE AIRSHIP + + +As Tom Swift hurried down the companionway he again felt the ship +careen as the whale struck it a powerful blow, and he was almost +knocked off his feet. But he kept on. + +Below he found some frightened men and women, a number of whom were +adjusting life preservers about them, under the impression that the +ship had struck a rock and was going down. They had not been up on +deck, and did not know of the battle between the killer and the +whale, nor what followed. + +"Oh, I know we're sinking!" cried one timid woman. "What has +happened?" she appealed to Tom. + +"It will be all right in a little while," he assured her. + +"But what is it? I want to know. Have we had a collision." + +"Yes, with a whale," replied Tom, as he grabbed up something from +his stateroom, and again rushed up on deck. As he reached it the +whale came on once more, and struck the ship another terrific blow. +Then the monster sank and could be seen swimming back, just under +the surface of the water, getting ready to renew the attack. + +"He's going to ram us again!" cried Mr. Damon. "Bless my machine +oil! Why doesn't the captain do something?" + +At that moment the commander cried from the bridge: + +"Send a man below, Mr. Laster, to see if we are making any water. +Then tell half a dozen of the sailors to get out the rifles, and see +if they can't kill the beast. He'll put us in Davy Jones's locker if +he keeps this up! Lively now, men!" + +The first mate, Mr. Laster, called out the order. A sailor went +below to see if the ship was leaking much, and the captain rang for +full speed ahead. But the Soudalar was slow in getting under way +again, and, even at top speed she was no match for the whale, which +was again rushing toward the vessel. + +"Quick with those rifles!" cried the captain. "Fire a volley into +the beast!" + +"There's no need!" suddenly called Mr. Damon, who had caught sight +of Tom Swift, and the object which the lad carried. + +"No need?" demanded the commander. "Why, has the whale sunk, or made +off?" + +"No," answered the eccentric man, "the whale is still coming on, but +Tom Swift will fix him. Get there, Tom, and let him have a good +one!" + +"What sort of a gun is that?" demanded the commander as the young +inventor took his place at the rail, which was now almost deserted. + +Tom did not answer. Bracing himself against the rolling and heaving +of the vessel, which was now under about half speed, Tom aimed his +electric rifle at the oncoming leviathan. He looked at the automatic +gage, noted the distance and waiting a moment until the crest of a +wave in front of the whale had subsided, he pressed the button. + +If those watching him expected to hear a loud report, and see a +flash of flame, they were disappointed. There was absolutely no +sound, but what happened to the whale was most surprising. + +The great animal stopped short amid a swirl of foam, and the next +instant it seemed to disintegrate. It went all to pieces, just as +had the dummy figure which Tom on one occasion fired at with his +rifle and as had the big packing-cases. The whale appeared to +dissolve, as does a lump of sugar in a cup of hot tea, and, five +seconds after Tom Swift had fired his electric gun, there was not a +sign of the monster save a little blood on the calm sea. + +"What--what happened?" asked the captain in bewilderment. "Is--is +that monster gone?" + +"Completely gone!" cried Mr. Damon. "Bless my powder horn, Tom, but +I knew you could do it!" + +"Is that a new kind of whale gun, firing an explosive bullet?" +inquired the commander, as he came down off the bridge and shook +hands with Tom. "If it is, I'd like to buy one. We may be rammed +again by another whale." + +"This is my new, electric rifle," explained the young inventor +modestly, "and it fires wireless charges of electricity instead of +bullets. I'm sorry I can't let you have it, as it's the only one I +have. But I guess no more whales will ram us. That one was evidently +crazed by the attack of the killer, and doubtless took us for +another of its enemies." + +Sailors and passengers crowded around Tom, eager to shake his hand, +and to hear about the gun. Many declared that he had saved the ship. + +This was hardly true, for the whale could not have kept up its +attacks much longer. Still he might have done serious damage, by +causing a leak, and, while the Soudalar was a stanch craft, with +many water-tight compartments, still no captain likes to be a week +from land with a bad leak, especially if a storm comes up. Then, +too, there was the danger of a panic among the passengers, had the +attacks been kept up, so, though Tom wanted to make light of his +feat, the others would not let him. + +"You're entitled to the thanks of all on board," declared Captain +Wendon, "and I'll see that the owners hear of what you did. Well, I +guess we can go on, now. I'll not stop again to see a fight between +a killer and a whale." + +The steamer resumed her way at full speed, and the sailor, who had +gone below, came up to report that there was only a slight leak, +which need not cause any uneasiness. + +Little was talked of for the next few days but the killing of the +whale, and Tom had to give several exhibitions of his electric +rifle, and explain its workings. Then, too, the story of his +expedition became known, and also the object of Mr. Anderson's +quest, and Tom's offer of aid to help rescue the missionaries, so +that, altogether, our hero was made much of during the remainder of +the voyage. + +"Well, if your gun will do that to a whale, what will it do to an +elephant?" asked Mr. Durban one morning, when they were within a +day's steaming of their port. "I'm afraid it's almost too strong, +Tom. It will leave nothing--not even the tusks to pick up." + +"Oh, I can regulate the power," declared the lad. "I used full force +on the whale, just to see what it would do. It was the first tine +I'd tried it on anything alive. I can so regulate the charge that it +will kill even an elephant, and leave scarcely a mark on the beast." + +"I'd like to see it done," remarked the old. hunter. + +"I'll show you, if we sight any sharks," promised Tom. He was able +to keep his word for that afternoon a school of the ugly fish +followed the steamer for the sake of the food scraps thrown +overboard. Tom took his position in the stern, and gave an +exhibition of shooting with his electric gun that satisfied even Mr. +Durban, exacting as he was. + +For the lad, by using his heaviest charges, destroyed the largest +sharks so that they seemed to instantly disappear in the water, and +from that he toned down the current until he could kill some of the +monsters so easily and quickly that they seemed to float motionless +on the surface, yet there was no life left in them once the electric +charge touched them. + +"We'll use the light charges when we're killing elephants for their +tusks," said Tom, "and the heavy ones when we're in danger from a +rush of the beasts." + +He little knew how soon he would have to put his plan into effect. + +They arrived safely at Majumba, the African coast city, and for two +days Tom was kept busy superintending the unloading of the parts of +his airship. But it was safely taken ashore, and he and his friends +hired a disused warehouse in which to work at reassembling the Black +Hawk. + +Tom had everything down to a system, and, in less than a week the +aircraft was once more ready to be sent aloft. It was given a try- +out, much to the astonishment of the natives, and worked perfectly. +Then Tom and his friends busied themselves laying in a stock of +provisions and stores for the trip into the interior. + +They made inquiries about the chances of getting ivory and were told +that they were good if they went far enough into the jungle and +forests, for the big beasts had penetrated farther and farther +inland. + +They also tried to get some news regarding the captive missionaries, +but were unsuccessful nor could they learn what had become of Tomba, +who had brought the dire news to civilization. + +"It's too soon to hope for anything yet," said Mr. Anderson. "Wait +until we get near the country of the red pygmies." + +"And then it may be too late," said Tom in a low voice. + +It was two weeks after their arrival in Majumba that Tom announced +that all was in readiness. The airship was in perfect working order, +it was well stocked with food, arms, articles and trinkets with +which to trade among the natives, spare parts for the machinery, +special tools and a good supply of the chemicals needed to +manufacture the lifting gas. + +Of course Tom did not leave behind his electric weapon and Mr. +Durban and the others took plenty of ammunition for the ordinary +rifles which they carried. + +One morning, after cabling to his father that they were about to +start, Tom gave a last careful look to his airship, tested the motor +and dynamos, took a hasty survey of the storeroom, to see that +nothing had been forgotten, and gave the word to get aboard. + +They took their places in the cabin. Outside a crowd of natives, and +white traders of many nationalities had gathered. Tom pulled the +starting lever. The Black Hawk shot across a specially prepared +starting ground, and, attaining sufficient momentum, suddenly arose +into the air. + +There was a cheer from the watching crowd, and several superstitious +blacks, who saw the airship for the first time, ran away in terror. + +Up into the blue atmosphere Tom took his craft. He looked down on +the city over which he was flying. Then he pointed the prow of the +Black Hawk toward the heart of the dark continent. + +"Off for the interior!" he murmured. "I wonder if we'll ever get out +again?" + +No one could answer. They had to take their chances with the dangers +and terrors of elephant land, and with the red pygmies. Yet Tom +Swift was not afraid. + + + + +CHAPTER XI + +ANCHORED TO EARTH + + +With the voyage on the steamer, their arrival in Africa, the many +strange sights of the city of Majumba, and the refitting of the +airship, our friends had hardly had time to catch their breath since +Tom Swift's determination to go elephant hunting. Now, as the Black +Hawk was speeding into the interior, they felt, for the first time +in many weeks, that they "could take it easy," as Ned Newton +expressed it. + +"Thank goodness," said the bank clerk, "I can sit down and look at +something for a while," and he gazed out of the main cabin windows +down at the wild country over which they were then flying. + +For, so swiftly had the airship moved that it was hardly any time at +all before it had left Majumba far behind, and was scudding over the +wilderness. + +"Bless my camera," exclaimed Mr. Damon, who had brought along one of +the picture machines, "bless my camera! I don't call that much to +look at," and he pointed to the almost impenetrable forest over +which they then were. + +"No, it isn't much of a view," said the old elephant hunter, "but +wait. You'll soon see all you want to. Africa isn't all like this. +There are many strange sights before us yet. But, Tom Swift, tell us +how the airship is working in this climate. Do you find any +difficulty managing it?" + +"Not at all," answered Tom, who was in the cabin then, having set +the automatic steering apparatus in the pilot house, and come back +to join the others. "It works as well as it did in good old York +State. Of course I can't tell what affect the continual hot and +moist air will have on the gas bag, but I guess we'll make out all +right." + +"I certainly hope so," put in Mr. Anderson. "It would be too bad to +be wrecked in the middle of Africa, with no way to get out." + +"Oh, you needn't worry about that," said Ned with a laugh. "If the +airship should smash, Tom would build another out of what was left, +and we'd sail away as good as before." + +"Hardly that," answered the young inventor. + +"But we won't cross a bridge until we hear it coming, as Eradicate +would say. Hello, that looks like some sort of native village." + +He pointed ahead to a little clearing in the forest, where a number +of mud and grass huts were scattered about. As they came nearer they +could see the black savages, naked save for a loin cloth, running +about in great excitement, and pointing upward. + +"Yes, that's one of the numerous small native villages we'll see +from now on," said Mr. Durban. "Many a night have I spent in those +same grass huts after a day's hunting. Sometimes, I've been +comfortable, and again not. I guess we've given those fellows a +scare." + +It did seem so, for by this time the whole population, including +women and children, were running about like mad. Suddenly, from +below there sounded a deep booming noise, which came plainly to the +ears of the elephant hunters through the opened windows of the +airship cabin. + +"Hark! What's that?" cried Tom, raising his hand for silence. + +"Bless my umbrella! it sounds like thunder," said Mr. Damon. + +"No, it's one of their war drums," explained Mr. Durban. "The +natives make large ones out of hollow trees, with animal skins +stretched over the ends, and they beat them to sound a warning, or +before going into battle. It makes a great noise." + +"Do you think they want to fight us?" asked Ned, looking anxiously +at Tom, and then toward where his rifle stood in a corner of the +cabin. + +"No, probably that drum was beaten by some of the native priests," +explained the hunter. "The natives are very superstitious, and +likely they took us for an evil spirit, and wanted to drive us +away." + +"Then we'll hustle along out of their sight," said Tom, as he went +to the pilot house to increase the speed of the airship, for he had +been letting it drift along slowly to enable the adventurers to view +the country over which they were passing. A few minutes later, under +the increased force of the machinery, the Black Hawk left the native +village, and the crowd of frightened blacks, far behind. + +The travelers passed over a succession of wild stretches of forest +or jungle, high above big grassy plains, over low but rugged +mountain ranges, and big rivers. Now and then they would cross some +lake, on the calm surface of which could be made out natives, in big +canoes, hollowed out from trees. In each case the blacks showed +every appearance of fright at the sight of the airship throbbing +along over their heads. + +On passing over the lake, Ned Newton looked down and cried out +excitedly: + +"Look! Elephants! They're in swimming, and the natives are shooting +them! Now's our chance, Tom!" + +Mr. Anderson and Mr. Durban, after a quick glance, drew back +laughing. + +"Those are hippopotami!" exclaimed the old elephant man. "Good +hunting, if you don't care what you shoot, but not much sport in it. +It will be some time yet before we see any elephants, boys." + +Ned was rather chagrined at his mistake, but the African travelers +told him that any one, not familiar with the country, would have +made it, especially in looking down from a great height. + +They sailed along about half a mile above the earth, Tom gradually +increasing the speed of the ship, as he found the machinery to be +working well. Dinner was served as they were crossing a high grassy +plateau, over which could be seen bounding a number of antelopes. + +"Some of those would go good for a meal," said Mr. Durban, after a +pause during which he watched the graceful creatures. + +"Then we'll go down and get some for supper," decided Tom, for in +that hot climate it was impossible to carry fresh meat on the +airship. + +Accordingly, the Black Hawk was sent down, and came to rest in a +natural clearing on the edge of the jungle. After waiting until the +fierce heat of noonday was over, the travelers got out their rifles +and, under the leadership of Mr. Durban and Mr. Anderson, who was +also an experienced hunter, they set off. + +Game was plentiful, but as they could only eat a comparatively small +quantity, and as it would not keep, they only shot what they needed. +Tom had his electric rifle, but hesitated to use it, as Mr. Durban +and Mr. Anderson had each already bowled over a fine buck. + +However, a chance came most unexpectedly, for, as they were passing +along the banks of a little stream, which was almost hidden from +view by thick weeds and rank grass, there was a sudden commotion in +the bushes, and a fierce wild buffalo sprang out at the party. + +There are few animals in Africa more dreaded by hunters than the +wild buffalo, for the beast, with its spreading sharp horns is a +formidable foe, and will seldom give up the attack until utterly +unable to move. They are fierce and relentless. + +"Look out!" yelled Mr. Durban. "To cover, everybody! If that beast +gets after you it's no fun! You and I will fire at him, Mr. Anderson!" + +Mr. Durban raised his rifle, and pulled the trigger, but, for some +reason, the weapon failed to go off. Mr. Anderson quickly raised +his, but his foot slipped in a wet place and he fell. At that moment +the buffalo, with a snort of rage, charged straight for the fallen man. + +"Tom! your electric rifle!" yelled Ned Newton, but he need not have +done so, for the young inventor was on the alert. + +Taking instant aim, and adjusting his weapon for the heaviest +charge, Tom fired at the advancing beast. The result was the same as +in the case of the whale, the buffalo seemed to melt away. And it +was stopped only just in time, too, for it was close to the +prostrate Mr. Anderson, who had sprained his ankle slightly, and +could not readily rise. + +It was all over in a few seconds, but it was a tense time while it +lasted. + +"You saved my life again, Tom Swift," said Mr. Anderson, as he +limped toward our hero. "Once on Earthquake Island, and again now. I +shan't forget it," and he shook hands with the young inventor. + +The others congratulated Tom on his quick shot, and Mr. Damon, as +usual blessed everything in sight, and the electric rifle +especially. + +They went back to the airship, taking the fresh meat with them, but +on account of the injury to Mr. Anderson's ankle could not make +quick progress, so that it was almost dusk when they reached the +craft. + +"Well, we'll have supper, and then start off," proposed Tom, "I +don't think it would be wise to remain on the ground so near the +jungle." + +"No' it's safer in the air," agreed Mr. Durban. The meal was much +enjoyed, especially the fresh meat, and, after it was over, Tom took +his place in the pilot house to start the machinery, and send the +airship aloft. + +The motor hummed and throbbed, and the gas hissed into the bag, for +the ground was not level enough to permit of a running start by +means of the planes. Lights gleamed from the Black Hawk and the big +search-lantern in front cast a dazzling finger of light into the +black forest. + +"Well, what are you waiting for?" called Ned, who heard the +machinery in motion, but who could not feel the craft rising. "Why +don't you go up, Tom?" + +"I'm trying to," answered the young inventor. "Something seems to be +the matter." He pulled the speed lever over a few more notches, and +increased the power of the gas machine. Still the Black Hawk did not +rise. + +"Bless my handkerchief box!" cried Mr. Damon, "what's the matter?" + +"I don't know," answered Tom. "We seem to be held fast." + +He further increased the speed of the propellers, and the gas +machine was set to make vapor at its fullest capacity, and force it +into the bag. Still the craft was held to the earth. + +"Maybe the gas has no effect in this climate," called Ned. + +"It can't be that," replied Tom. "The gas will operate anywhere. It +worked all right today." + +Suddenly she airship moved up a little way, and then seemed to be +pulled down again, hitting the ground with a bump. + +"Something is holding us!" cried Tom. "We're anchored to earth! I +must see what it is!" and, catching up his electric rifle, he dashed +out of the cabin. + + + + +CHAPTER XII + +AMONG THE NATIVES + + +For a moment after Tom's departure the others stared blankly at one +another. They could hear the throbbing and hum of the machinery, and +feel the thrill of the anchored airship. But they could not +understand what the trouble was. + +"We must help Tom!" cried Ned Newton at length as he caught up his +rifle. "Maybe we are in the midst of a herd of elephants, and they +have hold of the ship in their trunks." + +"It couldn't be!" declared Mr. Durban, yet they soon discovered that +Ned's guess was nearer the truth then any of them had suspected at +the time. + +"We must help him, true enough!" declared Mr. Anderson, and he and +the others followed Ned out on deck. + +"Where are you Tom?" called his chum. + +"Here." was the answer. "I'm on the forward deck." + +"Do you see anything?" + +"No, it's too dark. Turn the search-light this way." + +"I will," shouted Mr. Damon, and a moment later the gleam of the +powerful lantern brought Tom clearly into view, as he stood on the +small forward observation platform in the bow of the Black Hawk. + +An instant later the young inventor let out a startled cry. + +"What is it?" demanded Mr. Durban. + +"An immense snake!" shouted Tom. "It's wound around a tree, and +partly twined around the ship! That's why we couldn't go up! I'm +going to shoot it." + +They looked to where he pointed, and there, in the glare of the +light, could be seen an immense python, fully twenty-five feet long, +the forward part of its fat ugly body circled around the slender +prow of the airship, while the folds of the tail were about a big +tree. + +Tom Swift raised his electric rifle, took quick aim, and, having set +it to deliver a moderate charge, pressed the button. The result was +surprising, for the snake being instantly killed the folds uncoiled +and the ship shot upward, only, instead of rising on an even keel, +the bow pointed toward the sky, while the stern was still fast to +the earth. Tilted at an angle of forty-five degrees the Black Hawk +was in a most peculiar position, and those standing on the deck +began to slide along it. + +"There's another snake at the stern!" cried Mr. Damon as he grasped +a brace to prevent falling off. "Bless my slippers! it's the mate of +the one you killed! Shoot the other one, Tom!" + +The young inventor needed no urging. Making his way as best he could +to the stern of the airship, he killed the second python, which was +even larger than the first, and in an instant the Black Hawk shot +upward, this time level, and as it should be. Things on board were +soon righted, and the travelers could stand upright. High above the +black jungle rose the craft, moving forward under the full power of +the propellers, until Tom rushed into the engine room, and reduced +speed. + +"Well, talk about things happening!" exclaimed Ned, when they had +somewhat recovered from the excitement. "I should say they were +beginning with a vengeance!" + +"That's the way in Africa," declared Mr. Durban. "It's a curious +country. Those pythons generally go in pairs, but it's the first +time I ever knew them to tackle an airship. They probably stay +around here where there is plenty of small game for them, and very +likely they merely anchored to our craft while waiting for a supper +to come along." + +"It was a very odd thing," said Tom. "I couldn't imagine what held +us. After this I'll see that all is clear before I try to go up. +Next time we may he held by a troop of baboons and it strains the +machinery to have it pull against dead weight in that way." + +However, it was found no harm had resulted from this experience, +and, after reducing the gas pressure, which was taking them too +high, Tom set the automatic rudders. + +"We'll keep on at slow speed through the night," he explained, "and +in the morning we'll be pretty well into the interior. Then we can +lay our course for wherever we want to go. Where had we better head +for?" + +"I don't want to interfere with your plans," said Mr. Anderson, "but +I would like to rescue those missionaries. But the trouble is, I +don't know just where to look for them. We couldn't get much of a +line in Majumba on where the country of the red pygmies is located. +What do you think about it, Mr. Durban?" + +"As far as elephant hunting goes we can probably do as well in the +pygmy land as anywhere else," answered the veteran, "and perhaps it +will be well to head for that place. If we run across any elephant +herds in the meanwhile, we can stop, get the ivory, and proceed." + +They discussed this plan at some length, and agreed that it was the +best thing to do. Mr. Durban had a map of the country around the +center of Africa, and he marked on it, as nearly as he could, the +location of the pygmies' country, while Mr. Anderson also had a +chart, showing the location of the mission which had been wiped out +of existence. It was in the midst of a wild and desolate region. + +"We'll do the best we can," declared Tom, "and I think we'll +succeed. We ought to be there in about a week, if we have no bad +luck." + +All that night the Black Hawk flew on over Africa, covering mile +after mile, passing over jungle, forest, plains, rivers and lakes, +and, doubtless, over many native villages, though they could not be +seen. + +Morning found the travelers above a great, grassy plain, dotted here +and there with negro settlements which were separated by rivers, +lakes or thin patches of forest. + +"Well, we'll speed up a bit," decided Tom after breakfast, which was +eaten to the weird accompaniment of hundreds of native warning- +drums, beaten by the superstitious blacks. + +Tom went to the engine room, and turned on more speed. He was about +to go back to the pilot house, to set the automatic steering +apparatus to coincide with the course mapped out, when there was a +crash of metal, an ominous snapping and buzzing sound, followed by a +sudden silence. + +"What's that?" cried Ned, who was in the motor compartment with his +chum. + +"Something's gone wrong!" exclaimed the young inventor, as he sprang +back toward the engine. The propellers had ceased revolving, and as +there was no gas in the bag at that time, it having been decided to +save the vapor for future needs, the Black Hawk began falling toward +the earth. + +"We're going down!" yelled Ned. + +"Yes, the main motor has broken!" exclaimed Tom. "We'll have to +descend to repair it." + +"Say!" yelled Mr. Damon, rushing in, "we're right over a big African +village! Are we going to fall among the natives?" + +"It looks that way," admitted Tom grimly, as he hastened to the +pilot house to shift the wings so that the craft could glide easily +to the ground. + +"Bless my shoe blacking!" cried the eccentric man as he heard the +beating of drums, and the shouts of the savages. + +A little later the airship had settled into the midst of a crowd of +Africans, who swarmed all about the craft. + + + + +CHAPTER XIII + +ON AN ELEPHANT TRAIL + + +"Get ready with your guns, everybody!" cried the old elephant +hunter, as he prepared to leave the cabin of the Black Hawk. "Tom +Swift, don't forget your electric rifle. There'll be trouble soon!" + +"Bless my cartridge belt!" gasped Mr. Damon. "Why? What will happen?" + +"The natives," answered Mr. Durban. "They'll attack us sure as fate! +See, already they're getting out their bows and arrows, and +blowguns! They'll pierce the gas bag in a hundred places!" + +"If they do, it will be a bad thing for us," muttered Tom. "We can't +have that happen." + +He followed the old elephant hunter outside, and Mr. Anderson, Ned +Newton and Mr. Damon trailed after, each one with a gun, while Tom +had his electric weapon. The airship rested on its wheels on some +level ground, just in front of a large hut, surrounded by a number +of smaller ones. All about were the natives, tall, gaunt black men, +hideous in their savagery, wearing only the loin cloth, and with +their kinky hair stuck full of sticks, bones and other odd objects +they presented a curious sight. + + Some of them were dancing about, brandishing their weapons--clubs +spears, bows, and arrows, or the long, slender blowguns, consisting +merely of a hollow reed. Women and children there were, too, also +dancing and leaping about, howling at the tops of their voices. +Above the unearthly din could be heard the noise of the drums and +tom-toms, while, as the adventurers drew up in front of their +airship, there came a sort of chant, and a line of natives, dressed +fantastically in the skins of beasts, came filing out of the large +hut. + +"The witch-doctors!" exclaimed Tom, who had read of them in African +travel books. + +"Are they going to attack us?" cried Ned. + +"Bless my hymn book! I hope not!" came from Mr. Damon. "We wouldn't +have any chance at all in this horde of black men. I wish Eradicate +Sampson and his mule Boomerang were here. Maybe he could talk their +language, and tell them that we meant no harm." + +"If there's any talking to be done, I guess our guns will have to do +it," said Tom grimly. + +"I can speak a little of their language," remarked Mr. Durban, "but +what in the world are the beggars up to, anyhow? I supposed they'd +send a volley of arrows at us, first shot, but they don't seem to be +going to do that." + +"No, they're dancing around us," said Tom. + +"That's it!" exclaimed Mr. Anderson. "I have it! Why didn't I think +of it before? The natives are welcoming us!" + +"Welcoming us?" repeated Ned. + +"Yes," went on the missionary seeker. "They are doing a dance in our +honor, and they have even called out the witch-doctors to do us +homage." + +"That's right," agreed Mr. Durban, who was listening to the chanting +of the natives dressed in animal skins. "They take us for spirits +from another land, and are making us welcome here. Listen, I'll see +if I can make out what else they are saying." + +The character of the shouts and chants changed abruptly, and the +dancing increased in fervor, even the children throwing themselves +wildly about. The witch-doctors ran around like so many maniacs, and +it looked as much like an American Indian war dance as anything +else. + +"I've got it!" shouted Mr. Durban, for he had to call loudly to be +heard above the din. "They are asking us to make it rain. It seems +there has been a dry spell here, and their own rain-makers and +witch-doctors haven't been able to get a drop out of the sky. Now, +they take it that we have come to help them. They think we are going +to bring rain." + +"And if we don't, what will happen?" asked Tom. + +"Maybe they won't be quite so glad to see us," was the answer. + +"Well, if they don't mean war, we might as well put up our weapons," +suggested Mr. Anderson. "If they're going to be friendly, so much +the better, and if it should happen to rain while we're here, they'd +think we brought it, and we could have almost anything we wanted. +Perhaps they have a store of ivory hidden away, Mr. Durban. Some of +these tribes do." + +"It's possible, but the chances for rain are very small. How long +will we have to stay here, Tom Swift?" asked the elephant hunter +anxiously. + +"Well, perhaps I can get the motor mended in two or three days," +answered the young inventor. + +"Then we'll have to stay here in the meanwhile," decided Mr. Durban. +"Well, we'll make the best of it. Ha, here comes the native king to +do us honor," and, as he spoke there came toward the airship a +veritable giant of a black man, wearing a leopard skin as a royal +garment, while on his head was a much battered derby hat, probably +purchased at a fabulous price from some trader. The king, if such he +could be called, was accompanied by a number of attendants and +witch-doctors. In front walked a small man, who, as it developed, +was an interpreter. The little cavalcade advanced close to the +airship, and came to a halt. The king made a low bow, either to the +craft or to the elephant hunters drawn up in front of it. His +attendants followed his example, and then the interpreter began to +speak. + +Mr. Durban listened intently, made a brief answer to the little man, +and then the elephant hunter's face lighted up. + +"It's all right," he said to Tom and the others. "The king takes us +for wonderful spirits from another land. He welcomes us, says we can +have whatever we want, and he begs us to make it rain. I have said +we will do our best, and I have asked that some food be sent us. +That's always the first thing to do. We'll be allowed to stay here +in peace until Tom can mend the ship, and then we'll hit the air +trail again." + +The talk between Mr. Durban and the interpreter continued for some +little time longer. Then the king went back to his hut, refusing, as +Mr. Durban said, an invitation to come aboard and see how a modern +airship was constructed. The natives, too, seemed anxious to give +the craft a wide berth. + +The excitement had quieted down now, and, in a short tine a crowd of +native women came toward the airship, bearing, in baskets on their +heads, food of various kinds. There were bananas, some wild fruits, +yams, big gourds of goats' milk, some boiled and stewed flesh of +young goats, nicely cooked, and other things, the nature of which +could only be guessed at. + +"Shall we eat this stuff, or stick to Mr. Damon's cooking?" asked +Tom. + +"Oh, you'll find this very good," explained Mr. Durban. "I've eaten +native cookery before. Some of it is excellent and as this appears +to be very good, Mr. Damon can have a vacation while we are here." + +The old elephant hunter proved the correctness of his statement by +beginning to eat, and soon all the travelers were partaking of the +food left by the native women. They placed it down on the ground at +a discreet distance from the airship, and hurriedly withdrew. But if +the women and men were afraid, the children were not, and they were +soon swarming about the ship, timidly touching the sides with their +little black fingers, but not venturing on board. + +Tom, with Ned and Mr. Damon to help him, began work on the motor +right after dinner. He found the break to be worse than he had +supposed, and knew that it would take at least four days to repair +it. + +Meanwhile the airship continued to be a source of wonder to the +natives. They were always about it, save at night, but their +admiration was a respectful one. The king was anxious for the rain- +making incantations to begin, but Mr. Durban put him off. + +"I don't want to deceive these simple natives," he said, "and for +our own safety we can't pretend to make rain, and fail. As soon as +we have a chance we'll slip away from here." + +But an unexpected happening made a change in their plans. It was on, +the afternoon of their third day in the native village, and Tom and +his assistants were working hard at the motor. Suddenly there seemed +to be great excitement in the vicinity of the king's hut. A native +had rushed into the village from the jungle, evidently with some +news, for presently the whole place was in a turmoil. + +Once more the king and his attendants filed out toward the airship. +Once more the interpreter talked to Mr. Durban, who listened +eagerly. + +"By Jove! here's our chance!" he cried to Tom, when the little man +had finished. + +"What is it?" asked the young inventor. + +"A runner has just come in with news that a large herd of wild +elephants is headed this way. The king is afraid the big beasts will +trample down all their crops, as often occurs, and he begs us to go +out and drive the animals away. It's just what we want. Come on, +Tom, and all of you. The airship will be safe here, for the natives +think that to meddle with it would mean death or enchantment for +then. We'll get on our first elephant trail!" + +The old hunter went into the cabin for his big game gun, while Tom +hastened to get out his electric rifle. Now he would have a chance +to try it on the powerful beasts which he had come to Africa to +hunt. + +Amid the excited and joyous shouts of the natives, the hunters filed +out of the village, led by the dusky messenger who had brought the +news of the elephants. And, as Tom and the others advanced, they +could hear a distant trumpeting, and a crashing in the jungle that +told of the near presence of the great animals. + + + + +CHAPTER XIV + +A STAMPEDE + + +"Look to your guns, everybody!" cautioned Mr. Durban. "It's no joke +to be caught in an elephant herd with an unloaded rifle. Have you +plenty of ammunition, Mr. Damon?" + +"Ammunition? Bless my powder bag, I think I have enough for all the +elephants I'll kill. If I get one of the big beasts I'll be +satisfied. Bless my piano keys! I think I see them, Tom!" + +He pointed off through the thick jungle. Surely something was moving +there amid the trees; great slate-colored bodies, massive forms and +waving trunks! The trumpeting increased, and the crashing of the +underbrush sounded louder and nearer. + +"There they are!" cried Tom Swift joyously. + +"Now for my first big game!" yelled Ned Newton. + +"Take it easy," advised Mr. Anderson. "Remember to aim for the spot +I mentioned to you as being the best, just at the base of the skull. +If you can't make a head shot, or through the eye, try for the +heart. But with the big bullets we have, almost any kind of a shot, +near a vital spot, will answer." + +"And Tom can fire at their TOES and put them out of business," +declared Ned, who was eagerly advancing. "How about it, Tom?" + +"Well, I guess the electric rifle will come up to expectations. Say, +Mr. Durban, they seem to be heading this way!" excitedly cried Tom, +as the herd of big beasts suddenly turned and changed their course. + +"Yes, they are," admitted the old elephant hunter calmly. "But that +won't matter. Take it easy. Kill all you can." + +"But we don't want to put too many out of business," said Tom, who +was not needlessly cruel, even in hunting. + +"I know that," answered Mr. Durban. "But this is a case of +necessity. I've got to get ivory, and we have to kill quite a few +elephants to accomplish this. Besides the brutes will head for the +village and the natives' grain fields, and trample them down, if +they're not headed back. So all together now, we'll give them a +volley. This is a good place! There they are. All line up now. Get +ready!" + +He halted, and the others followed his example. The natives had come +to a stop some time before, and were huddled together in the jungle +back of our friends, waiting to see the result of the white men's +shots. + +Tom, Ned, Mr. Damon, and the two older hunters were on an irregular +line in the forest. Before them was the mass of elephants advancing +slowly, and feeding on the tender leaves of trees as they came on. +They would reach up with their long trunks, strip off the foliage, +and stuff it into their mouths. Sometimes, they even pulled up small +trees by the roots for the purpose of stripping them more easily. + +"Jove! There are some big tuskers in that bunch!" cried Mr. Durban. +"Aim for the bulls, every one, don't kill the mothers or little +ones." Tom now saw that there were a number of baby Elephants in the +herd, and he appreciated the hunter's desire to spare them and their +mothers. + +"Here we go!" exclaimed Mr. Durban, as he saw that Tom and the +others were ready. "Aim! Fire!" + +There were thundering reports that awoke the echoes of the jungle, +and the sounds of the rifles were followed by shrill trumpets of +rage. When the smoke blew away three elephants were seen prostrate, +or, rather two, and part of another one. The last vas almost blown +to pieces by Tom Swift's electric rifle; for the young inventor had +used a little too heavy charge, and the big beast had been almost +annihilated. + +Mr. Durban had dropped his bull with a well-directed shot, and Mr. +Anderson had a smaller one to his credit. + +"I guess I missed mine," said Ned ruefully. + +"Bless my dress-suit case!" exclaimed Mr. Damon. "So did I!" + +"One of you hit that fellow!" cried Mr. Durban. "He's wounded." + +He pointed to a fair-sized bull who was running wildly about, +uttering shrill cries of anger. The other beasts had gathered in a +compact mass, with the larger bulls, or tuskers, on the outside, to +protect the females and young. + +"I'll try a shot at him," said Tom, and raising his electric, gun, +he took quick aim. The elephant dropped in his tracks, for this time +the young inventor had correctly adjusted the power of the wireless +bullet. + +"Good!" cried Mr. Durban. "Give them some more! This is some of the +best ivory I've seen yet!" + +As he spoke he fired, and bowled over another magnificent specimen. +Ned Newton, determined to make a record of at least one, fired +again, and to his delight, saw a big fellow drop. + +"I got him!" he yelled. + +Mr. Anderson also got another, and then Mr. Damon, blessing +something which his friends could not make out, fired at one of the +largest bulls in the herd. + +"You only nipped him!" exclaimed Mr. Durban when the smoke had +drifted away. "I guess I'll put him out of his misery!" + +He raised his weapon and pulled the trigger but no report followed. +He uttered an exclamation of dismay. + +"The breech-action has jammed!" he exclaimed. "Drop him, Tom. He's +scented us, and is headed this way. The whole herd will follow in a +minute." + +Already the big brute wounded by Mr. Damon had trumpeted out a cry +of rage and defiance. It was echoed by his mates. Then, with +upraised trunk, he darted forward, followed by a score of big +tuskers. + +But Tom had heard and understood. The leading beast had not taken +three steps before he dropped under the deadly and certain fire of +the young inventor. + +"Bless my wishbone!" cried Mr. Damon when he saw how effective the +electric weapon was. + +There was a shout of joy from the natives in the rear. They saw the +slain creatures and knew there would be much fresh meat and feasting +for them for days to come. + +Suddenly Mr. Durban cried out: "Fire again, Tom! Fire everybody! The +whole herd is coming this way. If we don't stop them they'll overrun +the fields and village, anti may smash the airship! Fire again!" + +Almost as he spoke, the rush, which had been stopped momentarily, +when Tom dropped the wounded elephant, began again. With shrill +menacing cries the score of bulls in the lead came on, followed this +time by the females and the young. + +"It's a stampede!" yelled Mr. Anderson, firing into the midst of the +herd. Mr. Durban was working frantically at his clogged rifle. Ned +and Mr. Damon both fired, and Tom Swift, adjusting his weapon to +give the heaviest charges, shot a fusillade of wireless bullets into +the center of the advancing elephants, who were now wild with fear +and anger. + +"It's a stampede all right!" said Tom, when he saw that the big +creatures were not going to stop, in spite of the deadly fire poured +into them. + + + + +CHAPTER XV + +LIONS IN THE NIGHT + + +Shouting, screaming, imploring their deities in general, and the +white men in particular for protection, the band of frightened +natives broke and ran through the jungle, caring little where they +went so long as they escaped the awful terror of the pursuing herd +of maddened elephants. Behind them came Tom Swift and the others, +for it were folly to stop in the path of the infuriated brutes. + +"Our only chance is to get on their flank and try to turn them!" +yelled Mr. Durban. "We may beat them in getting to the clearing, for +the trail is narrow. Run, everybody!" + +No one needed his excited advice to cause them to hurry. They +scudded along, Mr. Damon's cap falling off in his haste. But he did +not stop to pick it up. + +The hunters had one advantage. They were on a narrow but well- +cleared trail through the jungle, which led from the village where +they were encamped, to another, several miles away. This trail was +too small for the elephants, and, indeed, had to be taken in single +file by the travelers. + +But it prevented the elephants making the same speed as did our +friends, for the jungle, at this point, consisted of heavy trees, +which halted the progress of even the strongest of the powerful +beasts. True, they could force aside the frail underbrush and the +small trees, but the others impeded their progress. + +"We'll get there ahead of them!" cried Tom. "Have you got your rifle +in working order yet, Mr. Durban?" + +"No, something has broken, I fear. We'll have to depend on your +electric gun, Tom. Have you many charges left?" + +"A dozen or so. But Ned and the others have plenty of ammunition." + +"Don't count--on--me!" panted Mr. Damon, who was well-nigh +breathless from the run. "I--can't--aim--straight--any--more!" + +"I'll give 'em a few more bullets!" declared Mr. Anderson. + +The fleeing natives were now almost lost to sight, for they could +travel through the jungle, ignoring the trail, at high speed. They +were almost like snakes or animals in this respect. Their one +thought was to get to their village, and, if possible, protect their +huts and fields of grain from annihilation by the elephants. + +Behind our friends, trumpeting, bellowing and crashing came the +pachyderms. They seemed to be gaining, and Tom, looking back, saw +one big brute emerge upon the trail, and follow that. + +"I've got to stop him, or some of the others will do the same," +thought the young inventor. He halted and fired quickly. The +elephant seemed to melt away, and Tom with regret, saw a pair of +fine tusks broken to bits. "I used too heavy a charge," he murmured, +as he took up the retreat again. + +In a few minutes the party of hunters, who were now playing more in +the role of the hunted, came out into the open. They could hear the +natives beating on their big hollow tree drums, and on tom-toms, +while the witch-doctors and medicine men were chanting weird songs +to drive the elephants away. + +But the beasts came on. One by one they emerged from the jungle, +until the herd was gathered together again in a compact mass. Then, +under the leadership of some big bulls, they advanced. It seemed as +if they knew what they were doing, and were determined to revenge +themselves by trampling the natives' huts under their ponderous +feet. + +But Tom and the others were not idle. Taking a position off to one +side, the young inventor began pouring a fusillade of the electric +bullets into the mass of slate-colored bodies. Mr. Anderson was also +firing, and Ned, who had gotten over some of his excitement, was +also doing execution. Mr. Durban, after vainly trying to get his +rifle to work, cast it aside. "Here! Let me take your gun!" he cried +to Mr. Damon, who, panting from the run, was sitting beneath a tree. + +"Bless my cartridge belt! Take it and welcome!" assented the +eccentric man. It still had several shots in the magazine, and these +the old hunter used with good effect. + +At first it seemed as if the elephants could not be turned back. +They kept on rushing toward the village, which was not far away, and +Tom and the others followed at one side, as best they could, firing +rapidly. The electric rifle did fearful execution. + +Emboldened by the fear that all their possessions would be destroyed +a body of the natives rushed out, right in front of the elephants, +and beat tom-toms and drums, almost under their feet, at the same +time singing wild songs. + +"I'm afraid we can't stop them!" muttered Mr. Anderson. "We'd better +hurry to the airship, and protect that, Tom." + +But, almost as he spoke, the tide of battle turned. The elephants +suddenly swung about, and began a retreat. They could not stand the +hot fire of the four guns, including Tom's fearful weapon. With wild +trumpetings they fled back into the jungle, leaving a number of +their dead behind. + +"A close call," murmured Tom, as he drew a breath of relief. Indeed +this was true, for the tide had turned when the foremost elephants +were not a hundred feet away from the first rows of native huts. + +"I should say it was," agreed Ned Newton, wiping his face with his +handkerchief. He, as well as the others, was an odd-looking sight. +They were blackened by powder smoke, scratched by briars, and red +from exertion. + +"But we got more ivory in this hour than I could have secured in a +week of ordinary hunting" declared Mr. Durban. "If this keeps up we +won't have to get much more, except that I don't think any of the +tusks to-day are large enough for the special purpose of my +customer." + +"The sooner we get enough ivory the quicker we can go to the rescue +of the missionaries," said Mr. Anderson. + +"That's so," remarked Tom. "We must not forget the red pygmies." + +The natives were now dancing about, wild in delight at the prospect +of unlimited eating, and also thankful for what the white men had +done for them. Alone, the blacks would never have been able to stop +the stampede. They were soon busy cutting up the elephants ready for +a big feast, and runners were sent to tell neighboring tribes, in +adjoining villages, of the delights awaiting them. + +Mr. Durban gave instructions about saving the ivory tusks, and the +valuable teeth, each pair worth about $1,000, were soon cut out and +put away for our friends. Some had been lost by the excessive power +of Tom's gun, but this could not be helped. It was necessary to stop +the rush at any price. + +There was soon a busy scene at the native village, and with the +arrival of other tribesmen it seemed as if Bedlam had broken loose. +The blacks chattered like so many children as they prepared for the +feast. + +"Do white men ever eat elephant meat?" asked Mr. Damon, as the +adventurers were gathered about the airship. + +"Indeed they do," declared Mr. Durban. "Baked elephant foot is a +delicacy that few appreciate. I'll have the natives cook some for +us." + +He gave the necessary orders, and the travelers had to admit that it +was worth coming far to get. + +For the next few days and nights there was great feasting in that +African village, and the praises of the white men, and power of Tom +Swift's electric rifle, were sung loud and long. + +Our friends had resumed work on repairing the airship, and the young +inventor declared, one night, that they could proceed the next day. + +They were seated around a small campfire, watching the dancing and +antics of some natives who were at their usual work of eating meat. +All about our friends were numerous blazes for the cooking of the +feasts, and some were on the very edge of the jungle. + +Suddenly, above the uncouth sounds of the merry-making, there was +heard a deep vibration and roar, not unlike the distant rumble of +thunder or the hum of a great steamer's whistle heard afar in the +fog. + +"What's that?" cried Ned. + +"Lions," said Mr. Durban briefly. "They have been attracted by the +smell of cooking." + +At that moment, and instantly following a very loud roar, there was +an agonized scream of pain and terror. It sounded directly in back +of the airship. + +"A lion!" cried Mr. Anderson. "One of the brutes has grabbed a +native!" + +Tom Swift caught up his rifle, and darted off toward the dark +jungle. + + + + +CHAPTER XVI + +SEEKING THE MISSIONARIES + + +"Here! Come back!" yelled Mr. Damon and Mr. Anderson, in the same +breath, while the old elephant hunter cried out: "Don't you know +you're risking your life, Tom to go off in the dark, to trail a +lion?" + +"I can't stand it to let the native be carried off!" Tom shouted +back. + +"But you can't see in the dark," objected Mr. Anderson. He had +probably forgotten the peculiar property of the electric rifle. Tom +kept on, and the others slowly followed. + +The natives had at once ceased their merrymaking at the roaring of +the lions, and now all were gathered close about the campfires, on +which more wood had been piled, to drive away the fearsome brutes. + +"There must be a lot of them," observed Mr. Durban, as menacing +growls and roars came from the jungle, along the edge of which Tom +and the others were walking just then. "There are so many of the +brutes that they are bold, and they must be hungry, too. They came +close to our fire, because it wasn't so bright as the other blazes, +and that native must have wandered off into the forest. Well, I +guess it's all up with him." + +"He's screaming yet," observed Ned. + +Indeed, above the rumbling roars of the lions, and the crackling of +the campfires, could be heard the moaning cries of the unfortunate +black. + +"He's right close here!" suddenly called Tom. "He's skirting the +jungle. I think I can get him!" + +"Don't take any risks!" called Mr. Durban, who had caught up his own +rifle, that was now in working order again. + +Tom Swift was not in sight. He had now penetrated into the jungle-- +into the black forest where stalked the savage lions, intent on +getting other prey. Mr. Durban and Mr. Anderson vainly tried to +pierce the darkness to see something at which to shoot. Ned Newton +had eagerly started to follow his chum, but could not discern where +Tom was. A nameless fear clutched at the lad's heart. Mr. Damon was +softly blessing everything of which he could think. + +Once more came that pitiful cry from the native, who was, as they +afterward learned, being dragged along by the lion, who had grabbed +him by the shoulder. + +Suddenly in the dense jungle there shone a purple-bluish light. It +illuminated the scene like some great sky-rocket for an instant, and +in that brief time Ned and the others caught sight of a great, tawny +form, bounding along. It was a lion, with head held high, dragging +along a helpless black man. + +A second later, and before the intense glare had died away, the +watchers saw the lion gently sink down, as though weary. He stopped +short in his tracks, his head rolled back, the jaws relaxed and the +native, who was unconscious now, toppled to one side. + +"Tom's killed him with the electric rifle!" cried Mr. Durban. + +"Bless my incandescent lamp! so he has," agreed Mr. Damon. "Bless my +dynamo! but that's a wonderful gun, it's as powerful as a +thunderbolt, or as gentle as a summer shower." + +Mr. Durban seeing that the lion was dead, in that brief glance he +had had of the brute, called to some of the natives to come and get +their tribesman. They came, timidly enough at first, carrying many +torches, but when they understood that the lion was dead, they +advanced more boldly. They carried the wounded black to a hut, where +they applied their simple but effective remedies for the cruel bite +in his shoulder. + +After Tom had shot several other of the illuminated charges into the +jungle, to see if he could discover any more lions, but failed to do +so, he and his friends returned to the anchored airship, amid the +murmured thanks of the Africans. + +Bright fires were kept blazing all the rest of the night, but, +though lions could be heard roaring in the jungle, and though they +approached alarmingly close to the place where our friends were +encamped, none of the savage brutes ventured within the clearing. + +With the valuable store of ivory aboard the Black Hawk, which was +now completely repaired, an early start was made the next morning. +The Africans besought Tom and his companions to remain, for it was +not often they could have the services of white men in slaying +elephants and lions. + +"But, we've got to get on the trail," decided Tom, when the natives +had brought great stores of food, and such simple presents as they +possessed, to induce the travelers to remain. + +"Every hour may add to the danger of the missionaries in the hands +of the red pygmies." + +"Yes," said Mr. Anderson gravely, "it is our duty to save them." + +And so the airship mounted into the air, our friends waving +farewells to the simple-hearted blacks, who did a sort of farewell +war-dance in their honor, shouting their praises aloud, and beating +the drums and tom-toms, so that the echoes followed for some time +after the Black Hawk had begun to mount upward toward the sky. + +The craft was in excellent shape, due to the overhauling Tom had +given it while making the repairs. With the propellers beating the +air, and the rudder set to hold them about two thousand feet high, +the travelers moved rapidly over clearings, forests and jungles. + +It was agreed that now, when they had made such a good start in +collecting ivory, that they would spend the next few days in trying +to get on the trail of the red pygmies. It might seem a simple +matter, after knowing the approximate location of the land of these +fierce little natives, to have proceeded directly to it. But Africa +is an immense continent, and even in an airship comparatively little +of the interior can be seen at a time. + +Besides, the red pygmies had a habit of moving from place to place, +and they were so small, and so wild, capable of living in very tiny +huts or caves, and so primitive, not building regular villages as +the other Africans do, that as Ned said, they were as hard to locate +as the proverbial flea. + +Our friends had a general idea of where to look for them, but on +nearing that land, and making inquiries of several friendly tribes, +they learned that the red pygmies had suddenly disappeared from +their usual haunts. + +"I guess they heard that we were after them," said Tom, with a grim +smile one day, as he sent the airship down toward the earth, for +they were over a great plain, and several native villages could he +seen dotted on its surface. + +"More likely they are in hiding because they have as captives two +white persons," said Mr. Anderson. "They are fierce and fearless, +but, nevertheless, they have, in times past, felt the vengeance of +the white man, and perhaps they dread that now." + +They made a descent, and spent several days making inquiries from +the friendly blacks about the race of little men. But scarcely +anything was learned. Some of the negro tribes admitted having heard +of the red pygmies, and others, with superstitious incantations and +imprecations, said they had never heard of them. + +One tribe of very large negroes had heard a rumor to the effect that +the band of the pygmies was several days' journey from their +village, across the mountains, and when Tom sent his airship there, +the searchers only found an impenetrable jungle, filled with lions +and other wild beasts, but not a sign of the pygmies, and with no +elephants to reward their search. + +"But we're not going to give up," declared Tom, and the others +agreed with him. Forward went the Black Hawk in the search for the +imprisoned ones, but, as the days passed, and no news was had, it +seemed to grow more and more hopeless. + +"I'm afraid if we do find them now," remarked Mr. Anderson at +length, "that we'll only recover the bodies of the missionaries." + +"Then we'll avenge them," said Tom quietly. + +They had stopped at another native village to make inquiries, but +without result, and were about to start off again that night when a +runner came in to announce that a herd of big elephants was feeding +not many miles away. + +"Well, we'll stay over a day or so, and get some more ivory," +decided Mr. Durban and that night they got ready for what was to +prove a big hunt. + + + + +CHAPTER XVII + +SHOTS FROM ABOVE + + +"There they are!" + +"My, what a lot of big ones!" + +"Jove! Mr. Anderson, see those tusks!" + +"Yes, you ought to get what you want this time, Mr. Durban." + +"Bless my hatband! There must be two hundred of them!" exclaimed Mr. +Damon. + +"I'm glad I recharged my rifle last night!" exclaimed Tom Swift. +"It's fully loaded now." + +Then followed exulting cries and shouts of the natives, who were +following our friends, the elephant hunters, who had given voice to +the remarks we have just quoted. + +It was early in the morning, and the hunt was about to start, for +the news brought in by the runner the night before had been closely +followed by the brutes themselves, and at dawn our friends were +astir, for scouts brought in word that the elephants, including many +big ones, were passing along only a few miles from the African +village. + +Cautiously approaching, with the wind blowing from the elephants to +them, the white hunters made their way along. Mr. Durban was in the +lead, and when he saw a favorable opportunity he motioned for the +others to advance. Then, when he noticed the big bull sentinels of +the herd look about as if to detect the presence of enemies, he gave +another signal and the hunters sank out of sight in the tall grass. + +As for the natives, they were like snakes, unseen but ever present, +wriggling along on their hands and knees. They were awaiting the +slaughter, when there would be fresh meat in abundance. + +At length the old elephant hunter decided that they were near enough +to chance some shots. As a matter of fact, Tom Swift, with his +electric rifle, had been within range some time before, but as he +did not want to spoil the sport for the others, by firing and +killing, and so alarming the herd, he had held back. Now they could +all shoot together. + +"Let her go!" suddenly cried Mr. Durban, and they took aim. + +There was a fusillade of reports and several of the big brutes +toppled over. + +"Bless my toothbrush!" cried Mr. Damon, "that's the time I got one!" + +"Yes, and a fine specimen, too!" added Mr. Durban, who had only +succeeded in downing a small bull, with an indifferent pair of +tusks. "A fine speciment, Mr. Damon, I congratulate you!" + +As for Tom Swift, he had killed two of the largest elephants in the +herd. + +But now the hunters had their work cut out for them, since the +beasts had taken fright and were charging away at what seemed an +awkward gait, but which, nevertheless, took them rapidly over the +ground. + +"Come on!" cried Mr. Durban. "We must get some more. Some of the +finest tusks I have ever seen are running away from us!" + +He began to race after the retreating herd, but it is doubtful if he +would have caught up to them had not a band of natives, who had +crept up and surrounded the beasts, turned them by shouts and the +beating of tom-toms. Seeing an enemy in front of them, the elephants +turned, and our friends were able to get in several more shots. Tom +Swift picked out only those with immense tusks, and soon had several +to his credit. Ned Newton also bagged some prizes. + +But finally the elephants, driven to madness by the firing and the +yells of the natives, broke through the line of black men, and +charged off into the jungle, where it was not only useless but +dangerous to follow them. + +"Well, we have enough," said Mr. Durban, and when the tusks had been +collected it was found that indeed a magnificent and valuable supply +had been gathered. + +"But I have yet to get my prize ones," said the old hunter with a +sigh. "Maybe we'll find the elephant with them when we locate the +red pygmies." + +"If we do, we'll have our work cut out for us," declared Tom. + +As on the other occasion after the hunt, there was a great feast for +the natives, who invited tribes from miles around, and for two days, +while the tusks were being cut out and cleaned, there were barbeques +on every side. + +It was one afternoon, when they were seated in the shade of the +airship, cleaning their guns, and discussing the plans they had best +follow next, that our travellers suddenly heard a great commotion +amongst the Africans, who had for the past hour been very quiet, +most of them sleeping after the feasts. They yelled and shouted, and +began to beat their drums. + +"Something is coming," said Ned. + +"Perhaps there's going to be a fight," suggested Tom. + +"Maybe it's the red pygmies," said Mr. Damon. "Bless my--" + +But what he was going to bless he did not say, for at that instant +it seemed as if every native in sight suddenly disappeared, almost +like magic. They sank down into the grass, darted into their huts, +or hid in the tall grass. + +"What can it be?" cried Tom, as he looked to see that his rifle was +in working order. + +"Some enemy," declared Mr. Anderson. + +"There they are!" cried Ned Newton, and as he spoke there burst into +view, coming from the tall grass that covered the plain about the +village, a herd of savage, wild buffaloes. On rushed the shaggy +creatures, their long, sharp horns seeming like waving spears as +they advanced. + +"Here's more sport!" cried Tom. + +"No! Not sport! Danger!" yelled Mr. Durban. "They're headed right +for us!" + +"Then we'll stop them," declared the young inventor, as he raised +his gun. + +"No! No!" begged the old hunter. "It's as much as our lives are +worth to try to stop a rush of wild buffaloes. You couldn't do it +with Gatling guns. We can kill a few, but the rest won't stop until +they've finished us and the aeroplane too." + +"Then what's to be done?" demanded Mr. Anderson. + +"Get into the airship!" cried Mr. Durban. "Send her up. It's the +only way to get out of their path. Then we can shoot them from +above, and drive them away!" + +Quickly the adventurers leaped into the craft. On thundered the +buffaloes. Tom feared he could not get the motor started quickly +enough. He did not dare risk rising by means of the aeroplane +feature, but at once started the gas machine. + +The big bag began to fill. Nearer came the wild creatures, +thundering over the ground, snorting and bellowing with rage. + +"Quick, Tom!" yelled Ned, and at that instant the Black Hawk shot +upward, just as the foremost of the buffaloes passed underneath, +vainly endeavoring to gore the craft with their sweeping horns. The +air-travelers had risen just in time. + +"Now it's our turn!" shouted Ned, as he began firing from above into +the herd of infuriated animals below him. Tom, after seeing that the +motor was working well, sent the airship circling about, while +standing in the steering tower, he guided his craft here and there, +meanwhile pouring a fusillade of his wireless bullets into the +buffaloes. Many of them dropped in their tracks, but the big herd +continued to rush here and there, crashing into the frail native +huts, tearing them down, and, whenever a black man appeared, chasing +after him infuriatedly. + +"Keep at it!" cried Mr. Durban, as he poured more lead into the +buffaloes. "If we don't kill enough of them, and drive the others +away, there won't be anything left of this village." + + + + +CHAPTER XVIII + +NEWS OF THE RED PYGMIES + + +Seldom had it been the lot of Tom and his companions to take part in +such a novel hunting scene as that in which they were now +participating. With the airship moving quickly about, darting here +and there under the guidance of the young inventor, the erratic +movements hither and thither of the buffaloes could be followed +exactly. Wherever the mass of the herd went the airship hovered over +them. + +"Want any help, Tom?" called Ned, who was firing as fast as his gun +could be worked. + +"I guess not," answered the steersman of the Black Hawk, who was +dividing his attention between managing the craft and firing his +electric rifle. + +The others, too, were kept busy with their weapons, shooting down on +the infuriated animals. It seemed like a needless slaughter, but it +was not. Had it not been for the white men, the native village, +which consisted of only frail huts, would have been completely wiped +out by the animals. As it was they were kept "milling" about in a +circle in an open space, just as stampeded cattle on the western +ranges are kept from getting away, by being forced round and round. + +Not a native was in sight, all being hidden away in the jungle or +dense grass. The white hunters in their airship had matters to +themselves. + +At last the firing proved even too much for the buffaloes which, as +we have said, are among the most dreaded of African beasts. With +bellows of fear, the leading bulls of the herd unable to find the +enemy above their heads, darted of into the forest the way they had +come. + +"There they go!" yelled Mr. Durban. + +"Yes, and I'm glad to see the last of them," added Mr. Anderson, +with a breath of relief. + +"Score another victory for the electric rifle," exclaimed Ned. + +"Oh, you did as much execution as I did," declared the inventor of +the weapon. + +"Bless my ramrod!" cried Mr. Damon. "I never shot so much in all my +life before." + +"Yes, there is enough food to last the natives for a week," observed +Mr. Durban, as Tom adjusted the deflecting rudder to send the +airship down. + +"It won't last much longer at the rate they eat," spoke the young +inventor with a laugh. "I never saw such fellows for appetites! They +seem to eat in their sleep." + +There were many dead buffaloes, but there was no fear that the meat, +which was much prized by the Africans, would be wasted. Already the +natives were coming from their hiding places, knowing that the +danger was over. Once more they sang the praises of the mighty white +hunters, and the magical air craft in which they moved about. + +With the elephants previously killed, the buffaloes provided +material for a great feast, preparations for which were at once +gotten under way, in spite of the fact that the blacks had hardly +stopped eating since the big hunt began. But it was about all they +had to do. + +Some of the buffaloes were very large, and there were a number of +pairs of fine horns. Tom and Ned had some of the blacks cut them off +for trophies, and they were stored in the airship together with the +ivory. + +Becoming rather tired of seeing so much feasting, our friends bade +the Africans farewell the next day, and once more resumed their +quest. They navigated through the air for another week, stopping at +several villages, and scanning the jungles and plains by means of +powerful telescopes, for a sight of the red pygmies. They also asked +for news of the sacking of the missionary settlement, but, beyond +meager facts, could learn nothing. + +"Well, we've got to keep on, that's all," decided Mr. Durban. "We +may find them most unexpectedly." + +"I'm sorry if I have taken you away from your work of gathering +ivory," spoke Mr. Anderson. "Perhaps you had better let me go, and +I'll see if I can't organize a band of friendly blacks, and search +for the red dwarfs myself." + +"Not much!" exclaimed Tom warmly. "I said we'd help rescue those +missionaries, and we'll do it, too!" + +"Of course," declared the old elephant hunter. "We have quite a lot +of ivory and, while we need more to make it pay well, we can look +for it after we rescue the missionaries as well as before. Perhaps +there will be a lot of elephants in the pygmies' land." + +"I was only thinking that we can't go on forever in the airship." +said Mr. Anderson. "You'll have to go back to civilization soon, +won't you, Tom, to get gasolene?" + +"No, we have enough for at least a month," answered the young +inventor. "I took aboard an unusually large supply when we started." + +"What would happen if we ran out of it in the jungle?" asked Ned. +"Bless my pocketbook! What an unpleasant question!" exclaimed Mr. +Damon. "You are almost as cheerful, Ned, as was my friend Mr. +Parker, the gloomy scientist, who was always predicting dire +happenings." + +"Well, I was only wondering," said Ned, who was a little abashed by +the manner in which his inquiry was received. + +"Oh, it would be all right," declared Tom. "We would simply become a +balloon, and in time the wind would blow us to some white +settlement. There is plenty of material for making the lifting gas." + +This was reassuring, and, somewhat easier in mind, Ned took his +place in the observation tower which looked down on the jungle over +which they were passing. + +It was a dense forest. At times there could be seen, in the little +clearings, animals darting along. There were numbers of monkeys, an +occasional herd of buffaloes were observed, sometimes a solitary +stray elephant was noted, and as for birds, there were thousands of +them. It was like living over a circus, Ned declared. + +They had descended one day just outside a large native village to +make inquiries about elephants and the red pygmies. Of the big +beasts no signs had been seen in several months, the hunters of the +tribe told Mr. Durban. And concerning the red pygmies, the blacks +seemed indisposed to talk. + +Tom and the others could not understand this, until a witch-doctor, +whom the elephant hunter had met some time ago, when he was on a +previous expedition, told him that the tribe had a superstitious +fear of speaking of the little men. + +"They may be around us--in the forest or jungle at any minute," the +witch-doctor said. "We never speak of them." + +"Say, do you suppose that can be a clew?" asked Tom eagerly. "They +may be nearer at hand than we think." + +"It's possible." admitted the hunter. "Suppose we stay here for a +few days, and I'll see if I can't get some of the natives to go off +scouting in the woods, and locate them, or at least put us on the +trail of the red dwarfs." + +This was considered good advice, and it was decided to adopt it. +Accordingly the airship was put in a safe place, and our friends +prepared to spend a week, if necessary, in the native village. Their +presence with the wonderful craft was a source of wonder, and by +means of some trinkets judiciously given to the native king, and +also to his head subjects, and to the witch-doctors (who were a +power in the land), the good opinion of the tribe was won. Then, by +promising rewards to some of the bolder hunters, Mr. Durban finally +succeeded in getting them to go off scouting in the jungle for a +clew to the red pygmies. + +"Now we'll have to wait," said Mr. Anderson, "and I hope we get good +news." + +Our friends spent their time observing some of the curious customs +of the natives, and in witnessing some odd dances gotten up in their +honor. They also went hunting, and got plenty of game, for which +their hosts were duly grateful. Tom did some night stalking and +found his illuminating bullets a great success. + +One hot afternoon Tom and Mr. Damon strolled off a little way into +the jungle, Tom with his electric weapon, in case he saw any game. +But no animals save a few big monkeys where to be seen, and the +young inventor scorned to kill them. It seemed too much like firing +at a human being he said, though the natives stated that some of the +baboons and apes were fierce, and would attack one on the slightest +provocation. + +"I believe I'll sit down here and rest," said Tom, after a mile's +tramp, as he came to a little clearing in the woods. + +"Very well, I'll go on," decided Mr. Damon. "Mr. Durban said there +were sometimes rare orchids in these jungles, and I am very fond of +those odd flowers. I'm going to see if I can get any." + +He disappeared behind a fringe of moss-grown trees, and Tom sat +down, with his rifle across his knees. He was thinking of many +things, but chiefly of what yet lay before them--the discovery of +the red dwarfs and the possible rescue of the missionaries. + +He might have been thus day-dreaming for perhaps a half hour, when +he suddenly heard great commotion in the jungle, in the direction in +which Mr. Damon had vanished. It sounded as though some one was +running rapidly. Then came the report of the odd man's gun. + +"He's seen some game!" exclaimed Tom, jumping up, and preparing to +follow his friend. But he did not have the chance. An instant later +Mr. Damon burst through the bushes with every appearance of fright, +his gun held above his head with one hand, and his pith helmet +swaying to and fro in the other. + +"They're coming!" he cried to Tom. + +"Who, the red pygmies?" + +"No, but a couple of rhinoceroses are after me. I wounded one, and +he and his mate are right behind. Don't let them catch me, Tom!" + +Mr. Damon was very much alarmed, and there was good occasion for it, +as Tom saw a moment later, for two fierce rhinoceroses burst out of +the jungle almost on the heels of the fleeing man. + +Thought was not quicker than Tom Swift. He raised his deadly rifle, +and pressed the button. A charge of wireless electricity shot toward +the foremost animal, and it was dropped in its tracks. The other +came on woofing and snorting with rage. It was the one Mr. Damon had +slightly wounded. + +"Come on!" yelled the young inventor, for his friend was in front of +the beast, and in range with the rifle. "Jump to one side, Mr. +Damon." + +Mr. Damon tried, but his foot slipped, and there was no need for +jumping. He fell and rolled over. The rhinoceros swerved toward him, +with the probable intention of goring the prostrate man with the +formidable horn, but it had no chance. Once more the young inventor +fired, this time with a heavier charge, and the animal instantly +toppled over dead. + +"Are you hurt?" asked Tom anxiously, as he ran to his friend. Mr. +Damon got up slowly. He felt all over himself, and then answered: + +"No, Tom, I guess I'm not hurt, except in my dignity. Never again +will I fire at a sleeping rhinoceros unless you are with me. I had a +narrow escape," and he shook Tom's hand heartily. + +"Did you see any orchids?" asked the lad with a smile. + +"No, those beasts didn't give me a chance! Bless my tape measure! +but they're big fellows!" + +Indeed they were fine specimens, and there was the usual rejoicing +among the natives when they brought in the great bodies, pulling +them to the village with ropes made of vines. + +After this Mr. Damon was careful not to go into the jungle alone, +nor, in fact, did any of our friends so venture. Mr. Durban said it +was not safe. + +They remained a full week in the native village, and received no +news. In fact, all but one of the hunters came back to report that +there was no sign of the red pygmies in that neighborhood. + +"Well, I guess we might as well move on, and see what we can do +ourselves," said Mr. Durban. + +"Let's wait until the last hunter comes back," suggested Tom. "He +may bring word." + +"Some of his friends think he'll never come back," remarked Mr. +Anderson. + +"Why not?" asked Ned. + +"They think he has been killed by some wild beast." + +But this fear was ungrounded. It was on the second day after the +killing of the rhinoceroses that, as Tom was tinkering away in the +engine-room of the airship, and thinking that perhaps they had +better get under way, that a loud shouting was heard among the +natives. + +"I wonder what's up now?" mused the young inventor as he went +outside. He saw Mr. Durban and Mr. Anderson running toward the ship. +Behind them was a throng of blacks, led by a weary man whom Tom +recognized as the missing hunter. The lad's heart beat high with +hope. Did the African bring news? + +On came Mr. Durban, waving his hands to Tom. + +"We've located 'em!" he shouted. + +"Not the red pygmies?" asked Tom eagerly. + +"Yes; this hunter has news of them. He has been to the border of +their country, and narrowly escaped capture. Then he was attacked by +a lion, and slightly wounded. But, Tom, now we can get on the +trail!" + +"Good!" cried the young inventor. "That's fine news!" and he +rejoiced that once more there would be activity, for he was tired of +remaining in the African camp, and then, too, he wanted to proceed +to the rescue. Already it might be too late to save the unfortunate +missionaries. + + + + +CHAPTER XIX + +AN APPEAL FOR HELP + + +The African hunter's story was soon told. He had gone on farther +than had any of his companions, and, being a bold and brave man, had +penetrated into the very fastness of the jungle where few would dare +to venture. + +But even he had despaired of getting on the trail of the fierce +little red men, until one afternoon, just at dusk he had heard +voices in the forest. Crouching behind a fallen tree, he waited and +saw passing by some of the pygmy hunters, armed with bows and +arrows, and blowguns. They had been out after game. Cautiously the +hunter followed them, until he located one of their odd villages, +which consisted of little mud huts, poorly made. + +The black hunter remained in the vicinity of the pygmies all that +night, and was almost caught, for some wild dogs which hung around +the village smelled him out, and attracted to him the attention of +the dwarf savages. The hunter took to a tree, and so escaped. Then, +carefully marking the trail, he came away in the morning. When near +home, a lion had attacked him, but he speared the beast to death, +after a hand-to-hand struggle in which his leg was torn. + +"And do you think we can find the place?" asked Ned, when Mr. Durban +had finished translating the hunter's story. + +"I think so," was the reply. + +"But is this the settlement where the missionaries are?" asked Tom +anxiously. + +"That is what we don't know," said Mr. Anderson. "The native scout +could not learn that. But once we get on the trail of the dwarfs, I +think we can easily find the particular tribe which has the +captives." + +"At any rate, we'll get started and do something," declared Tom, and +the next day, after the African hunter had described, as well as he +could, where the place was, the Black Hawk was sent up into the air, +good-bys were called down, and once more the adventurers were under +way. + +It was decided that they had better proceed cautiously, and lower +the airship, and anchor it, sometime before getting above the place +where the pygmy village was. + +"For they may see us, and, though they don't know what our craft is, +they may take the alarm and hide deeper in the jungle with the +prisoners, where we can't find them," said Tom. + +His plan was adopted, and, while it had taken the native hunter +several days to reach the borders of the dwarfs' land, those in the +airship made the trip in one day. That is, they came as far toward +it as they thought would be safe, and one night, having located a +landmark which Mr. Durban said was on the border, the nose of the +Black Hawk was pointed downward, and soon they were encamped in a +little clearing in the midst of the dense jungle which was all about +them. + +With his electric rifle, Tom noiselessly killed some birds, very +much like chicken, of which an excellent meal was made and then, as +it became dark very early, and as nothing could be done, they +lighted a campfire, and retired inside their craft to pass the +night. + +It must have been about midnight that Tom, who was a light sleeper +at times, was awakened by some noise outside the window near which +his stateroom was. He sat up and listened, putting out his hand to +where his rifle stood in the corner near his bunk. The lad heard +stealthy footsteps pattering about on the deck of the airship. There +was a soft, shuffling sound, such as a lion or a tiger makes, when +walking on bare boards. In spite of himself, Tom felt the hair on +his head beginning to creep, and a shiver ran down his back. + +"There's something out there!" he whispered. "I wonder if I'd better +awaken the others? No, if it's a sneaking lion, I can manage to kill +him, but--" + +He paused as another suggestion came to him. + +The red pygmies! They went barefoot! Perhaps they were swarming +about the ship which they might have discovered in the darkness. + +Tom Swift's heart beat rapidly. He got softly out of his bunk, and, +with his rifle in hand made his way to the door opening on deck. On +his way he gently awakened Ned and Mr. Durban, and whispered to them +his fear. + +"If the red pygmies are out there we'll need all our force," said +the old elephant hunter. "Call Mr. Damon and Mr. Anderson, Ned, and +tell them to bring their guns." + +Soon they were all ready, fully armed. They listened intently. The +airship was all in darkness, for lights drew a horde of insects. The +campfire had died down. The soft footsteps could still be heard +moving about the deck. + +"That sounds like only one person or animal," whispered Ned. + +"It does," agreed Tom. "Wait a minute, I'll fire an illuminating +charge, and we can see what it is." + +The others posted themselves at windows that gave a view of the +deck. Tom poked his electric rifle out of a crack of the door, and +shot forth into the darkness one of the blue illuminations. The deck +of the craft was instantly lighted up brilliantly, and in the glare, +crouched on the deck, could be seen a powerful black man, nearly +naked, gazing at the hunters. + +"A black!" gasped Tom, as the light died out. "Maybe it is one from +the village we just left. What do you want? Who are you?" called the +lad, forgetting that the Africans spoke only their own language. To +the surprise of all, there came his reply in broken English: + +"Me Tomba! Me go fo' help for Missy Illingway--fo' Massy Illingway. +Me run away from little red men! Me Christian black man. Oh, if you +be English, help Missy Illingway--she most die! Please help. Tomba +go but Tomba be lost! Please help!" + + + + +CHAPTER XX + +THE FIGHT + + +Surprise, for the moment, held Tom and the others speechless. To be +answered in English, poor and broken as it was, by a native African, +was strange enough, but when this same African was found aboard the +airship, in the midst of the jungle, at midnight, it almost passed +the bounds of possibility. + +"Tomba!" mused Tom, wondering where he had heard that name before. +"Tomba?" + +"Of course!" cried Mr. Anderson, suddenly. "Don't you remember? +That's the name of the servant of Mr. and Mrs. Illingway, who +escaped and brought news of their capture by the pygmies. That's who +Tomba is." + +"Yes, but Tomba escaped," objected Mr. Durban. "He went to the white +settlements with the news. How comes he here?" + +"We'll have to find out," said Tom, simply. "Tomba, are you there?" +he called, as he fired other illuminating charge. It disclosed the +black man standing up on the deck, and looking at them appealingly. + +"Yes, Tomba here," was the answer. "Oh, you be English, Tomba know. +Please help Missy and Massy Illingway. Red devils goin' kill 'em +pretty much quick." + +"Come in!" called Tom, as he turned on the electric lights in the +airship. "Come in and tell us all about it. But how did you get +here?" + +"Maybe there are two Tombas," suggested Ned. + +"Bless my safety razor!" cried Mr. Damon "perhaps Ned is right!" + +But he wasn't, as they learned when they had questioned the African, +who came inside the airship, looking wonderingly around at the many +strange things he saw. He was the same Tomba who had escaped the +massacre, and had taken news of the capture of his master and +mistress to the white settlement. In vain after that he had tried to +organize a band to go back with him to the rescue, but the whites in +the settlement were too few, and the natives too timid. Then Tomba, +with grief in his heart, and not wanting to live while the +missionaries whom he had come to care for very much, were captives, +he went back into the jungle, determined, if he could not help them, +that at least he would share their fate, and endeavor to be of some +service to them in their captivity. + +After almost unbelievable hardships, he had found the red pygmies, +and had allowed himself to be captured by them. They rejoiced +greatly in the possession of the big black man, and for some strange +reason had not killed him. He was allowed to share the captivity of +his master and mistress. + +Time went on, and the pygmies did not kill their prisoners. They +even treated them with some kindness but were going to sacrifice +them at their great annual festival, which was soon to take place. +Mr. and Mrs. Illingway, Tomba told our friends in his broken +English, had urged him to escape at the first opportunity. They knew +if he could get away he would travel through the jungle. They could +not, even if they had not been so closely guarded that escape was +out of the question. + +But Tomba refused to go until Mr. Illingway had said that perhaps he +might get word to some white hunters, and so send help to the +captives. This Tomba consented to do, and, watching his chance, he +did escape. That was several nights ago, and he had been traveling +through the jungle ever since. It was by mere accident that he came +upon the anchored airship, and his curiosity led him to board her. +The rest is known. + +"Well, of all queer yarns, this is the limit!" exclaimed Tom, when +the black had finished. "What had we better do about it?" + +"Get ready to attack the red pygmies at once!" decided Mr. Durban. +"If we wait any longer it may be too late!" + +"My idea, exactly," declared Mr. Anderson. + +"Bless my bowie-knife!" cried Mr. Damon. "It'd like to get a chance +at the red imps! Come on, Tom! Let's start at once." + +"No, we need daylight to fight by," replied Tom, with a smile at his +friend's enthusiasm. "We'll go forward in the morning." + +"In the airship?" asked Mr. Damon. + +"I think so," answered Tom. "There can be no advantage now in trying +to conceal ourselves. We can move upon them from where we are so +quickly that they won't have much chance to get away. Besides it +will take us too long to make our way through the jungle afoot. For, +now that the escape of Tomba must be known, they may kill the +captives at once to forestall any rescue." + +"Then we'll move forward in the morning," declared Mr. Durban. + +They took Tomba with them in the airship the next day, though he +prayed fervently before he consented to it. But they needed him to +point out the exact location of the pygmies' village, since it was +not the one the hunter-scout had been near. + +The Black Hawk sailed through the air. On board eager eyes looked +down for a first sight of the red imps. Tomba, who was at Tom's side +in the steering tower, told him, as best he could, from time to +time, how to set the rudders. + +"Pretty soon by-em-by be there," said the black man at length. "Pass +ober dat hill, den red devils live." + +"Well, we'll soon be over that hill," announced Tom grimly. "I guess +we'd better get our rifles ready for the battle." + +"Are you going to attack them at once?" asked Mr. Damon. + +"Well," answered the young inventor, "I don't believe we ought to +kill any of them if we can avoid it. I don't like to do such a thing +but, perhaps we can't help ourselves. My plan is to take the airship +down, close to the hut where the missionaries are confined. Tomba +can point it out to us. If we can rescue them without bloodshed, so +much the better. But we'll fight if we have to." + +Grimly they watched as the airship sailed over the hill. Then +suddenly there came into view a collection of mud huts on a vast +plain, surrounded by dense jungle on every side. As the travelers +looked, they could see little creatures running wildly about. Even +without a glass it could be noted that their bodies were covered +with a curious growth of thick sandy hair. + +"The red pygmies!" cried Tom. "Now for the rescue!" + +Eagerly Tomba indicated the hut where his master and mistress were +held. Telling his friends to have their weapons in readiness, Tom +steered the airship toward the rude shelter whence he hoped to take +the missionaries. Down to the ground swiftly shot the Black Hawk. +Tom checked her with a quick movement of the deflecting rudder, and +she landed gently on the wheels. + +"Mr. Illingway! Mrs. Illingway! We have come to rescue you!" yelled +the young inventor, as he stepped out on the deck, with his electric +rifle in his hand. "Where are you? Can you come out?" + +The door of the hut was burst open, and a white man and woman, +recognizable as such, even in the rude skins that clothed them, +rushed out. Wonder spread over their faces as they saw the great +airship. They dropped on their knees. + +The next instant a swarm of savage little red men surrounded them, +and rudely bore them, strugglingly, back into the hut. + +"Come on!" cried Tom, about to leap to the ground. "It's now or +never! We must save them!" + +Mr. Durban pulled him back, and pointed to a horde of the red-haired +savages rushing toward the airship. "They'd tear you to pieces in a +minute!" cried the old hunter. "We must fight them from the ship." + +There was a curious whistling sound in the air. Mr. Durban looked +up. + +"Duck, everybody!" he yelled. "They're firing arrows at us! Get +under shelter, for they may be poisoned!" + +Tom and the others darted into the craft. The arrows rattled on deck +in a shower, and hundreds of the red imps were rushing up to give +battle. Inside the hut where the missionaries were, it was now +quiet. Tom Swift wondered if they still lived. + +"Give 'em as good as they send!" cried Mr. Durban. "We will have to +fire at them now. Open up with your electric rifle, Tom!" + +As he spoke the elephant hunter fired into the midst of the +screaming savages. The battle had begun. + + + + +CHAPTER XXI + +DRIVEN BACK + + +What the travelers had heard regarding the fierceness and courage of +the red pygmies had not been one bit exaggerated. Never had such +desperate fighting ever taken place. The red dwarfs, scarcely one of +whom was more than three feet high, were strongly built, and there +were so many of them, and they battled together with such singleness +of purpose, that they were more formidable than a tribe of ordinary- +sized savages would have been. + +And their purpose was to utterly annihilate the enemy that had so +unexpectedly come upon them. It did not matter to them that Tom and +the others had arrived in an airship. The strange craft had no +superstitious terror for them, as it had for the simpler blacks. + +"Bless my multiplication tables!" cried Mr. Damon. "What a mob of +them!" + +"Almost too many!" murmured Tom Swift, who was rapidly firing his +electric rifle at them. "We can never hope to drive them back, I'm +afraid." + +Indeed from every side of the plain, and even from the depths of the +jungle the red dwarfs were now pouring. They yelled most horribly, +screaming in rage, brandishing their spears and clubs, and keeping +up an incessant fire of big arrows from their bows, and smaller ones +from the blowguns. + +As yet none of our friends had been hit, for they were sheltered in +the airship, and as the windows were covered with a mesh of wire, to +keep out insects, this also served to prevent the arrows from +entering. There were loopholes purposely made to allow the rifles to +be thrust out. + +Mercifully, Tom and the others fired only to disable, and not to +kill the red pygmies. Wounded in the arms or legs, the little +savages would be incapable of fighting, and this plan was followed. +But so fierce were they that some, who were wounded twice, still +kept up the attack. + +Tom's electric rifle was well adapted for this work, as he could +regulate the charge to merely stun, no matter at what part of the +body it was directed. So he could fire indiscriminintly, whereas the +others had to aim carefully. And Tom's fire was most effective. He +disabled scores of the red imps, but scores of others sprang up to +take their places. + +After their first rush the pygmies had fallen back before the well- +directed fire of our friends, but as their chiefs and head men urged +them to the attack again, they came back with still fiercer energy. +Some, more bold than the others, even leaped to the deck of the +airship, and tried to tear the screens from the windows. They partly +succeeded, and in one casement from which Ned was firing they made a +hole. + +Into this they shot a flight of arrows, and one slightly wounded the +bank clerk on the arm. The wound was at once treated with +antiseptics, after the window had been barricaded, and Ned declared +that he was ready to renew the fight. Tom, too, got an arrow scratch +on the neck, and one of the barbs entered Mr. Durban's leg, but the +sturdy elephant hunter would not give up, and took his place again +after the wound had been bandaged. + +From time to time as he worked his electric gun, which had been +charged to its utmost capacity, Tom glanced at the hut where the +missionaries were prisoners. There was no movement noticed about it, +and no sound came from it. Tom wondered what had happened inside--he +wondered what was happening as the battle progressed. + +Fiercely the fight was kept up. Now the red imps would be driven +back, and again they would swarm about the airship, until it seemed +as if they must overwhelm it. Then the fire of the white adventurers +was redoubled. The electric rifle did great work, and Tom did not +have to stop and refill the magazine, as did the others. + +Suddenly, above the noise of the conflict, Tom Swift heard an +ominous sound. It was a hissing in the air, and well he knew what it +was. + +"The gas bag!" he cried. "They've punctured it! The vapor is +escaping. If they put too many holes in the bag it will be all up +with us!" + +"What's to be done?" asked Mr. Durban. + +"If we can't drive them back we must retreat ourselves!" declared +Tom desperately. "Our only hope is to keep the airship safe from +harm." + +Once more came a rush of the savages. They had discovered that the +gas bag was vulnerable, and were directing their arrows against +that. It was punctured in several more places. The gas was rapidly +escaping. + +"We've got to retreat!" yelled Tom. He hurried to the engine-room, +and turned on the power. The great propellers revolved, and sent the +Black Hawk scudding across the level plain. With yells of surprise +the red dwarfs scattered arid made way for it. + +Up into the air it mounted on the broad wings. For the time being +our friends has been driven back, and the missionaries whom they had +come to rescue were still in the hands of the savages. + + + + +CHAPTER XXII + +A NIGHT ATTACK + + +"Well, what's to be done?" + +Tom Swift asked that question. + +"Bless my percussion cap! They certainly are the very worst imps for +fighting that I ever heard of," commented Mr. Damon helplessly. + +"Is the gas bag much punctured?" asked Ned Newton. + +"Wait a minute," resumed the young inventor, as he pulled the speed +lever a trifle farther over, thereby sending the craft forward more +swiftly, "I think my question ought to be answered first. What's to +be done? Are we going to run away, and leave that man and woman to +their fate?" + +"Of course not!" declared Mr. Durban stoutly, "but we couldn't stay +there, and have them destroy the airship." + +"No, that's so," admitted Tom, "if we lost the airship it would be +all up with us and our chances of rescuing the missionaries. But +what can we do? I hate to retreat!" + +"But what else is there left for us?" demanded Ned. + +"Nothing, of course. But we've got to plan to get the best of those +red pygmies. We can't go back in the airship, and give them open +battle. There are too many of them, and, by Jove! I believe more are +coming every minute!" + +Tom and the others looked down. From all sides of the plain, +hastening toward the village of mud huts, from which our friends +were retreating, could be seen swarms of the small but fierce +savages. They were coming from the jungle, and were armed with war +clubs, bows and arrows and the small but formidable blowguns. + +"Where are they coming from?" asked Mr. Damon. + +"From the surrounding tribes," explained Mr. Durban. "They have been +summoned to do battle against us." + +"But how did the ones we fought get word to the others so soon?" Ned +demanded. + +"Oh, they have ways of signaling," explained Mr. Anderson. "They can +make the notes of some of their hollow-tree drums carry a long +distance, and then they are very swift runners, and can penetrate +into the jungle along paths that a white man would hardly see. They +also use the smoke column as a signal, as our own American Indians +used to do. Oh, they can summon all their tribesmen to the fight, +and they probably will. Likely the sound of our guns attracted the +imps, though if we all had electric rifles like Tom's they wouldn't +make any noise." + +"Well, my rifle didn't appear to do so very much good this tune," +observed the young inventor, as he stopped the forward motion of the +ship now, and let it hover over the plain in sight of the village, +the gas bag serving to sustain the craft, and there was little wind +to cause it to drift. "Those fellows didn't seem to mind being hurt +and killed any more than if mosquitoes were biting them." + +"The trouble is we need a whole army, armed with electric rifles to +make a successful attack," said Mr. Durban. "There are swarms of +them there now, and more coming every minute. I do hope Mr. and Mrs. +Illingway are alive yet." + +"Yes," added Mr. Anderson solemnly, "we must hope for the best. But, +like Tom Swift, I ask, what's to be done?" + +"Bless my thinking cap!" exclaimed Mr. Damon. "It seems to me if we +can't fight them openly in the daytime, there's only one other thing +to do." + +"What's that?" asked Tom. "Go away? I'll not do it!" + +"No, not go away," exclaimed Mr. Damon, "but make a night attack. We +ought to be able to do something then, and with your illuminating +rifle, Tom, we'd have an advantage! What do you say?" + +"I say it's the very thing!" declared Tom, with sudden enthusiasm. +"We'll attack them to-night, when they're off their guard, and we'll +see if we can't get the missionaries out of that hut. And to better +fool the savages, we'll just disappear now, and make 'em believe +we've flown away." + +"Then the missionaries will think we're deserting them," objected +Mr. Anderson. + +But there was no help for it, and so Tom once more turned on the +power and the craft sailed away. + +Tomba, the faithful black, begged to be allowed to go down, and tell +his master and mistress that help would soon be at hand again, even +though it looked like a retreat on the part of the rescuers, but +this could not he permitted. + +"They'd tear you in pieces as soon as you got among those red imps," +said Tom. "You stay here, Tomba, and you can help us to-night." + +"A'right, me glad help lick red fellows," said the black, with as +cheerful a grin as he could summon. + +The Black Hawk circled around, with Tom and the others looking for a +good place to land. They were out of sight of the village now but +did not doubt but that they were observed by the keen eyes of the +little men. + +"We want to pick out a place where they won't come upon us as we +descend," declared Tom. "We've got to mend some leaks in the gas +bag, for, while they are not serious, if we get any more punctures +they may become so. So we've got to pick out a good place to go +down." + +Finally, by means of powerful glasses, a desolate part of the jungle +was selected. No files of the red dwarfs, coming from their +scattered villages to join their tribesmen, had been noted in the +vicinity picked out, and it was hoped that it would answer. Slowly +the airship settled to earth, coming to rest in a thick grove of +trees, where there was an opening just large enough to allow the +Black Hawk to enter. + +Our friends were soon busy repairing the leaks in the bag, while Mr. +Damon got a meal ready. As they ate they talked over plans for the +night attack. + +It was decided to wait until it was about two o'clock in the +morning, as at that hour the dwarfs were most generally asleep, +Tomba said. They always stayed up quite late, sitting around camp- +fires, and eating the meat which the hunters brought in each day. +But their carousings generally ended at midnight, the black said, +and then they fell into a heavy sleep. They did not post guards, but +since they knew of the presence of the white men in the airship, +they might do it this time. + +"Well, we've got to take our chance," decided Tom. "We'll start off +from here about one o'clock, and I'll send the ship slowly along. +We'll get right over the hut where the captives are, if possible, +and then descend. I'll manage the ship, and one of you can work the +electric rifle if they attack us. We'll make a dash, get Mr. and +Mrs. Illingway from the hut, and make a quick get-away." + +It sounded good, and they were impatient to put it into operation. +That afternoon Tom and his friends went carefully over every inch of +their craft, to repair it and have it in perfect working order. Guns +were cleaned, and plenty of ammunition laid out. Then, shortly after +one o'clock in the morning the ship was sent up, and with the +searchlight ready to be turned on instantly, and with his electric +rifle near at hand, Tom Swift guided his craft on to the attack. +Soon they could see the glow of dying fires in the dwarfs' village, +but no sound came from the sleeping hordes of red imps. + + + + +CHAPTER XXIII + +THE RESCUE + + +"Can you make out the hut, Tom?" asked Ned, as he stood at his +chum's side in the steering tower, and gazed downward on the silent +village. + +"Not very clearly. Suppose you take a look through the night- +glasses. Maybe you'll have better luck." + +Ned peered long and earnestly. + +"No, I can't see a thing." he said. "It all looks to be a confused +jumble of huts. I can't tell one from the other. We'll have to go +lower." + +"I don't want to do that," objected Tom. "If this attack succeeds at +all, it will have to be sharp and quick. If we go down where they +can spot us, and work our way up to the hut where the captives are, +we'll run the chance of an attack that may put us out of business." + +"Yes, we ought to get right over the hut, and then make a sudden +swoop down," admitted Ned, "but if we can't see it--" + +"I have it!" cried Tom suddenly. "Tomba! That African can see in the +dark like a cat. Why, just before we started I dropped a wrench, and +I didn't have any matches handy to look for it. I was groping around +in the dark trying to get my hands on it, and you know it was pretty +black in the jungle. Well, along come Tomba. and he spotted it at +once and picked it up. We'll call him here and get him to point out +the hut. He can tell me how to steer." + +"Good!" cried Ned, and the black was soon standing in the pilot +house. He comprehended what was wanted of him, and peered down, +seeking to penetrate the darkness. + +"Shall I go down a little lower?" asked Tom. + +For a moment Tomba did not answer. Then be uttered an exclamation of +pleasure. + +"Me see hut!" he said, clutching Tom's arm. "Down dere!" He pointed, +but neither Tom nor Ned could see it. However, as Tomba was now +giving directions, telling Tom when to go to the left or the right, +as the wind currents deflected they were certain of soon reaching +the place where Mr. and Mrs. Illingway were concealed, if they were +still alive. + +The Black Hawk was moving slowly, and was not under as good control +as if she had been making ninety miles an hour. As it was desired to +proceed as quietly as possible, the craft was being used as a +dirigible balloon, and the propellers were whirled around by means +of a small motor, worked by a storage battery. While not much power +was obtained this way, there was the advantage of silence, which was +very necessary. Slowly the Black Hawk sailed on through the night. +In silence the adventurers waited for the moment of action. They had +their weapons in readiness. Mr. Durban was to work the electric +rifle, as all Tom's attention would be needed at the machinery. As +soon as the craft had made a landing he was to leap out, carrying a +revolver in either hand, and, followed by Tomba, would endeavor to +gain entrance to the hut, break through the flimsy grass-woven +curtain over the doorway, and get Mr. and Mrs. Illingway out. Ned, +Mr. Damon and the other two men would stand by to fire on the red +pygmies as soon as they commenced the attack, which they would +undoubtedly do as soon as the guards of the captives raised the +alarm. + +The airship was in darkness, for it would have been dangerous to +show a light. Some wakeful dwarf might see the moving illumination +in the sky, and raise a cry. + +"Mos' dere," announced Tomba at length. And then, for the first +time, Ned and Tom had a glimpse of the hut. It stood away from the +others, and was easy to pick out in daylight, but even the darkness +offered no handicap to Tomba. "Right over him now," he suddenly +called, as he leaned out of the pilot house window, and looked down. +"Right over place. Oh, Tomba glad when he see Missy an' Massy!" + +"Yes, I hope you do see them," murmured Tom, as he pulled the lever +which would pump the gas from the inflated bag, and compress it into +tanks, until it was needed again to make the ship rise. Slowly the +Black Hawk sank down. + +"Get ready!" called Tom in a low voice. + +It was a tense moment. Every one of the adventurers felt it, and all +but Tom grasped their weapons with tighter grips. They were ready to +spring out as soon as a landing was made. Tom managed the machinery +in the dark, for he knew every wheel, gear and lever, and could have +put his hand on any one with his eyes shut. The two loaded revolvers +were on a shelf in front of him. The side door of the pilot house +was ajar, to allow him quick egress. + +Tomba, armed with a big club he had picked up in the jungle, was +ready to follow. The black was eager for the fray to begin, though +how he and the others would fare amid the savages was hard to say. + +Still not a sound broke the quiet. It was very dark, for nearly all +the camp fires, over which the nightly feast had been prepared, were +out. The hut could be dimly made out, however. + +Suddenly there was a slight tremor through the ship. She seemed to +shiver, and bound upward a little. + +"We've landed!" whispered Tom. "Now for it! Come on, Tomba!" + +The big black glided after the lad like a shadow. With his two +weapons held in readiness our hero went out on deck. The others, +with cocked rifles, stood ready for the attack to open. It had been +decided that as soon as the first alarm was given by the dwarfs, +which would probably be when Tom broke into the hut, the firing +would begin. + +"Open!" called Tom to Tomba, and the big black dashed his club +through the grass curtain over the doorway of the hut. He fairly +leaped inside, with a cry of battle on his lips. + +"Mr. Illingway! Mrs. Illingway!" called Tom, "We've come to save +you. Hurry out. The airship is just outside!" + +He fired one shot through the roof of the hut, so that the flash +would reveal to him whether or not the two missionaries were in the +place. He saw two forms rise up in front of him, and knew that they +were the white captives he had observed daring the former attack. + +"Oh, what is it?" he heard the woman ask. + +"A rescue! Thank the dear Lord!" answered her husband fervently. +"Oh, whoever you are, God bless you!" + +"Come quickly!" cried Tom, "we haven't a moment to lose!" + +He was speaking to absolute blackness now, for it was darker +immediately following the revolver flash than before. But he felt a +man's hand thrust about his arm, and he knew it was Mr. Illingway. + +"Take your wife's hand, and follow me," ordered Tom. "Come, Tomba! +Are there any of the red pygmies in here?" + +He had not seen any at the weapon's flash, but his question was +answered a moment later, for there arose from within and without the +hut a chorus of wild yells. At the same time Tom felt small arms +grasp him about the legs. + +"Come on!" he yelled. "They're awake and after us!" + +The din outside increased. Tom heard the rifles of his friends +crack. He saw, through the torn door curtain, the flashes of fire. +Then came a blue glare, and Tom knew that Mr. Durban was using the +electric weapon. + +By these intermittent gleams Tom managed to see sufficiently to +thrust Mr. and Mrs. Illingway ahead of him. Tomba was at their side. +The yells inside the hut were almost deafening. All the red dwarfs +left to guard the captives had awakened, and they could see well +enough to attack Tom. Fortunately they had no weapons, but they +fairly threw themselves upon the sturdy lad, trying to pull him +down. + +"Go on! Go on!" he yelled to the captives, fairly pushing them +along. Then, knowing they were out of the way, he turned and fired +his two revolvers as fast as he could pull the triggers, into the +very faces of the red imps who were seeking to drag him down. Again +and again he fired, until he had emptied both cylinders of his +weapons. + +He felt the grasps of the fiendish little men relax one by one. Tom +finally dragged himself loose, and staggered out of the hut. The +captives and Tomba were right in front of him. At the airship, which +loomed up in the flashes from the guns and electric rifle, Tom's +friends were giving battle. About them swarmed the hordes of +savages, with more of the imps pouring in every moment. + +"Get aboard!" cried Tom to the missionaries. "Get on the airship, +and we'll move out of this!" + +He felt a stinging pain in his neck, where an arrow struck him. He +tore the arrow out, and rushed forward. Fairly pushing Mr. and Mrs. +Illingway up on deck before him, Tom followed. Tomba was capering +about his master and mistress, and he swung his big club savagely. +He had not been idle, and many a red imp had gone down under his +blows. + +"Rescued! Rescued!" murmured Mr. Illingway, as Tom hastened to the +pilot house to start the motor. + + + + +CHAPTER XXIV + +TWO OTHER CAPTIVES + + +But the rescue was not yet accomplished. Those on the airship were +still in danger, and grave peril, for all about them were the red +savages, shouting, howling, yelling and capering about, as they were +now thoroughly aroused, and realized that their captives had been +taken away from them. They determined to get them back, and were +rallying desperately to battle. Nearly all of them were armed by +this time, and flight after flight of spears and arrows were thrown +or shot toward the airship. + +Fortunately it was too dark to enable the pygmies to take good aim. +They were guided, to an extent, by the flashes of fire from the +rifles, but these were only momentary. Still some of our friends +received slight wounds, for they stood on the open deck of the +craft. + +"Bless my eye-glasses!" suddenly exclaimed Mr. Damon. "I'm stuck!" + +"Don't mind that!" advised Ned. "Keep on pouring lead into them. +We'll soon be away from here!" + +"Don't fire any more!" called Mr. Durban. "The gun-flashes tell them +where to shoot. I'll use the electric rifle. It's better." + +They followed his advice, and put aside their weapons. By means of +the electric flash, which he projected into the midst of the +savages, without the glare coming on the airship, Mr. Durban was +able to tell where to aim. Once he had a mass of red pygmies +located, he could keep on shooting charge after charge into their +midst. + +"Use it full power!" called Tom, as he opened the gas machine to its +widest capacity, so the bag would quickly fill, and the craft be +sent forward, for it was so dark, and the ground near the huts so +uneven, that the Black Hawk could not rise as an aeroplane. + +The elephant hunter turned on full strength in the electric gun and +the wireless bullets were sent into the midst of the attackers. The +result was surprising. They were so closely packed together that +when one was hit the electrical shock was sent through his nearly +naked body into the naked bodies of his tribesmen who pressed on +every side of him. In consequence whole rows of the savages went +down at a time, disabled from fighting any more. + +Meanwhile Tom was working frantically to hasten the rising of the +airship. His neck pained him very much where the arrow had struck +him, but he dared not stop now to dress the wound. He could feel the +blood running down his side, but he shut his teeth grimly and said +nothing. + +The two missionaries, scarcely able to believe that they were to be +saved, had been shown into an inner cabin by Tomba, who had become +somewhat used to the airship by this time, and who could find his +way about well in the dark, for no lights had yet been turned on. + +Hundreds of pygmies had been disabled, yet still others came to take +their places. The gas bag was again punctured in several places, but +the rents were small, and Tom knew that he could make the gas faster +than it could escape, unless the bag was ripped open. + +"They're climbing up the sides!" suddenly called Ned Newton, for he +saw several of the little men clambering up. "What shall we do?" + +"Pound their fingers!" called Mr. Anderson. "Get clubs and whack +them!" It was good advice. Ned remembered on one occasion when he +and Tom were looking at Andy Foger's airship, how this method had +been proposed when the bank clerk hung on the back fence. As he +grabbed up a stick, and proceeded to pound the hands and bare arms +of the savages who were clinging to the railing, Ned found himself +wondering what had become of the bully. He was to see Andy sooner +than he expected. + +Suddenly in the midst of the fighting, which was now a hand-to-hand +conflict, there was a tremor throughout the length of the airship. + +"She's going up!" yelled Ned. + +"Bless my check-book!" cried Mr. Damon, "if we don't look out some +of these red imps will go up with us, too!" + +As he spoke he whacked vigorously at the hands of several of the +pygmies, who dropped off with howls of anguish. + +The craft quickly shot upward. There were yells of terror from a few +of the red savages who remained clinging to different parts of the +Black Hawk and then, fearing they might be taken to the clouds, +they, too, dropped off. The rescuers and rescued mounted higher and +higher, and, when they were far enough up so that there was no +danger from the spears or arrows, Tom switched on the lights, and +turned the electric current into the search-lantern, the rays of +which beamed down on the mass of yelling and baffled savages below. + +"A few shots for them to remember us by!" cried Mr. Durban, as he +sent more of the paralyzing electric currents into the red imps. +Their yell of rage had now turned to shouts of terror, for the +gleaming beam of light frightened them more than did the airship, or +the bullets of the white men. The red pygmies fled to their huts. + +"I guess we gave them a lesson," remarked Tom, as he started the +propellers and sent the ship on through the night. + +"Why, Tom! You're hurt!" cried Ned, who came into the pilot house at +that moment, and saw blood on his chum. + +"Only a scratch," the young inventor declared. + +"It's more than that," said Mr. Durban who looked at it a little +later. "It must be bound up, Tom." + +And, while Ned steered the ship back to the jungle clearing whence +they had come to make the night attack, Tom's wound was dressed. + +Meanwhile the two missionaries had been well taken care of. They +were given other garments, even some dresses being provided for Mrs. +Illingway, for when the voyage was begun Tom had considered the +possibility of having a woman on board, and had bought some ladies' +garments. Then, having cast down to earth the ill-smelling skins +which formed their clothes while captives, Mr. and Mrs. Illingway, +decently dressed, thanked Tom and the others over and over again. + +"We had almost given up hope," said the lady, "when we saw them +drive you back after the first attack. Oh, it is wonderful to think +how you saved us, and in an airship!" and she and her husband began +their thanks over again. + +A good meal was prepared by Mr. Damon, for the rescuers and rescued +ones were hungry, and since they had been held prisoners the two +missionaries had not been given very good food. + +"Oh, it hardly seems possible that we are eating with white men +again," said Mr. Illingway, as he took a second cup of coffee, +"hardly possible!" + +"And to see electric lights, instead of a camp-fire," added his +wife. "What a wonderful airship you have, Tom Swift." + +"Yes, it's pretty good," he admitted. "It came in useful to-night, +all right." + +They were now far enough from the savages, and the pygmies' fires, +which had been set aglow anew when the attack began, could no longer +be observed. + +"We'll land at the place where we camped before," said Tom, who had +again assumed charge of the ship, "and in the morning we'll start +for civilization." + +"No can get two other white men?" suddenly asked Tomba, who had been +sitting, gazing at his recovered master and mistress. "Fly-ship go +back, an' leave two white mans here?" the black asked. + +"What in the world does he mean?" demanded Tom. "Of course we're not +going to leave any of our party behind!" + +"Let me question him," suggested Mr. Illingway, and he began to talk +to the African in his own tongue. A rapid conversation followed, and +a look of amazement spread over the faces of the two missionaries, +as they listened. + +"What is it?" asked Mr. Durban. "What does Tomba say?" + +"Why the pygmies have two other white men in captivity," said Mr. +Illingway. "They were brought in yesterday, after you were driven +away. Two white men, or, rather a white man and a youth, according +to Tomba. They are held in one of the huts near where we were, but +tied so they couldn't escape in the confusion" + +"How does Tomba know this?" asked Mr. Damon. + +"He says," translated Mr. Illingway, after more questioning of the +black, "that he heard the red pygmies boasting of it after we had +escaped. Tomba says he heard them say that, though we were gone, and +could not be killed, or sacrificed, the other two captives would +meet that horrible fate." + +"Two other white captives in the hands of the red imps!" murmured +Tom. "We must rescue them!" + +"You're not going to turn back now, are you?" asked Mr. Durban. + +"No, but I will as soon as I look the ship over. We'll come back to- +morrow. And we'll have to make a day attack or it will be too late +to save them. Two other white captives! I wonder who they can be." + +There was a big surprise in store for Tom Swift. + + + + +CHAPTER XXV + +THE ROGUE ELEPHANT--CONCLUSION + + +Early the next day the airship was again afloat. The night, what +little of darkness remained after the rescue, had been spent in the +clearing in the dense jungle. Some slight repairs had been made to +the craft, and it was once more in readiness to be used in battle +against the relentless savages. + +"We can't wait for darkness," declared Tom. "In the first place +there isn't time, and again, we don't know in what part of the +village the other captives are. We'll have to hunt around." + +"And that means going right down into the midst of the imps and +fighting them hand to hand," said Ned. + +"That's what it means," assented Tom grimly, "but I guess the powder +bombs will help some." + +Before starting they had prepared a number of improvised bombs, +filled with powder, which could be set off by percussion. It was the +plan to drop these down from the airship, into the midst of the +savages. When the bomb struck the ground, or even on the bodies of +the red dwarfs, it would explode. It was hoped that these would so +dismay the little men that they would desert the village, and leave +the way clear for a search to be made for the other captives. + +On rushed the Black Hawk. There was to be no concealment this time, +and Tom did not care how much noise the motors made. Accordingly he +turned on full seed. + +It was not long before the big plain was again sighted. Everything +was in readiness, and the bombs were at hand to be dropped +overboard. Tom counted on the natives gathering together in great +masses as soon as they sighted the airship, and this would give him +the opportunity wanted. + +But something different transpired. No sooner was the craft above +the village, than from all the huts came pouring out the little red +men. But they did not gather together--at least just then. They ran +about excitedly, and it could be seen that they were bringing from +the huts the rude household utensils in which they did their +primitive cooking. The women had their babies, and some, not so +encumbered, carried rolls of grass matting. The men had all their +weapons. + +"Bless my wagon wheel!" cried Mr. Damon. "What's going on?" + +"It looks like moving day," suggested Ned Newton. + +"That's just what it is!" declared Mr. Durban. "They are going to +migrate. Evidently they have had enough of us, and they're going to +get out of the neighborhood before we get a chance to do any more +damage. They're moving, but where are the white captives?" + +He was answered a moment later, for a crowd of the dwarfs rushing to +a certain hut, came out leading two persons by means of bark ropes +tied about their necks. It was too far off to enable Tom or the +others to recognize them, but they could tell by the clothing that +they were white captives. + +"We've got to save them!" exclaimed the young inventor. + +"How?" asked Mr. Damon. And, indeed, it did seem a puzzle for, even +as Tom looked, the whole tribe of red imps took up the march into +the jungle, dragging the white persons with them. The captives +looked up, saw the airship, and made frantic motions for help. It +was too far off, yet, to hear their voices. But the distance was +lessening every moment, for Tom had speeded the motor to the highest +pitch. + +"What are you going to do?" demanded Ned. + +"I'll show you," answered his chum. "Take some of those bombs, and +be ready to drop them overboard when I give the word." + +"But we may kill those white people," objected Ned. + +"Not the way I'm going to work it. You drop them when I give the +word." + +Tom steered the airship toward the head of the throng of blacks. The +captives were in the rear, and the van of the strange procession was +near the edge of the jungle now. Once the red dwarfs got into the +tangle of underbrush they could never be found, and their captives +would die a miserable death. + +"We've got to stop them," murmured Tom. "Are you ready, Ned?" + +"Ready!" + +"Then drop the bombs!" + +Ned dropped them. A sharp explosion was heard, and the head of the +procession was blown apart and thrown into confusion. The throng +halted. + +"Drop more!" cried Tom, sending the ship about in a circle, and +hovering it over the middle of the press of savages. + +More of the deadly tombs exploded. The pygmies were running about +wildly. Tom, who was closely watching the rear of the cavalcade, +suddenly called out: + +"Now's our chance! They've let their captives go, and are running +into the jungle. We must swoop down, and get the prisoners!" + +It was no sooner said than the nose of the Black Hawk was pointed +downward. Onward it flew, the two captives wildly waving their hands +to the rescuers. There was no more danger from the red savages. They +had been thrown into panic and confusion, and wore rapidly +disappearing into the forest. The terrible weapons of the whites had +been too much for them. + +"Quick! Get on board!" called Tom, as he brought the machinery to a +stop. The airship now rested on the ground, close to the former +captives. "Get in here!" shouted the young inventor. "They may +change their minds and come back." + +The two white persons ran toward the Black Hawk. Then one of them-- +the smaller--halted and cried out: + +"Why, it's Tom Swift!" + +Tom turned and glanced at the speaker. A look of astonishment spread +over his face. + +"Andy Foger--here!" gasped Tom. "How in the world--?" + +"I dink besser as ve git on der board, und dalk aftervard!" +exclaimed Andy's companion, who spoke with a strong German accent. +"I like not dose red little mans." + +In another minute the two rescued ones were safe on Tom Swift's +airship, and it had arisen high enough to be out of all danger. + +"How in the world did you ever get here?" asked Tom of the lad who +had so often been his enemy. + +"I'll tell you soon," spoke Andy, "but first, Tom, I want to ask +your forgiveness for all I've done to you, and to thank you, from +the bottom of my heart, for saving us. I thought we were going to be +killed by those dwarfs; didn't you, Herr Landbacher?" + +"Sure I did. But ve are all right now. Dis machine is efen besser as +mine vot vos lost. Is dere anyt'ing to eats, on board, if you vill +excuse me for being so bolt as to ask?" + +"Plenty to eat," said Tom, laughing, "and while you eat you can tell +us your story. And as for you, Andy, I hope we'll be friends from +now on," and Tom held out his hand. + +There was not much to tell that the reader has not already guessed. +Andy and the German, as has been explained, went abroad to give +airship flights. They were in the lower part of Egypt, and a sudden +gale drove them into Africa. + +For a long time they sailed on, and then their fuel gave out, and +they had to descend into the jungle. They managed to fall in with +some friendly blacks, who treated them well. The airship was useless +without gasolene, and it was abandoned. + +Andy and the German inventor were planning to walk to some white +settlement, when the tribe they were with was attacked by the red +dwarfs and vanquished. Andy and his friend were taken prisoners, and +carried to the very village where the missionaries were, just before +the latter's rescue. + +Then came the fight, and the saving of Andy and the German, almost +at the last minute. + +"Well, you certainly had nearly as many adventures as we did," said +Tom. "But I guess they're over now." + +But they were not. For several days the airship sailed on over the +jungles without making a descent. Mr. and Mrs. Illingway wished to +be landed at a white settlement where they had other missionary +friends. Tom would go with them. This was done, and Tom and the +others spent some time in this place, receiving so many kinds of +thanks that they had to protest. + +Andy and Herr Landbacher asked to be taken back to the coast, where +they could get a steamer to America. Andy was a very different lad +now, and not the bully of old. + +"Well, hadn't we better be thinking of getting back home?" asked Tom +one day. + +"Not until we get some more ivory," declared Mr. Durban. "I think +we'll have to have another elephant hunt." + +They did, about a week later, and got some magnificent tusks. Tom's +electric rifle did great work, to the wonder of Andy and Mr. +Landbacher, who had never before seen such a curious weapon. They +also did some night hunting. + +"But we haven't got that pair of extra large tusks that I want," +said the old hunter, as he looked at the store of ivory accumulated +after the last hunt. "I want those, and then I'll be satisfied. +There is one section of the country that we have not touched as yet, +and I'd like to visit that." + +"Then let's go," proposed Tom, so, good-bys having been said to the +missionaries, who sent greetings to their friends in America, and to +the church people who had arranged for their rescue, the airship was +once more sent to the deepest part of a certain jungle, where Mr. +Durban hoped to get what he wanted. + +They had another big hunt, but none of the elephants had any +remarkable tusks, and the hunter was about to give up in despair, +and call the expedition over, when one afternoon, as they were +sailing along high enough to merely clear the tops of the trees, Tom +heard a great crashing down below. + +"There's something there," he called to Mr. Durban. "Perhaps a small +herd of elephants. Shall we go down?" + +Before Mr. Durban could answer there came into view, in a small +clearing, an elephant of such size, and with such an enormous pair +of tusks, that the young inventor and the old hunter could not +repress cries of astonishment. + +"There's your beast!" said Tom. "I'll go down and you can pot him," +and, as he spoke, Tom stopped the propellers, so that the ship hung +motionless in the air above where the gigantic brute was. + +Suddenly, as though possessed by a fit of rage, the elephant rushed +at a good-sized tree and began butting it with his head. Then, +winding his trunk around it he pulled it up by the roots, and began +trampling on it out of a paroxysm of anger. + +"A rogue elephant!" exclaimed Mr. Durban. "Don't go down if you +value your life, or the safety of the airship. If we attacked that +brute on the ground, we would be the hunted instead of the hunters. +That's a rogue elephant of the worst kind, and he's at the height of +his rage." + +This was indeed so, for the beast was tearing about the clearing +like mad, breaking off trees, and uprooting them in sheer +vantonness. Tom knew what a "rogue" elephant was. It is a beazt that +goes away from the herd, and lives solitary and alone, attacking +every living thing that comes in his way. It is a species of +masness, a disease which attacks elephants and sometimes passes +away. More often the afflicted creature gives battle to everything +and every animal he meets until he is killed or carried off by his +malady. It was sueh an elephant that Tom now saw, and he realized +what the hunter said about attacking one, as he saw the brute's mad +rushes. + +"Well, if it's dangerous to attack him on the ground, we'll kill him +from up above," said the young inventor. "Here is the electric +rifle, Mr. Durban. I'll let you have the honor of getting those +tusks. My! But they're whoppers! Better use almost a full charge. +Don't take any chances on merely wounding him, and having him rush +off to the jungle." + +"I won't," said the old hunter, and he adjusted the electric rifle +which Tom handed him. + +As the great beast was tearing around, trumpeting shrilly and +breaking off trees Mr. Durban fired. The creature sank down, +instantly killed, and was out of his misery, for often it is great +pain which makes an otherwise peaceable elephant become a "rogue." + +"He's done for," said Ned. "I guess you have the tusks you want now, +Mr. Durban." + +"I think so," agreed the hunter, and when the airship was sent down, +and the ivory cut out, it was found that the tusks were even larger +than they had supposed. "It is a prize worth having," said Mr. +Durban. "I'm sure my customer will think so, too. Now I'm ready to +head for the coast." + +Tom Swift went to the engine room, while the last big tusks were +being stored away with the other ivory. Several parts of the motor +needed oiling, and Ned was assisting in this work. + +"Going to start soon?" asked Mr. Durban, appearing in the doorway. + +"Yes; why?" inquired Tom, who noted an anxious note in the voice of +the hunter. + +"Well, I don't like staying longer in this jungle than I can help. +It's not healthy in the first place, and then it's a wild and +desolate place, where all sorts of wild beasts are lurking, and +where wandering hands of natives may appear at any time." + +"You don't mean that the red pygmies will come back; do you?" asked +Ned. + +"There's no telling," replied Mr. Durban with a shrug of his +shoulders. "Only, as long as we've got what we're after, I'd start +off as soon as possible." + +"Yes, don't run any chances with those little red men," begged Andy +Foger, who had given himself up for lost when he and his companion +fell into their hands. + +"Radder vould I be mit cannibals dan dose little imps!" spoke the +German fervently. + +"We'll start at once," declared Tom. "Are you all aboard, and is +everything loaded into the airship?" + +"Everything. I guess." answered Mr. Anderson. + +Tom looked to the motor, saw that it was in working order, and +shoved over the lever of the gas machine to begin the generating of +the lifting vapor. To his surprise there was no corresponding hiss +that told of the gas rushing into the bag. + +"That's odd," he remarked. "Ned, see if anything is wrong with that +machine. I'll pull the lever again." + +The bank clerk stood beside the apparatus, while Tom worked the +handle, but whatever was the matter with it was too intricate or +complicated for Ned to solve. + +"I can't see what ails it," he called to his chum. "You better have +a peep." + +"All right, I'll look if you work the handle." + +The passengers on the airship, which now rested in a little clearing +in the dense jungle, gathered at the engine room door, looking at +Tom and Ned as they worked over the machine. + +"Bless my pulley wheel!" exclaimed Mr. Damon "I hope nothing has +gone wrong." + +"Well something has!" declared the young inventor in a muffled +voice, for he was down on his hands and knees peering under the gas +apparatus. "One of the compression cylinders has cracked," he added +dubiously. "It must have snapped when we landed this last time. I +came down too heavily." + +"What does that mean?" asked Mr. Durban, who did not know much about +machinery. + +"It means that I've got to put a new cylinder in," went on Tom. +"It's quite a job, too, but we can't make gas without it!" + +"Well, can't you do it just as well up in the air as down here?" +asked Mr. Durban. "Make an ascension, Tom, and do the repairs up +above, where we've got good air, and where--" + +He paused suddenly, and seemed to be listening. + +"What is it?" asked the young inventor quickly. There was no need to +answer, for, from the jungle without, came the dull booming of the +war drums of some natives. + +"That's what I was afraid of!" cried the old elephant hunter, +catching up his gun. "Some black scout has seen us and is summoning +his tribesmen. Hurry, Tom, send up the ship, and we'll take care of +the savages." + +"But I CAN'T send her up!" cried Tom. + +"You can't? Why not?" + +"Because the gas machine won't work until I put in a new cylinder, +and that will take at least a half a day." + +"Go up as an aeroplane then!" cried Mr. Damon. "Bless my monkey +wrench, Tom, you've often done it before." + +For answer Tom waved his hand toward the thick jungle all about +them. + +"We haven't room to get a running start of ten feet." he said, "and +without a start the airship can never rise as a mere aeroplane. The +only way we can get up from the jungle is like a balloon, and +without the gas--" + +He paused significantly. The sound of the war drums became louder, +and to it was added a weird singing chant. + +"The natives!" cried Mr. Anderson. "They're coming right this way! +We must fight them off if they attack us!" + +"Where's the electric rifle?" asked Ned. "Get that out, Tom!" + +"Wait!" suggested Mr. Durban. "This is serious! It looks as if they +were going to attack us, and they have us at a disadvantage. Our +only safety is in flight, but as Tom says we can't go up until the +gas machine is fixed, he will have to attend to that part of it +while we keep off the black men. Tom, we can't spare you to fight +this time! You repair the ship as soon as you can, and we'll guard +her from the natives. And you've got to work lively!" + +"I will!" cried the young inventor. "It's luck we have a spare +cylinder!" + +Suddenly there was a louder shout in the jungle and it was followed +by a riot of sound. War drums were beaten, tom-toms clashed and the +natives howled. + +"Here they are!" cried Mr. Anderson. + +"Bless my suspenders!" shouted Mr. Damon. "Where is my gun?" + +"Here, you take mine, and I'll use the electric rifle," answered the +elephant hunter. As he spoke there was a hissing sound in the air +and a flight of spears passed over the airship. + +The defenders slipped outside, while Tom, with Ned to help him, +worked feverishly to repair the break. They were in a serious +strait, for with the airship practically helpless they were at the +mercy of the natives. And as Tom glanced momentarily from the +window, he saw scores of black, half-naked forms slipping in and out +among the trees and trailing vines. + +Soon the rifles of his friends began to crack, and the yells of the +natives were changed to howls of anguish. The electric weapon, +though it made no noise, did great execution. + +"I only hope they don't puncture the gas bag," murmured Tom. as he +began taking the generating machine apart so as to get out the +cracked cylinder. + +"If they do, it's all up with us," murmured Ned. + +After their first rush, finding that the white men were on the +alert, the blacks withdrew some distance, where their spears and +arrows were not so effective. Our friends, including Andy Foger, and +the German, kept up a hot fire whenever a skulking black form could +be seen. + +But, though the danger from the spears and arrows was less, a new +peril presented itself. This was from the blow guns. The curious +weapons shot small arrows, tipped with tufts of a cottony substance +in place of feathers, and could be sent for a long distance. The +barbs were not strong enough to pierce the tough fabric of the gas +bag, as a spear or arrow would have done, but there was more danger +from them to our friends who were on deck. + +"Those barbs may be poisoned," said Mr. Durban, "and in case any one +is wounded, the wound, though it be but a scratch, must be treated +with antiseptics. I have some." + +This course was followed, the elephant hunter being wounded twice, +and Andy Foger and Mr. Damon once each. There was not a native to be +seen now, for they were hiding behind the trees of the jungle, but +every now and then a blowgun barb would whizz out of the forest. + +Finally Mr. Durban suggested that they erect improvised shelters, +behind which they could stand with their rifle, and breastworks were +made out of packing boxes. Then our friends were comparatively safe. +But they had to be on the alert, and it was nervous work, for they +could not tell what minute the blacks would rush from the jungle, +and, in spite of the fire from the electric rifle and other guns, +overwhelm the ship. + +It was very trying to Tom and Ned, for they had to work hard and +rapidly in the close engine room. The sweat dripped down off them, +but they kept at it. It was three hours before the broken cylinder +was removed, and it was no light task to put in the other, for the +valves had to be made very tight to prevent leakage. + +The two lads stopped to get something to eat, while the guards kept +sharp watch against a surprise. At intervals came a flight of barbs, +and occasionally a black form could be seen, when it was instantly +fired at. Several times the barbaric noise of the tom-toms and war +drums, with which the shouts of the natives mingled, broke out +deafeningly. + +"Think you can repair it by night?" asked Mr. Durban anxiously of +Tom. + +"I hope so," was the response. + +"Because if we have to stay here after dark--well, I don't want to +do it if I can help it," finished the hunter. + +Neither did the young inventor, and he redoubled his efforts to make +the repairs. It was getting dark when the last belt was in place, +and it was high time, too, for the natives were getting bolder, +creeping up through the forest to within shooting distance with +their arrows and spears. + +"There!" cried Tom at length. "Now we'll see if she works!" Once +more he pulled the starting lever, and this time there was the +welcome hiss of the gas. + +"Hurrah!" cried Ned. + +The young inventor turned the machine on at full power. In a few +minutes the Black Hawk trembled through her length. + +"She's going up! Bless my balloon basket! She's going up!" cried Mr. +Damon. + +The natives must have suspected that something unusual was going on, +for they made a sudden rush, yelling and beating their drums. Mr. +Durban and the others hurried out on deck and fired at them, but +there vas little more need. With a bound the airship left the earth, +being rapidly carried up by the gas. The blacks sent a final shower +of spears after her, but only one was effective, slightly wounding +the German. Then Tom started the motor, the propellers whizzed, and +the Black Hawk was once more under way, just as night settled over +the jungle, and upon the horde of black and howling savages that +rushed around, maddened over the escape of their intended victims. + +No further accidents marred the trip to the coast, which was reached +in due time, and very glad our friends were to be away from the +jungle and the land of the red pygmies. + +A division was made of the ivory, and Tom's share was large enough +to provide him with a substantial amount. Ned and Mr. Damon were +also given a goodly sum from the sale of the tusks. The big ones, +from the "rogue," were shipped to the man who had commissioned Mr. +Durban to secure them for him. + +"Well, now for home," said Tom, when the airship had been taken +apart for shipment. "I guess you'll be glad to get back to the +United States, won't you, friends?" + +"That's what," agreed Andy Foger. "I think I'm done with airships. +Ugh! When I think of those red dwarfs I can't sleep nights!" + +"Yah, dot iss so!" agreed the German. + +"Well, I'm going to settle down for a time," declared Tom. "I've had +enough adventures for a while, but those in elephant land--" + +"They certainly put it all over the things that happen to some +people!" interrupted Ned with a laugh. + +"Bless my fish-line, that's so!" agreed Mr. Damon. + +But Tom Swift was not done with adventures, and what farther +happened to him may be learned by reading the next volume of this +series, which will be entitled, "Tom Swift in the City of Gold; or, +Marvelous Adventures Underground." + +They all made a safe and pleasant voyage home, and as news of the +rescue of the missionaries had been cabled to America, Tom and his +friends were met, as they left the steamer, by a crowd of newspaper +reporters, who got a good story of the battle with the red pygmies, +though Tom was inclined to make light of his part in the affair. + +"Now for Shopton, home, Dad, Eradicate Sampson and his mule!" +exclaimed Tom, as they boarded a train in New York. + +"And somebody else, too, I guess; eh?" asked Ned of his chum, +with a laugh. + +"That's none of your affair!" declared Tom, as he blushed, +and then he, too, joined in the merriment. + +And now, for a time, we will say good-by to the young inventor +and his friends. + + + + + +End of Project Gutenberg's Tom Swift and His Electric Rifle, by Appleton + diff --git a/old/10tom10.zip b/old/10tom10.zip Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..137304c --- /dev/null +++ b/old/10tom10.zip diff --git a/old/10tom10h.htm b/old/10tom10h.htm new file mode 100644 index 0000000..6307242 --- /dev/null +++ b/old/10tom10h.htm @@ -0,0 +1,4952 @@ +<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Strict//EN" + "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-strict.dtd"> +<html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" xml:lang="en" lang="en"> +<head> +<meta name="generator" content= +"HTML Tidy for Mac OS X (vers 1st December 2004), see www.w3.org" /> +<meta http-equiv="content-type" content= +"text/html; charset=us-ascii" /> +<title>Tom Swift and His Electric Rifle, by Victor Appleton.</title> + +<style type="text/css"> +/*<![CDATA[*/ + <!-- + body {font-family:Georgia,serif;margin-left: 15%; margin-right: 15%;} + p {text-align: justify;} + h1,h2,h3,h4,h5,h6 {text-align: center;} + pre {font-family:Courier,monospaced;font-size: 0.8em;} + hr {width: 50%;} + hr.full {width: 100%;} + h3 {padding-top:1em;} + + ol {list-style-type:upper-roman;margin-left:10%;font-variant:small-caps;} + .returnTOC {text-align:right;font-size:.7em;} + a:link {color:blue; text-decoration:none} + a:visited {color:blue; text-decoration:none} + a:hover {color:red} + --> +/*]]>*/ +</style> +</head> +<body> +<pre> +Project Gutenberg's Tom Swift and His Electric Rifle, by Appleton +#10 in the Tom Swift series by Victor Appleton + +Copyright laws are changing all over the world, be sure to check +the laws for your country before redistributing these files!!! + +Please take a look at the important information in this header. +We encourage you to keep this file on your own disk, keeping an +electronic path open for the next readers. + +Please do not remove this. + +This should be the first thing seen when anyone opens the book. +Do not change or edit it without written permission. 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FOR PUBLIC DOMAIN ETEXTS*Ver.07/27/01*END* + + + + + +This etext was produced by Charles Franks, Greg Weeks, and the +Online Distributed Proofreading Team. + +</pre> +<h1>TOM SWIFT AND HIS ELECTRIC RIFLE</h1> +<h4>OR</h4> +<h2>Daring Adventures in Elephant Land</h2> +<h4>by</h4> +<h2>VICTOR APPLETON</h2> +<hr class="full" /> +<h2><a id="Contents" name="Contents"></a>CONTENTS</h2> +<ol> +<li><a href="#Ch_1">TOM WANTS EXCITEMENT</a></li> +<li><a href="#Ch_2">TRYING THE NEW GUN</a></li> +<li><a href="#Ch_3">A DIFFICULT TEST</a></li> +<li><a href="#Ch_4">BIG TUSKS WANTED</a></li> +<li><a href="#Ch_5">RUSH WORK</a></li> +<li><a href="#Ch_6">NEWS FROM ANDY</a></li> +<li><a href="#Ch_7">THE BLACK HAWK FLIES</a></li> +<li><a href="#Ch_8">OFF FOR AFRICA</a></li> +<li><a href="#Ch_9">ATTACKED BY A WHALE</a></li> +<li><a href="#Ch_10">OFF IN THE AIRSHIP</a></li> +<li><a href="#Ch_11">ANCHORED TO EARTH</a></li> +<li><a href="#Ch_12">AMONG THE NATIVES</a></li> +<li><a href="#Ch_13">ON THE ELEPHANT TRAIL</a></li> +<li><a href="#Ch_14">A STAMPEDE</a></li> +<li><a href="#Ch_15">LIONS IN THE NIGHT</a></li> +<li><a href="#Ch_16">SEEKING THE MISSIONARIES</a></li> +<li><a href="#Ch_17">SHOTS FROM ABOVE</a></li> +<li><a href="#Ch_18">NEWS OF THE RED PYGMIES</a></li> +<li><a href="#Ch_19">AN APPEAL FOR HELP</a></li> +<li><a href="#Ch_20">THE FIGHT</a></li> +<li><a href="#Ch_21">DRIVEN BACK</a></li> +<li><a href="#Ch_22">A NIGHT ATTACK</a></li> +<li><a href="#Ch_23">THE RESCUE</a></li> +<li><a href="#Ch_24">TWO OTHER CAPTIVES</a></li> +<li><a href="#Ch_25">THE ROGUE ELEPHANT—CONCLUSION</a></li> +</ol> +<h3>CHAPTER I</h3> +<h2><a id="Ch_1" name="Ch_1"></a>TOM WANTS EXCITEMENT</h2> +<p class="returnTOC"><a href="#Contents">Return to Table of +Contents</a></p> +<p>“Have you anything special to do to-night, Ned?” +asked Tom Swift, the well-known inventor, as he paused in front of +his chum’s window, in the Shopton National Bank.</p> +<p>“No, nothing in particular,” replied the bank clerk, +as he stacked up some bundles of bills. “Why do you +ask?”</p> +<p>“I wanted you to come over to the house for a +while.”</p> +<p>“Going to have a surprise party, or something like +that?”</p> +<p>“No, only I’ve got something I’d like to show +you.”</p> +<p>“A new invention?”</p> +<p>“Well, not exactly new. You’ve seen it before, but +not since I’ve improved it. I’m speaking of my new +electric rifle. I’ve got it ready to try, now, and I’d +like to see what you think of it. There’s a rifle range over +at the house, and we can practice some shooting, if you +haven’t anything else to do.”</p> +<p>“I haven’t, and I’ll be glad to come. What are +you doing in the bank, anyhow; putting away more of your wealth, +Tom?”</p> +<p>“Yes, I just made a little deposit. It’s some money +I got from the government for the patents on my sky racer, and +I’m salting it down here until Dad and I can think of a +better investment.”</p> +<p>“Good idea. Bring us all the money you can,” and the +bank clerk, who held a small amount of stock in the financial +institution, laughed, his chum joining in with him.</p> +<p>“Well, then. I’ll expect you over this +evening,” went on the youthful inventor, as he turned to +leave the bank.</p> +<p>“Yes, I’ll be there. Say, Tom, have you heard the +latest about Andy Foger?”</p> +<p>“No, I haven’t heard much since he left town right +after I beat him in the aeroplane race at Eagle Park.”</p> +<p>“Well, he’s out of town all right, and I guess for a +long time this trip. He’s gone to Europe.”</p> +<p>“To Europe, eh? Well, he threatened to go there after he +failed to beat me in the race, but I thought he was only +bluffing.”</p> +<p>“No, he’s really gone this time.”</p> +<p>“Well, I, for one, am glad of it. Did he take his +aeroplane along?”</p> +<p>“Yes, that’s what he went for. It seems that this +Mr. Landbacher, the German who really invented it, and built it +with money which Mr. Foger supplied, has an idea he can interest +the German or some other European government in the machine. Andy +wanted to go along with him, and as Mr. Foger financed the scheme, +I guess he thought it would be a good thing to have some one +represent him. So Andy’s gone.”</p> +<p>“Then he won’t bother me. Well, I must get along. +I’ll expect you over to-night,” and with a wave of his +hand Tom Swift hurried from the bank.</p> +<p>The young inventor jumped into his electric runabout which stood +outside the institution, and was about to start off when he saw a +newsboy selling papers which had just come in from New York, on the +morning train.</p> +<p>“Here, Jack, give me a TIMES,” called Tom to the +lad, and he tossed the newsboy a nickel. Then, after glancing at +the front page, and noting the headings, Tom started off his speedy +car, in which, on one occasion, he had made a great run, against +time. He was soon at home.</p> +<p>“Well, Dad, I’ve got the money safely put +away,” he remarked to an aged gentleman who sat in the +library reading a book. “Now we won’t have to worry +about thieves until we get some more cash in.”</p> +<p>“Well, I’m glad it’s coming in so +plentifully,” said Mr. Swift with a smile. “Since my +illness I haven’t been able to do much, Tom, and it all +depends on you, now.”</p> +<p>“Don’t let that worry you, Dad. You’ll soon be +as busy as ever,” for, following a serious operation for an +ailment of the heart, Mr. Swift, who was a veteran inventor, had +not been able to do much. But the devices of his son, especially a +speedy monoplane, which Tom invented, and sold to the United States +Government, were now bringing them in a large income. In fact with +royalties from his inventions and some gold and diamonds which he +had secured on two perilous trips, Tom Swift was quite wealthy.</p> +<p>“I’ll never be as busy as I once was,” went on +Mr. Swift, a little regretfully, “but I don’t know that +I care as long as you continue to turn out new machines, Tom. By +the way, how is the electric rifle coming on? I haven’t heard +you speak of it lately.”</p> +<p>“It’s practically finished, Dad. It worked pretty +well the time I took it when we went on the trip to the caves of +ice, but I’ve improved it very much since then. In fact +I’m going to give it a severe test to-night. Ned Newton is +coming over, and it may be that then we’ll find out something +about it that could be bettered. But I think not. It suits me as it +is.”</p> +<p>“So Ned is coming over to see it; eh? You ought to have +Mr. Damon here to bless it a few times.”</p> +<p>“Yes, I wish I did. And he may come along at any moment, +as it is. You never can tell when he is going to turn up. Mrs. +Baggert says you were out walking while I was at the bank, Dad. Do +you feel better after it?”</p> +<p>“Yes, I think I do, Tom. Oh, I’m growing stronger +every day, but it will take time. But now tell me something about +the electric gun.”</p> +<p>Thereupon the young inventor related to his father some facts +about the improvements he had recently made to the weapon. It was +dinner time when he had finished, and, after the meal Tom went out +to the shed where he built his aeroplanes and his airships, and in +which building he had fitted up a shooting gallery.</p> +<p>“I’ll get ready for the trial to-night,” he +said “I want to see what it will do to a dummy figure. Guess +I’ll make a sort of scarecrow and stuff it with straw. +I’ll get Eradicate to help me. Rad! I say, Rad! Where are +you?”</p> +<p>“Heah I is, Massa Tom! Heah I is” called a colored +man as he came around the corner of a small stable where he kept +his mule Boomerang. “Was yo’-all callin’ +me?”</p> +<p>“Yes, Rad, I want you to help make a scarecrow.”</p> +<p>“A scarecrow, Massa Tom! Good land a’ massy! What +fo’ yo’ want ob a scarecrow? Yo’-all ain’t +raisin’ no corn, am yo’?”</p> +<p>“No, but I want something to shoot at when Ned Newton +comes over to- night.”</p> +<p>“Suffin t’ shoot at? Why Massa Tom! Good land +a’ massy! Yo’-all ain’t gwine t’ hab no +duel, am yo’?”</p> +<p>“No, Rad, but I want a life-size figure on which to try my +new electric gun. Here are some old clothes, and if you will stuff +them with rags and straw and fix them so they’ll stand up, +they’ll do first-rate. Have it ready by night, and set it up +at the far end of the shooting gallery.”</p> +<p>“All right, Massa Tom. I’ll jest do dat, fo’ +yo’,” and leaving the colored man to stuff the figure, +after he had showed him how, Tom went back into the house to read +the paper which he had purchased that morning.</p> +<p>He skimmed over the news, thinking perhaps he might see +something of the going abroad of Andy Foger with the German +aeroplane, but there was nothing.</p> +<p>“I almost wish I was going to Europe,” sighed Tom. +“I will certainly have to get busy at something, soon. I +haven’t had any adventure since I won the prize at the Eagle +Park aviaton meet in my sky racer. Jove! That was some excitement! +I’d like to do that over again, only I shouldn’t want +to have Dad so sick,” for just before the race, Tom had saved +his father’s life by making a quick run in the aeroplane, to +bring a celebrated surgeon to the invalid’s aid.</p> +<p>“I certainly wish I could have some new adventures,” +mused Tom, as he turned the pages of the paper. “I could +afford to take a trip around the earth after them, too, with the +way money is coming in now. Yes, I do wish I could have some +excitement. Hello, what’s this! A big elephant hunt in +Africa. Hundreds of the huge creatures captured in a +trap—driven in by tame beasts. Some are shot for their tusks. +Others will be sent to museums.”</p> +<p>He was reading the headlines of the article that had attracted +his attention, and, as he read, he became more and more absorbed in +it. He read the story through twice, and then, with sparkling eyes, +he exclaimed:</p> +<p>“That’s just what I want. Elephant shooting in +Africa! My! With my new electric rifle, and an airship, what +couldn’t a fellow do over in the dark continent! I’ve a +good notion to go there! I wonder if Ned would go with me? Mr. +Damon certainly would. Elephant shooting in Africa! In an airship! +I could finish my new sky craft in short order if I wanted to. +I’ve a good notion to do it!”</p> +<h3>CHAPTER II</h3> +<h2><a id="Ch_2" name="Ch_2"></a>TRYING THE NEW GUN</h2> +<p class="returnTOC"><a href="#Contents">Return to Table of +Contents</a></p> +<p>While Tom Swift is thus absorbed in thinking about a chance to +hunt elephants, we will take the opportunity to tell you a little +more about him, and then go on with the story.</p> +<p>Many of you already know the young inventor, but those who do +not may be interested it hearing that he is a young American lad, +full of grit and ginger, who lives with his aged father in the town +of Shopton, in New York State. Our hero was first introduced to the +public in the book, “Tom Swift and His Motorcycle.”</p> +<p>In that volume it was related how Tom bought a motor-cycle from +a Mr. Wakefield Damon, of Waterford. Mr. Damon was an eccentric +individual, who was continually blessing himself, some one else, or +something belonging to him. His motor-cycle tried to climb a tree +with him, and that was why he sold it to Tom. The two thus became +acquainted, and their friendship grew from year to year.</p> +<p>After many adventures on his motor-cycle Tom got a motor-boat, +and had some exciting times in that. One of the things he and his +father and his chum, Ned Newton, did, was to rescue, from a burning +balloon that had fallen into Lake Carlopa, an aeronaut named John +Sharp. Later Tom and Mr. Sharp built an airship called the Red +Cloud, and with Mr. Damon and some others had a series of +remarkable fights.</p> +<p>In the Red Cloud they got on the track of some bank robbers, and +captured them, thus foiling the plans of Andy Foger, a town bully, +and one of Tom’s enemies, and putting to confusion the plot +of Mr. Foger, Andy’s father.</p> +<p>After many adventures in the air Tom and his friends, in a +submarine boat, invented by Mr. Swift, went under the ocean for +sunken treasure and secured a large part of it.</p> +<p>It was not long after this that Tom conceived the idea of a +powerful electric car, which proved, to be the speediest of the +road, and in it he won a great race, and saved from ruin a bank in +which his father and Mr. Damon were interested.</p> +<p>The sixth book of the series, entitled “Tom Swift and His +Wireless Message,” tells how, in testing a new electric +airship, which a friend of Mr. Damon’s had invented, Tom, the +inventor and Mr. Damon were lost on an island in the middle of the +ocean. There they found some castaways, among whom were Mr. and +Mrs. Nestor, parents of Mary Nestor of Shopton, a girl of whom Tom +was quite fond.</p> +<p>Tom Swift, after his arrival home, went on an expedition among a +gang of men known as the “Diamond Makers” who were +hidden in the Rocky Mountains. He was accompanied by Mr. Barcoe +Jenks, one of the castaways of Earthquake Island. They found the +diamond makers, and had some surprising adventures, barely escaping +with their lives.</p> +<p>This did not daunt Tom, however, and he once more started off on +an expedition in his airship the Red Cloud to Alaska, amid the +caves of ice. He was searching for a valley of gold, and though he +and his friends found it, they came to grief. The Fogers, father +and son, tried to steal the gold from them, and, failing in that, +incited the Eskimos against our friends. There was a battle, but +the forces of nature were even more to be dreaded than the terrible +savages.</p> +<p>The ice cave, in which the Red Cloud was stored, collapsed, +crushing the gallant craft, and burying it out of sight forever +under thousand of tons of the frozen bergs.</p> +<p>After a desperate journey Tom and his friends reached +civilization, with a large supply of gold. Tom regretted very much +the destruction of the airship, but he at once set to work on +another—a monoplane this time, instead of a combined +aeroplane and dirigible balloon. This new craft he called the +Humming Bird and it was a “sky racer” of terrific +speed. In it, as we have said, Tom brought a specialist to operate +on his father, when, because of a broken railroad bridge, the +physician could not otherwise have gotten to Shopton. He and Tom +traveled through the air at the rate of over one hundred miles an +hour. Later, Tom took part in a big race for a ten-thousand-dollar +prize, and won, defeating Andy Foger, and a number of well-known +“bird-men” who used biplanes and monoplanes of a more +or less familiar type.</p> +<p>The government became interested in Tom’s craft, the +Humming Bird, and, as told in the ninth book of this series, Tom +Swift and His Sky Racer, they secured some rights in the +invention.</p> +<p>And now Tom, who had done nothing for several months following +the great race—that is, nothing save to work on his new +rifle—Tom, we say, sighed for new adventures.</p> +<p>“Well, Tom, what is on your mind?” asked his father +at the supper table that evening. “What is worrying +you?”</p> +<p>“Nothing is worrying me, Dad.”</p> +<p>“You are thinking of something. I can see that. Are you +afraid your electric rifle won’t work as well as you hope, +when Ned comes over to try it?”</p> +<p>“No, it isn’t that, Dad. But I may as well tell you, +I guess. I’ve been reading in the paper about a big elephant +hunt in Africa, and I—”</p> +<p>“That’s enough, Tom! You needn’t say any +more,” interrupted Mr. Swift. “I can see which way the +wind is blowing. You want to go to Africa with your new +rifle.”</p> +<p>“Well, Dad, not exactly—that is—”</p> +<p>“Now, Tom, you needn’t deny it,” and Mr. Swift +laughed. “Well, I don’t blame you a bit. You have been +rather idle of late.”</p> +<p>“I would like to go, Dad,” admitted the young +inventor, “only I’d never think of it while you +weren’t well.”</p> +<p>“Don’t worry about me, Tom. Of course I will be +lonesome while you are gone, but don’t let that stand in the +way. If you want to go to Africa, you may start to-morrow, and take +your new rifle with you.”</p> +<p>“The rifle part would be all right, Dad, but if I went +I’d want to take an airship along, and it will take me some +little time to finish the Black Hawk, as I have named my new +craft.”</p> +<p>“Well, there’s no special hurry, is there?” +asked Mr. Swift. “The elephants in Africa are likely to stay +there for some time. If you want to go, why don’t you get +right to work on the Black Hawk and make the trip? I’d like +to go myself.”</p> +<p>“I wish you would, Dad,” exclaimed Tom eagerly.</p> +<p>“No, son, I couldn’t think of it. I want to stay +here and get well. Then I am going to resume work on my wireless +motor. Perhaps I’ll have it finished when you come back from +Africa with an airship load of elephants’ tusks.”</p> +<p>“Perhaps,” admitted the young inventor. “Well, +Dad, I’ll think of it. But now I’m going after my +rifle, and—”</p> +<p>Tom was interrupted by a ring of the front-door bell, and Mrs. +Baggert, the housekeeper, who was almost like a mother to the +youth, went to answer it.</p> +<p>“It’s Ned Newton, I guess,” murmured Tom, and, +a little later, his chum entered the room.</p> +<p>“Oh, I guess I’m early,” said Ned. +“Haven’t you had supper yet, Tom’”</p> +<p>“Yes, we’re just finished. Come on out and +we’ll try the gun.”</p> +<p>“And practice shooting elephants,” added Mr. Swift +with a laugh, as he mentioned to Ned the latest idea of Tom.</p> +<p>“Say! That would he great!” cried the bank clerk. +“I wish I could go!”</p> +<p>“Come along!” invited Tom cordially. +“We’ll have more fun than we did in the caves of +ice,” for Ned had gone on the voyage to Alaska.</p> +<p>The two youths went out to the shed where the rifle gallery had +been built. The new electric weapon was out there, and Eradicate +Sampson, the colored man, who was a sort of servant and +man-of-all-work about the Swift household, had set up the scarecrow +figure at the end of the gallery.</p> +<p>“Now we’ll try some shots,” said Tom, as he +took the gun out of the case. “Just turn on a few more +lights, will you, Mr. Jackson,” and the engineer, who was +employed by Tom and his father to aid them in their inventive work, +did as requested.</p> +<p>The gallery was now brilliantly illuminated, with the reflectors +throwing the beams on the big stuffed figure, which, save for a +face, looked very much like a human being, standing at the end of +the gallery.</p> +<p>“I don’t suppose you want to go down there and hold +it, while I shoot at it; do you, Rad?” asked Tom jokingly, as +he prepared the electric rifle for use.</p> +<p>“No indeedy, I don’t!” cried Eradicate. +“Yo’-all will hab t’ scuse me, Massa Tom. I think +I’ll be goin’ now.”</p> +<p>“What’s your hurry?” asked Ned, as he saw the +colored man hastily preparing to leave the improvised gallery.</p> +<p>“I spects I’d better fro’ down some mo’ +straw fo’ a bed fo’ my mule Boomerang!” exclaimed +Eradicate, as he hastily slid out of the door, and shut it after +him.</p> +<p>“Rad is nervous,” remarked Tom. “He +doesn’t like this gun. Well, it certainly does great +execution.”</p> +<p>“How does it work’” asked Ned, as he looked at +the curious gun. The electric weapon was not unlike an ordinary +heavy rifle in appearance save that the barrel was a little longer, +and the stock larger in every way. There were also a number of +wheels, levers, gears and gages on the stock.</p> +<p>“It works by electricity,” explained Tom.</p> +<p>“That is, the force comes from a powerful current of +stored electricity.”</p> +<p>“Oh, then you have storage batteries in the +stock?”</p> +<p>“Not exactly. There are no batteries, but the current is a +sort of wireless kind. It is stored in a cylinder, just as +compressed air or gases are stored, and can be released as I need +it.”</p> +<p>“And when it’s all gone, what do you do?”</p> +<p>“Make more power by means of a small dynamo.”</p> +<p>“And does it shoot lead bullets?”</p> +<p>“Not at all. There are no bullets used.”</p> +<p>“Then how does it kill?”</p> +<p>“By means of a concentrated charge of electricity which is +shot from the barrel with great force. You can’t see it, yet +it is there. It’s just as if you concentrated a charge of +electricity of five thousand volts into a small globule the size of +a bullet. That flies through space, strikes the object aimed at +and—well, we’ll see what it does in a minute. Mr. +Jackson, just put that steel plate up in front of the scarecrow; +will you?”</p> +<p>The engineer proceeded to put into place a section of steel +armor- plate before the stuffed figure.</p> +<p>“You don’t mean to say you’re going to shoot +through that, do you?” asked Ned in surprise.</p> +<p>“Surely. The electric bullets will pierce anything. +They’ll go through a brick wall as easily as the x-rays do. +That’s one valuable feature of my rifle. You don’t have +to see the object you aim at. In fact you can fire through a house, +and kill something on the other side.”</p> +<p>“I should think that would be dangerous.”</p> +<p>“It would be, only I can calculate exactly, by means of an +automatic arrangement, just how far the charge of electricity will +go. It stops short just at the limit of the range, and is not +effective beyond that. Otherwise, if I did not limit it and if I +fired at the scarecrow, through the piece of steel, and the bullet +hit the figure, it would go on, passing through whatever else was +in the way, until its power was lost. I use the term +‘bullet,’ though as I said, it isn’t properly +one.”</p> +<p>“By Jove, Tom, it certainly is a dangerous +weapon!”</p> +<p>“Yes, the range-limit idea is a new one. That’s what +I’ve been working on lately. There are other features of the +gun which I’ll explain later, particularly the power it has +to shoot out luminous bars of light. But now we’ll see what +it will do to the image.”</p> +<p>Tom took his place at the end of the range, and began to adjust +some valves and levers. In spite of the fact that the gun was +larger than an ordinary rifle, it was not as heavy as the United +States Army weapon.</p> +<p>Tom aimed at the armor-plate, and, by means of an arrangement on +the rifle, he could tell exactly when he was pointing at the +scarecrow, even though he could not see it.</p> +<p>“Here she goes!” he suddenly exclaimed.</p> +<p>Ned watched his chum. The young inventor pressed a small button +at the side of the rifle barrel, about where the trigger should +have been. There was no sound, no smoke, no flame and not the +slightest jar.</p> +<p>Yet as Ned watched he saw the steel plate move slightly. The +next instant the scarecrow figure seemed to fly all to pieces. +There was a shower of straw, rags and old clothes, which fell in a +shapeless heap at the end of the range.</p> +<p>“Say. I guess you did for that fellow, all right!” +exclaimed Ned.</p> +<p>“It looks so,” admitted Tom, with a note of pride in +his voice. “Now we’ll try another test.”</p> +<p>As he laid aside his rifle in order to help Mr. Jackson shift +the steel plate there was a series of yells outside the shed.</p> +<p>“What’s that?” asked Tom, in some alarm.</p> +<p>“Sounds like some one calling,” answered Ned.</p> +<p>“It is,” agreed Mr. Jackson. “Perhaps +Eradicate’s mule has gotten loose. I guess we’d +better—”</p> +<p>He did not finish, for the shouts increased in volume, and Tom +and Ned could hear some one yelling:</p> +<p>“I’ll have the law on you for this! I’ll have +you arrested, Tom Swift! What do you mean by trying to kill me? +Where are you? Don’t try to hide away, now. You were trying +to shoot me, and I’m not going to have it!”</p> +<p>Some one pounded on the door of the shed.</p> +<p>“It’s Barney Moker!” exclaimed Tom. “I +wonder what can have happened?”</p> +<h3>CHAPTER III</h3> +<h2><a id="Ch_3" name="Ch_3"></a>A DIFFICULT TEST</h2> +<p class="returnTOC"><a href="#Contents">Return to Table of +Contents</a></p> +<p>Tom Swift opened the door of the improvised rifle gallery and +looked out. By the light of a full moon, which shone down from a +cloudless sky, he saw a man standing at the portal. The man’s +face was distorted with rage, and he shook his fist at the young +inventor.</p> +<p>“What do you mean by shooting at me?” he demanded. +“What do you mean, I say? The idea of scaring honest folks +out of their wits, and making ’em think the end of the world +has come! What do you mean by it? Why don’t you answer me? I +say, Tom Swift, why don’t you answer me?”</p> +<p>“Because you don’t give me a chance, Mr. +Moker,” replied our hero.</p> +<p>“I want to know why you shot at me? I demand to +know!” and Mr. Moker, who was a sort of miserly town +character, living all alone in a small house, just beyond +Tom’s home, again shook his fist almost in the lad’s +face. “Why don’t you tell me? Why don’t you tell +me?” he shouted.</p> +<p>“I will, if you give me a chance!” fairly exploded +Tom. “If you can be cool for five minutes, and come inside +and tell me what happened I’ll be glad to answer any of your +questions, Mr. Moker. I didn’t shoot at you.”</p> +<p>“Yes, you did! You tried to shoot a hole through +me!”</p> +<p>“Tell me about it?” suggested Tom, as the excited +man calmed down somewhat. “Are you hurt?”</p> +<p>“No, but it isn’t your fault that I’m not. You +tried hard enough to hurt me. Here I am, sitting at my table +reading, and, all at once something goes through the side of the +house, whizzes past my ear, makes my hair fairly stand up on end, +and goes outside the other side of the house. What kind of bullets +do you use, Tom Swift? that’s what I want to know. They went +through the side of my house, and never left a mark. I demand to +know what kind they are.”</p> +<p>“I’ll tell you, if you’ll only give me a +chance,” went on Tom wearily. “How do you know it was +me shooting?”</p> +<p>“How do I know? Why, doesn’t the end of this +shooting gallery of yours point right at my house? Of course it +does; you can’t deny it!”</p> +<p>Tom did not attempt to, and Mr. Moker went on:</p> +<p>“Now what do you mean by it?”</p> +<p>“If any of the bullets from my electric gun went near you, +it was a mistake, and I’m sorry for it,” said Tom.</p> +<p>“Well, they did, all right,” declared the excited +man. “They went right past my ear.”</p> +<p>“I don’t see how they could,” declared Tom. +“I was trying my new electric rifle, but I had the limit set +for two hundred feet, the length of the gallery. That is, the +electrical discharge couldn’t go beyond that +distance.”</p> +<p>“I don’t know what it was, but it went through the +side of my house all the same,” insisted Mr. Moker. “It +didn’t make a hole, but it scorched the wall paper a +little.”</p> +<p>“I don’t see how it could,” declared Tom. +“It couldn’t possibly have gone over two hundred feet +with the gage set for that distance.” He paused suddenly, and +hurried over to where he had placed his gun. Catching up the weapon +he looked at the gage dial. Then he uttered an exclamation.</p> +<p>“I’m sorry to admit that you are right, Mr. +Moker!” he said finally. “I made a mistake. The gage is +set for a thousand feet instead of two hundred. I forgot to change +it. The charge, after passing through the steel plate, and the +scarecrow figure, destroying the latter, went on, and shot through +the side of your house.”</p> +<p>“Ha! I knew you were trying to shoot me!” exclaimed +the still angry man. “I’ll have the law on you for +this!”</p> +<p>“Oh, that’s all nonsense!” broke in Ned Newton +“Everybody knows Tom Smith wouldn’t try to shoot you, +or any one else, Mr. Moker.”</p> +<p>“Then why did he shoot at me?”</p> +<p>“That was a mistake,” explained Tom, “and I +apologize to you for it.”</p> +<p>“Humph! A lot of good that would do me, if I’d been +killed!” muttered the miser. “I’m going to sue +you for this. You might have put me in my grave.”</p> +<p>“Impossible!” exclaimed Tom.</p> +<p>“Why impossible?” demanded the visitor.</p> +<p>“Because I had so set the rifle that almost the entire +force of the electrical bullet was expended in blowing apart the +scarecrow figure I made for a test,” explained Tom. +“All that passed through your house was a small charge, and, +if it HAD hit you there would have been no more than a little +shock, such as you would feel in taking hold of an electric +battery.”</p> +<p>“How do I know this?” asked the man cunningly. +“You say so, but for all I know you may have wanted to kill +me.”</p> +<p>“Why?” asked Tom, trying not to laugh.</p> +<p>“Oh, so you might get some of my money. Of course I +ain’t got none,” the miser went on quickly, “but +folks thinks I’ve got a lot, and I have to be on the lookout +all the while, or they’d murder me for it.”</p> +<p>“I wouldn’t,” declared the young inventor. +“It was a mistake. Only part of the spent charge passed near +you. Why, if it had been a powerful charge you would never have +been able to come over here. I set the main charge to go off inside +the scarecrow, and it did so, as you can see by looking at +what’s left of it,” and he pointed to the pile of +clothes and rags.</p> +<p>“How do I know this?” insisted the miser with a leer +at the two lads.</p> +<p>“Because if the charge had gone off either before or after +it passed through the figure, it would not have caused such havoc +of the cloth and straw,” explained Tom. “First the +charge would have destroyed the steel plate, which it passed +through without even denting it. Why, look here, I will now fire +the rifle at short range, and set it to destroy the plate. See what +happens.”</p> +<p>He quickly adjusted the weapon, and aimed it at the plate, +which, had again been set up on the range. This time Tom was +careful to set the gage so that even a small part of the spent. +charge would not go outside the gallery.</p> +<p>The young inventor pressed the button, and instantly the heavy +steel plate was bent, torn and twisted as though a small sized +cannon ball had gone through it.</p> +<p>“That’s what the rifle will do at short +range,” said Tom. “Don’t worry, Mr. Moker, you +didn’t have a narrow escape. You were in no danger at all, +though I apologize for the fright I caused you.”</p> +<p>“Humph! That’s an easy way to get out of it!” +exclaimed the miser. “I believe I could sue you for damages, +anyhow. Look at my scorched wall paper.”</p> +<p>“Oh, I’ll pay for that,” said Tom quickly, for +he did not wish to have trouble with the unpleasant man. +“Will ten dollars be enough?” He knew that the whole +room could be repapered for that, and he did not believe the +wall-covering was sufficiently damaged for such work to be +necessary.</p> +<p>“Well, if you’ll make it twelve dollars, I +won’t say anything more about it,” agreed the miser +craftily, “though it’s worth thirteen dollars, if it is +a penny. Give me twelve dollars, Tom Swift, and I won’t +prosecute you.”</p> +<p>“All right, twelve dollars it shall be,” responded +the young inventor, passing over the money, and glad to be rid of +the unpleasant character.</p> +<p>“And after this, just fire that gun of yours the other +way,” suggested Mr. Moker as he went out, carefully folding +the bills which Tom had handed him.</p> +<p>“Hum! that was rather queer,” remarked Ned, after a +pause.</p> +<p>“It sure was,” agreed his chum. “This rifle +will do more than I thought it would. I’ll have to be more +careful. I was sure I set the gage for two hundred feet. I’ll +have to invent some automatic attachment to prevent it being +discharged when the gage is set wrong.” Let us state here +that Tom did this, and never had another accident.</p> +<p>“Well, does this end the test?” asked Ned.</p> +<p>“No, indeed. I want you to try it, while I look on,” +spoke Tom. “We haven’t any more stuffed figures to fire +at, but I’ll set up some targets. Come on, try your luck at a +shot.”</p> +<p>“I’m afraid I might disturb Mr. Moker, or some of +the neighbors.”</p> +<p>“No danger. I’ve got it adjusted right now. Come on, +see if you can shatter this steel target,” and Tom set up a +small one at the end of the range.</p> +<p>Then, having properly fixed the weapon, Tom handed it to his +chum, and, taking his place in a protected part of the gallery, +prepared to watch the effect of the shot.</p> +<p>“Let her go!” cried Tom, and Ned pressed the +button.</p> +<p>The effect was wonderful. Though there was no noise, smoke nor +flame, the steel plate seemed to crumple up, and collapse as if it +had been melted in the fire. There was a jagged hole through the +center, but some frail boards back of it were not even +splintered.</p> +<p>“Good shot!” cried Tom enthusiastically. “I +had the distance gage right that time.”</p> +<p>“You sure did,” agreed Ned. “The electric +bullet stopped as soon as it did its work on the plate. +What’s next?”</p> +<p>“I’m going to try a difficult test,” explained +Tom. “You know I said the gun would shoot luminous +charges?” “Yes.”</p> +<p>“Well, I’m going to try that, now. I wish we had +another image to shoot at, but I’ll take a big dry-goods box, +and make believe it’s an elephant. Now, this is going to be a +hard test, such as we’d meet with, if we were hunting in +Africa. I want you to help me.”</p> +<p>“What am I to do?” asked Ned.</p> +<p>“I want you to go outside,” explained Tom, +“set up a dry-goods box against the side of the little hill +back of the shed, and not tell me where you put it. Then I’ll +go out, and, by means of the luminous charge, I’ll locate the +box, set the distance gage, and destroy it.”</p> +<p>“Well, you can see it anyhow, in the moonlight,” +objected Ned.</p> +<p>“No, the moon is under a cloud now,” explained Tom, +looking out of a window. “It’s quite dark, and will +give me just the test I want for my new electric rifle.”</p> +<p>“But won’t it be dangerous, firing in the dark? +Suppose you misjudge the distance, and the bullet, or charge, files +off and hits some one?”</p> +<p>“It can’t. I’ll set the distance gage before I +shoot. But if I should happen to make a mistake the charge will go +into the side of the hill, and spend itself there. There is no +danger. Go ahead, and set up the box, and then come and tell me. +Mr. Jackson will help you.”</p> +<p>Ned and the engineer left the gallery. As Tom had, said, it was +very dark now, and if Tom could see in the night to hit a box some +distance away, his weapon would be all that he claimed for it.</p> +<p>“This will do,” said the engineer, as he pointed to +a box, one of several piled up outside the shed. The two could +hardly see to make their way along, carrying it to the foot of the +hill, and they stumbled several times. But at last it was in +position, and then Ned departed to call Tom, and have him try the +difficult test—that of hitting an object in the dark.</p> +<h3>CHAPTER IV</h3> +<h2><a id="Ch_4" name="Ch_4"></a>BIG TUSKS WANTED</h2> +<p class="returnTOC"><a href="#Contents">Return to Table of +Contents</a></p> +<p>“Well, are you all ready for me?” asked the young +inventor, as he took up his curious weapon, and followed Ned out +into the yard. It was so dark that they had fairly to stumble +along.</p> +<p>“Yes, we’re ready,” answered Ned. “And +you’ll be a good one, Tom, if you do this stunt. Now stand +here, “he went on, as he indicated a place as well as he +could in the dark. The box is somewhere in that direction,” +and he waved his hand vaguely. “I’m not going to tell +you any more, and let’s see you find it.</p> +<p>“Oh, I will, all right—or, rather, my electric rifle +will,” asserted Tom.</p> +<p>The inventor of the curious and terrible weapon took his +position. Behind him stood Ned and Mr. Jackson, and just before Tom +was ready to fire, his father came stalking through the darkness, +calling to them.</p> +<p>“Are you there, Tom?”</p> +<p>“Yes Dad, is anything the matter?”</p> +<p>“No, but I thought I’d like to see what luck you +have. Rad was saying you were going to have a test in the +dark.”</p> +<p>“I’m about ready for it,” replied Tom. +“I’m going to blow up a box that I can’t see. You +know how it’s done, Dad, for you helped me in perfecting the +luminous charge, but it’s going to be something of a novelty +to the others. Here we go, now!”</p> +<p>Tom raised his rifle, and aimed it in the dark. Ned Newton, +straining his eyes to see, was sure the young inventor was pointing +the gun at least twenty feet to one side of where the box was +located, but he said nothing, for from experiences in the past, he +realized that Tom knew what he was doing.</p> +<p>There was a little clicking sound, as the youth moved some gear +wheel on his gun. Then there came a faint crackling noise, like +some distant wireless apparatus beginning to flash a message +through space.</p> +<p>Suddenly a little ball of purplish light shot through the +darkness and sped forward like some miniature meteor. It shed a +curious illuminating glow all about, and the ground, and the +objects on it were brought into relief as by a lightning flash.</p> +<p>An instant later the light increased in intensity, and seemed to +burst like some piece of aerial fireworks. There was a bright +glare, in which Ned and the others could see the various buildings +about the shed. They could see each other’s faces, and they +looked pale and ghastly in the queer glow. They could see the box, +brought into bold relief, where Ned and the engineer had placed +it.</p> +<p>Then, before the light had died away, they witnessed a curious +sight. The heavy wooden box seemed to dissolve, to collapse and to +crumple up like one of paper, and ere the last rays of the +illuminating bullet faded, the watchers saw the splinters of wood +fall back with a clatter in a little heap on the spot where the +dry- goods case had been.</p> +<p>A silence followed, and the darkness was all the blacker by +contrast with the intense light. At length Tom spoke, and he could +not keep from his voice a note of triumph.</p> +<p>“Well, did I do it?” he asked.</p> +<p>“You sure did!” exclaimed Ned heartily.</p> +<p>“Fine!” cried Mr. Swift.</p> +<p>“Golly! I wouldn’t gib much fo’ de hide ob any +burglar what comed around heah!” muttered Eradicate Sampson. +“Dat box am knocked clean into nuffiness, Massa +Tom.”</p> +<p>“That’s what I wanted to do,” explained the +lad. “And I guess this will end the test for +tonight.”</p> +<p>“But I don’t exactly understand it,” spoke +Ned, as they all moved toward the Swift home, Eradicate going to +the stable to see how his mule was. “Do you have two kinds of +bullets, Tom, one for night and one for the daytime?”</p> +<p>“No,” answered Tom, “there is only one kind of +bullet, and, as I have said, that isn’t a bullet at all. That +is, you can’t see it, or handle it, but you can feel it. +Strictly speaking, it is a concentrated discharge of wireless +electricity directed against a certain object. You can’t see +it any more than you can see a lightning bolt, though that is +sometimes visible as a ball of fire. My electric rifle bullets are +similar to a discharge of lightning, except that they are +invisible.”</p> +<p>“But we saw the one just now,” objected Ned.</p> +<p>“No, you didn’t see the bullet,” said Tom.</p> +<p>“You saw the illuminating flash which I send out just +before I fire, to reveal the object I am to hit. That is another +part of my rifle and is only used at night.”</p> +<p>“You see I shoot out a ball of electrical fire which will +disclose the target, or the enemy at whom I am firing. As soon as +that is discharged the rifle automatically gets ready to shoot the +electric charge, and I have only to press the proper button, and +the ‘bullet,’ as I call it, follows on the heels of the +ball of light. Do you see?”</p> +<p>“Perfectly,” exclaimed Ned with a laugh. “What +a gun that would be for hunting, since most all wild beasts come +out only at night.”</p> +<p>“That was one object in making this invention,” said +Tom. “I only hope I get a chance to use it now.”</p> +<p>“I thought you were going to Africa after +elephants,” spoke Mr. Swift.</p> +<p>“Well, I did think of it.” admitted Tom, “but +I haven’t made any definite plans. But come into the house, +Ned. and I’ll show you more in detail how my rifle +works.”</p> +<p>Thereupon the two chums spent some time going into the mysteries +of the new weapon. Mr. Swift and Mr. Jackson were also much +interested, for, though they had seen the gun previously and had +helped Tom perfect it, they had not yet tired of discussing its +merits.</p> +<p>Ned stayed quite late that night, and promised to come over the +next day, and watch Tom do some more shooting.</p> +<p>“I’ll show you how to use it, too,” promised +the young inventor, and he was as good as his word, initiating Ned +into the mysteries of the electric rifle, and showing him to store +the charges of death- dealing electricity in the queer-looking +stock.</p> +<p>For a week after that Tom and Ned practiced with the terrible +gun, taking care not to have any more mishaps like the one that had +marked the first night. They were both good shots with ordinary +weapons and it was not long before they had equaled their record +with the new instrument.</p> +<p>It was one warm afternoon, when Tom was out in the meadow at one +side of his house, practicing with his rifle on some big boxes he +had set up for targets, that he saw an elderly man standing close +to the fence watching him. When Tom blew to pieces a particularly +large packing-case, standing a long distance away from it, the +stranger called to the youth.</p> +<p>“I beg your pardon,” he said, “but is that a +dynamite gun you are using?”</p> +<p>“No, it’s an electric rifle,” was the +answer.</p> +<p>“Would you mind telling me something about it?” went +on the elderly man, and as Tom’s weapon was now fully +protected by patents, the young inventor cordially invited the +stranger to come nearer and see how it worked.</p> +<p>“That’s the greatest thing I ever saw!” +exclaimed the man enthusiastically when Tom had blown up another +box, and had told of the illumination for night firing. “The +most wonderful weapon I ever heard of! What a gun it would be in my +business.”</p> +<p>“What is your trade?” asked Tom curiously, for he +had noted that the man, while aged, was rugged and hearty, and his +skin was tanned a leathery brown, showing that he was much in the +open air.</p> +<p>“I’m a hunter,” was the reply, “a hunter +of big game, principally elephants, hippos and rhinoceroses. +I’ve just finished a season in Africa, and I’m going +back there again soon. I came on to New York to get a new elephant +gun. I’ve got a sister living over in Waterford, and +I’ve been visiting her. I went out for a stroll to- day, and +I came farther than I intended. That’s how I happened to be +passing here.”</p> +<p>“A sister in Waterford, eh?” mused Tom, wondering +whether the elephant hunter had met Mr. Damon. “And how soon +are you going hack to Africa, Mr.—er—” and Tom +hesitated.</p> +<p>“Durban is my name, Alexander Durban,” said the old +man. “Why, I am to start back in a few weeks. I’ve got +an order for a pair of big elephant tusks—the largest I can +get for a wealthy New York man,— and I’m anxious to +fulfil the contract. The game isn’t what it once was. +There’s more competition and the elephants are scarcer. So +I’ve got to hustle.”</p> +<p>“I got me a new gun. but my! it’s nothing to what +yours is. With that weapon I could do about as I pleased. I could +do night hunting, which is hard in the African jungle. Then I +wouldn’t have any trouble getting the big tusks I’m +after. I could get a pair of them, and live easy the rest of my +life. Yes, I wouldn’t ask anything better than a gun like +yours. But I s’pose they cost like the mischief?” He +looked a question at Tom.</p> +<p>“This is the only one there is,” was the lad’s +answer. “But I am very glad to have met you, Mr. Durban. +Won’t you come into the house? I’m sure my father will +be glad to see you, and I have something I’d like to talk to +you about,” and Tom, with many wild ideas in his head, led +the old elephant hunter toward the house.</p> +<p>The dream of the young inventor might come true after all.</p> +<h3>CHAPTER V</h3> +<h2><a id="Ch_5" name="Ch_5"></a>RUSH WORK</h2> +<p class="returnTOC"><a href="#Contents">Return to Table of +Contents</a></p> +<p>Mr. Swift made the African hunter warmly welcome, and listened +with pride to the words of praise Mr. Durban bestowed on Tom +regarding the rifle.</p> +<p>“Yes, my boy has certainly done wonders along the +inventive line,” said Mr. Swift.</p> +<p>“Not half as much as you have, Dad,” interrupted the +lad, for Tom was a modest youth.</p> +<p>“You should see his sky racer,” went on the old +inventor.</p> +<p>“Sky racer? What’s that?” asked Mr. Durban. +“Is it another kind of gun or cannon?”</p> +<p>“It’s an aeroplane—an airship,” +explained Mr. Swift.</p> +<p>“An airship!” exclaimed the old elephant hunter. +“Say, you don’t mean that you make balloons, do +you?”</p> +<p>“Well, they’re not exactly balloons,” replied +Tom, as he briefly explained what an aeroplane was, for Mr. Durban, +having been in the wilds of the jungle so much, had had very little +chance to see the wonders and progress of civilization.</p> +<p>“They are better than balloons,” went on Tom, +“for they can go where you want them to.”</p> +<p>“Say! That’s the very thing!” cried the old +hunter enthusiastically. “If there’s one thing more +than another that is needed in hunting in Africa it’s an +airship. The travel through the jungle is something fierce, and +that, more than anything else, interferes with my work. I +can’t cover ground enough, and when I do get on the track of +a herd of elephants, and they get away, it’s sometimes a week +before I can catch up to them again.”</p> +<p>“For, in spite of their size, elephants can travel very +fast, and once they get on the go, nothing can stop them. An +airship would be the very thing to hunt elephants with in +Africa—an airship and this electric rifle. I wonder why you +haven’t thought of going, Tom Swift.”</p> +<p>“I have thought of it,” answered the young inventor, +“and that’s why I asked you in. I want to talk about +it.”</p> +<p>“Do you mean you want to go?” demanded the old man +eagerly.</p> +<p>“I certainly do!”</p> +<p>“Then I’m your man! Say, Tom Swift, I’d be +proud to have you go to Africa with me. I’d be proud to have +you a member of my hunting party, and, though I don’t like to +boast, still if you’ll ask any of the big-game people +they’ll tell you that not every one can accompany Aleck +Durban.”</p> +<p>Tom realized that he was speaking to an authority and a most +desirable companion, should he go to Africa, and he was very glad +of the chance that had made him acquainted with the veteran +hunter.</p> +<p>“Will you go with me?” asked Mr. Durban. “You +and your electric gun and your airship? Will you come to Africa to +hunt elephants, and help me get the big tusks I’m +after?”</p> +<p>“I will!” exclaimed Tom.</p> +<p>“Then we’ll start at once. There’s no need of +delaying here any longer.”</p> +<p>“Oh, but I haven’t an airship ready,” said the +young inventor. The face of the old hunter expressed his +disappointment.</p> +<p>“Then we’ll have to give up the scheme,” he +said ruefully.</p> +<p>“Not at all,” Tom told him. “I have all the +material on hand for building a new airship. I have had it in mind +for some time, and I have done some work on it. I stopped it to +perfect my electric rifle, but, now that is done, I’ll tackle +the Black Hawk again, and rush that to completion.”-</p> +<p>“The Black Hawk?” repeated Mr. Durban, +wonderingly.</p> +<p>“Yes, that’s what I will name my new craft. The RED +CLOUD was destroyed, and so I thought I’d change the color +this time, and avoid bad luck.”</p> +<p>“Good!” exclaimed the hunter. “When do you +think you can have it finished?”</p> +<p>“Oh, possibly in a month—perhaps sooner, and then we +will go to Africa and hunt elephants!”</p> +<p>“Bless my ivory paper cutter!” exclaimed a voice in +the hall just outside the library. “Bless my fingernails! But +who’s talking about going to Africa?”</p> +<p>The old hunter looked at Tom and his father in surprise, but the +young inventor laughing and going to the door, called out:</p> +<p>“Come on in, Mr. Damon. I didn’t hear you ring. +There is some one here from your town.”</p> +<p>“Is it my wife?” asked the odd gentleman who was +always blessing something. “She said she was going to her +mother’s to spend a few weeks, and so I thought I’d +come over here and see if you had anything new on the program. The +first thing I hear is that you are going to Africa. And so +there’s some one from Waterford in there, eh? Is it my +wife?”</p> +<p>“No,” answered Tom with another laugh. “Come +on in Mr. Damon.”</p> +<p>“Bless my toothpick!” exclaimed the odd gentleman, +as he saw the grizzled elephant hunter sitting between Tom and Mr. +Swift. “I have seen you somewhere before, my dear +sir.”</p> +<p>“Yes,” admitted Mr. Durban, “if you’re +from Waterford you have probably seen me traveling about the +streets there. I’m stopping with my sister, Mrs. Douglass, +but I can’t stand it to be in the house much, so I’m +out of doors, wandering about a good bit of the time. I miss my +jungle. But we’ll soon be in Africa, Tom Swift and +me.”</p> +<p>“Is it possible, Tom?” asked Mr. Damon. “Bless +my diamond mines! but what are you going to do next?”</p> +<p>“It’s hard to say,” was the answer. “But +you came just in time. Mr. Damon. I’m going to rush work on +the Black Hawk, my newest airship, and we’ll leave for +elephant land inside of a month, taking my new electric rifle +along. Will you come”</p> +<p>“Bless my penknife! I never thought of such a thing. +I—I—guess— no, I don’t know about +it—yes, I’ll go!” he suddenly exclaimed. +“I’ll, go! Hurrah for the elephants!” and he +jumped up and shook hands in turn with Mr. Durban, to whom he had +been formally introduced, and with Tom and Mr. Swift.</p> +<p>“Then it’s all settled but the details,” +declared the youth, “and now I’ll call in Mr. Jackson, +and we’ll talk about how soon we can have the airship +ready.”</p> +<p>“My, but you folks are almost as speedy as a herd of the +big elephants themselves!” exclaimed Mr. Durban, and with the +advent of the engineer the talk turned to things mechanical among +Tom and Mr. Jackson and Mr. Damon, while Mr. Durban told Mr. Swift +hunting stories which the old inventor greatly enjoyed.</p> +<p>The next day Tom engaged two machinists who had worked for him +building airships before, and in the next week rush work began on +the new Black Hawk. Meanwhile Mr. Durban was a frequent visitor at +Tom’s home, where he learned to use the new rifle, declaring +it was even more wonderful than he had at first supposed.</p> +<p>“That will get the elephants!” he exclaimed. It did, +as you shall soon learn, and it also was the means of saving +several lives in the wilds of the African jungle.</p> +<h3>CHAPTER VI</h3> +<h2><a id="Ch_6" name="Ch_6"></a>NEWS FROM ANDY</h2> +<p class="returnTOC"><a href="#Contents">Return to Table of +Contents</a></p> +<p>Tom Swift’s former airship, the Red Cloud, had been such a +fine craft, and had done such good service that he thought, in +building a successor, that he could do no better than to follow the +design of the skyship which had been destroyed in the ice caves. +But, on talking with the old elephant hunter, and learning +something of the peculiarities of the African jungle the young +inventor decided on certain changes.</p> +<p>In general the Black Hawk would be on the lines of the Red Cloud +but it would be smaller and lighter and would also be capable of +swifter motion.</p> +<p>“You want it so that it will rise and descend quickly and +at sharp angles,” said Mr. Durban.</p> +<p>“Why,” inquired Tom.</p> +<p>“Because in Africa, at least in the part where we will go, +there are wide patches of jungle and forest, with here and there +big open places. If you are skimming along close to the ground, in +an open place, in pursuit of a herd of elephants and they should +suddenly plunge into the forest, you would want to be able to rise +above the trees quickly.”</p> +<p>“That’s so,” admitted Tom. “Then +I’ll have to use a smaller gas bag than we had on the other +ship, for the air resistance to that big one made us go slowly at +times.”</p> +<p>“Will it be as safe with a small bag?” Mr. Damon +wanted to know.</p> +<p>“Yes, for I will use a more powerful gas, so that we will +be more quickly lifted,” said the young inventor. “I +will also retain the aeroplane feature, so that the Black Hawk will +be a combined biplane and dirigible balloon. But it will have many +new features. I have the plans all drawn for a new style of gas +generating apparatus, and I think it can be made in +time.”</p> +<p>There were busy days about the Swift home. Mrs. Baggert, the +housekeeper, was in despair. She said the good meals she got ready +were wasted, because no one would come to table when they were +ready. She would ring the bell, and announce that dinner would be +served in five minutes.</p> +<p>Then Tom would shout from his workshop that he could not leave +until he had inserted a certain lever in place. Mr. Jackson would +positively decline to sit down until he had screwed fast some part +of a machine. Even Mr. Swift, who, because of his recent illness, +was not allowed to do much, would often delay his meal to test some +new style of gears.</p> +<p>As for Mr. Damon, it was to be expected that he would be +eccentric as he always was. He was not an expert mechanic, but he +knew something of machinery and was of considerable help to Tom in +the rush work on the airship. He would hear the dinner bell ring, +and would exclaim:</p> +<p>“Bless my napkin ring! I can’t come now. I have to +fix up this electrical register first.”</p> +<p>And so it would go. Eradicate and Boomerang, his mule, were the +only ones who ate regularly, and they always insisted on stopping +at exactly twelve o’clock to partake of the noonday meal.</p> +<p>“‘Cause ef I didn’t,” explained the +colored man, “dat contrary mule ob mine would lay down in de +dust ob de road an’ not move a step, lessen’ he got his +oats. So dat’s why we has t’ eat, him an’ +me.”</p> +<p>“Well, I’m glad there’s some one who’s +got sense,” murmured Mrs. Baggert. Eradicate and Boomerang +were of great service in the hurried work that followed, for the +colored man in his cart brought from town, or from the freight +depot, many things that Tom needed.</p> +<p>The young inventor was very enthusiastic about his proposed +trip, and at night, after a hard day’s work in the shop, he +would read books on African hunting, or he would sit and listen to +the stories told by Mr. Durban. And the latter knew how to tell +hunting tales, for he had been long in his dangerous calling, and +had had many narrow escapes.</p> +<p>“And there are other dangers than from elephants and wild +beasts in Africa,” he said.</p> +<p>“Bless my toothbrush!” exclaimed Mr. Damon. +“Do you mean cannibals, Mr. Durban?”</p> +<p>“Some cannibals,” was the reply. “but +they’re not the worst. I mean the red pygmies. I hope we +don’t get into their clutches.”</p> +<p>“Red pygmies!” repeated Tom, wonderingly.</p> +<p>“Yes, they’re a tribe of little creatures, about +three feet high, covered with thick reddish hair, who live in the +central part of Africa, near some of the best elephant-hunting +ground. They are wild, savage and ferocious, and what they lack +individually in strength, they make up in numbers. They’re +like little red apes, and woe betide the unlucky hunter who falls +into their merciless hands. They treat him worse than the cannibals +do.”</p> +<p>“Then we’ll look out for them,” said Tom. +“But I fancy my electric rifle will make them give us a wide +berth.”</p> +<p>“It’s a great gun,” admitted the old hunter +with a shake of his head, “but those red pygmies are terrible +creatures. I hope we don’t get them on our trail. But tell +me, Tom, how are you coming on with the airship? for I don’t +know much about mechanics, and to me it looks as if it would never +be put together. I’s like one of those queer puzzles +I’ve seen ’em selling in the streets of +London.”</p> +<p>“Oh, it’s nearer ready than it looks to be,” +said Tom. “We’ll have it assembled, and ready for a +trial in about two weeks more.”</p> +<p>Work on the Black Hawk was rushed more than ever in the next few +days, another extra machinist being engaged. Then the craft began +to assume shape and form, and with the gas bag partly inflated and +the big planes stretching out from either side, it began to look +something like the ill-fated Red Cloud.</p> +<p>“It’s going to be a fine ship!” cried Tom +enthusiastically, one day, as he went to the far side of the ship +to get a perspective view of it. “We’ll make good time +in this.”</p> +<p>“Are you going to sail all the way to Africa—across +the ocean—in her?” asked Mr. Durban, in somewhat +apprehensive tones.</p> +<p>“Oh, no,” replied Tom. “I believe she would be +capable of taking us across the ocean, but there is no need of +running any unnecessary risks. I want to get her safely to Africa, +and have her do stunts in elephant land.”</p> +<p>“Then what are your plans?” asked the hunter.</p> +<p>“We’ll put her together here,” said Tom, +“give her a good try-out to see that she works well, and then +pack her up for shipment to the African coast by steamer. +We’ll go on the same ship, and when we arrive we’ll put +the Black Hawk together again, and set sail for the +interior.”</p> +<p>“Good idea,” commented Mr. Durban. “Now, if +you’ve no objections, I’m going to do a little practice +with the electric rifle.”</p> +<p>“Go ahead,” assented Tom. “There comes Ned +Newton; he’ll be glad of a chance for a few shots while I +work on this new propeller motor. It just doesn’t suit +me.”</p> +<p>The bank clerk, who had arranged to go to Africa with Tom, was +seen advancing toward the aeroplane shed. In his hand Ned held a +paper, and as he saw Tom he called out:</p> +<p>“Have you heard the news?”</p> +<p>“What news?” inquired the young inventor.</p> +<p>“About Andy Foger. He and his aeroplane are +lost!”</p> +<p>“Lost!” cried Tom, for in spite of the mean way the +bully had treated him our hero did not wish him any harm.</p> +<p>“Well, not exactly lost,” went on Ned, as he held +out the paper to Tom, “but he and his sky-craft have +disappeared.”</p> +<p>“Disappeared?”</p> +<p>“Yes. You know he and that German, Mr. Landbacher, went +over to Europe to give some aviation exhibitions. Well, I see by +this paper that they went to Egypt, and were doing a high-flying +stunt there, when a gale sprang up, they lost control of the +aeroplane and it was swept out of sight.”</p> +<p>“In which direction; out to sea?”</p> +<p>“No, toward the interior of Africa.”</p> +<p>“Toward the interior of Africa!” cried Tom. +“And that’s where we’re going in a couple of +weeks. Andy in Africa!”</p> +<p>“‘Maybe we’ll see him there,” suggested +Ned.</p> +<p>“Well, I certainly hope we do not!” exclaimed Tom, +as he turned back to his work, with an undefinable sense of fear in +his heart.</p> +<h3>CHAPTER VII</h3> +<h2><a id="Ch_7" name="Ch_7"></a>THE BLACK HAWK FLIES</h2> +<p class="returnTOC"><a href="#Contents">Return to Table of +Contents</a></p> +<p>It was with no little surprise that the news of the plight that +was said to have befallen Andy Foger was received by Tom and his +associates. The newspaper had quite an account of the affair, and, +even allowing the usual discount for the press dispatches, it +looked as if the former bully was in rather distressing +circumstances.</p> +<p>“He won’t have to be carried very far into Africa to +be in a bad country,” said the old hunter. “Of course, +some parts of the continent are all right, and for me, I like it +all, where there’s hunting to be had. But I guess your young +friend Foger won’t care for it.”</p> +<p>“He’s no friend of ours.” declared Ned, as Tom +was reading the newspaper account. “Still, I don’t wish +him any bad luck, and I do hope he doesn’t become the captive +of the red pygmies.”</p> +<p>“So do I,” echoed the old hunter fervently. There +was no news of Andy in the papers the next day, though there were +cable dispatches speculating on what might have happened to him and +the airship. In Shopton the dispatches created no little comment, +and it was said that Mr. Foger was going to start for Africa at +once to rescue his son. This, however, could not he confirmed.</p> +<p>Meanwhile Tom and his friends were very busy over the Black +Hawk. Every hour saw the craft nearer completion, for the young +inventor had had much experience in this sort of work now, and knew +just how to proceed.</p> +<p>To Mr. Damon were intrusted certain things which he could well +attend to, and though he frequently stopped to bless his necktie or +his shoelaces, still he got along fairly well.</p> +<p>There would be no necessity of purchasing supplies in this +country, for they could get all they needed in the African city of +Majumba, on the western coast, where they planned to land. There +the airship would be put together, stocked with provisions and +supplies, and they would begin their journey inland. They planned +to head for Buka Meala, crossing the Congo River, and then go into +the very interior of the heart of the dark continent.</p> +<p>As we have described in detail, in the former books of this +series, the construction of Tom Swift’s airship, the Red +Cloud, and as the Black Hawk was made in a similar manner to that, +we will devote but brief space to it now. As the story proceeds, +and the need arises for a description of certain features, we will +give them to you, so that you will have a clear idea of what a +wonderful craft it was.</p> +<p>Sufficient to say that there was a gas bag, made of a light but +strong material, and capable of holding enough vapor, of a new and +secret composition, to lift the airship with its load. This was the +dirigible-balloon feature of the craft, and with the two powerful +propellers, fore and aft (in which particular the Black Hawk +differed from the Red Cloud which had two forward +propellers);—with these two powerful wooden screws, as we +have said, the new ship could travel swiftly without depending on +the wing planes.</p> +<p>But as there is always a possibility of the gas bag being +punctured, or the vapor suddenly escaping from one cause or +another, Tom did not depend on this alone to keep his craft afloat. +It was a perfect aeroplane, and with the gas bag entirely empty +could be sent scudding along at any height desired. To enable it to +rise by means of the wings, however, it was necessary to start it +in motion along the ground, and for this purpose wheels were +provided.</p> +<p>There was a large body or car to the craft, suspended from +beneath the gas bag, and in this car were the cabins, the living, +sleeping and eating apartments, the storerooms and the engine +compartment.</p> +<p>This last was a marvel of skill, for it contained besides the +gas machine, and the motor for working the propellers, dynamos, +gages, and instruments for telling the speed and height, motors for +doing various pieces of work, levers, wheels, cogs, gears, tanks +for storing the lifting gas, and other features of interest.</p> +<p>There were several staterooms for the use of the young captain +and the passengers, an observation and steering tower, a +living-room, where they could all assemble as the ship was sailing +through the air, and a completely equipped kitchen.</p> +<p>This last was Mr. Damon’s special pride, as he was a sort +of cook, and he liked nothing better than to get up a meal when the +craft was two or three miles high, and scudding along at +seventy-five miles an hour.</p> +<p>In addition there were to be taken along many scientific +instruments, weapons of defense and offense, in addition to the +electric rifle, and various other objects which will be spoken of +in due time.</p> +<p>“Well,” remarked Tom Swift one afternoon, following +a hard day’s work in the shop, “I think, if all goes +well, and we have good weather, I’ll give the Black Hawk a +trial tomorrow.”</p> +<p>“Do you think it will fly?” asked Ned.</p> +<p>“There is no telling,” was the answer of the young +inventor. “These things are more or less guesswork, even when +you make two exactly alike. As far as I can tell, we have now a +better craft than the Red Cloud was, but it remains to be seen how +she will behave.”</p> +<p>They worked late that night, putting the finishing touches on +the Black Hawk, and in the morning the new airship was wheeled out +of the shed, and placed on the level starting ground, ready for the +trial flight.</p> +<p>Only the bare machinery was in her, as yet, and the gas bag had +not been inflated as Tom wanted to try the plane feature first. But +the vapor machine was all ready to start generating the gas +whenever it was needed. Nor was the Black Hawk painted and +decorated as she would be when ready to be sent to Africa. On the +whole, she looked rather crude as she rested there on the bicycle +wheels, awaiting the starting of the big propellers. As the stores +and supplies were not yet in, Tom took aboard, in addition to Mr. +Damon, Ned, his father, Mr. Jackson and Mr. Durban, some bags of +sand to represent the extra weight that would have to be +carried.</p> +<p>“If she’ll rise with this load she’ll +do,” announced the young inventor, as he went carefully over +the craft, looking to see that everything was in shape.</p> +<p>“If she does rise it will be a new experience for +me,” spoke the old elephant hunter. “I’ve never +been in an airship before. It doesn’t seem possible that we +can get up in the air with this machine.”</p> +<p>“Maybe we won’t,” spoke Tom, who was always a +little diffident about a new piece of machinery.</p> +<p>“Well, if it doesn’t do it the first time, it will +the second, or the fifty-second,” declared Ned Newton. +“Tom Swift doesn’t give up until he +succeeds.”</p> +<p>“Stop it! You’ll make me blush!” cried the +Black Hawk’s owner as he tried the different gages and levers +to see that they were all right.</p> +<p>After what seemed like a long time he gave the word for those +who were to make the trial trip to take their places. They did so, +and then, with Mr. Jackson, Tom went to the engine room. There was +a little delay, due to the fact that some adjustment was necessary +on the main motor. But at last it was fixed.</p> +<p>“Are you all ready?” called Tom.</p> +<p>“All ready,” answered Mr. Damon. The old elephant +hunter sat in a chair, nervously gripping the arms, and with a grim +look on his tanned face. Mr. Swift was cool, as Ned, for they had +made many trips in the air. Outside were Eradicate Sampson and Mrs. +Baggert.</p> +<p>“Here we go!” suddenly cried Tom, and he yanked over +the lever that started the main motor and propellers. The Black +Hawk trembled throughout her entire length. She shivered and shook. +Faster and faster whirled the great wooden screws. The motor hummed +and throbbed.</p> +<p>Slowly the Black Hawk moved across the ground. Then she gathered +speed. Now she was fairly rushing over the level space. Tom Swift +tilted the elevation rudder, and with a suddenness that was +startling, at least to the old elephant hunter, the new airship +shot upward on a steep, slant.</p> +<p>“The Black Hawk flies!” yelled Ned Newton. +“Now for elephant land and the big tusks!”</p> +<p>“Yes, and perhaps for the red pygmies, too,” added +Tom in a low voice. Then he gave his whole attention to the +management of his new machine, which was rapidly mounting upward, +with a speed rivalling that of his former big craft.</p> +<h3>CHAPTER VIII</h3> +<h2><a id="Ch_8" name="Ch_8"></a>OFF FOR AFRICA</h2> +<p class="returnTOC"><a href="#Contents">Return to Table of +Contents</a></p> +<p>Higher and higher went the Black Hawk, far above the earth, +until the old elephant hunter, looking down, said in a voice which +he tried to make calm and collected, but which trembled in spite of +himself:</p> +<p>“Of course I’m not an expert at this game, Tom +Swift, but it looks to me as if we’d never get down. +Don’t you think we’re high enough?”</p> +<p>“For the time being, yes,” answered the young +inventor. “I didn’t think she’d climb so far +without the use of the gas. She’s doing well.”</p> +<p>“Bless my topknot, yes!” exclaimed Mr. Damon. +“She beats the Red Cloud, Tom. Try her on a straight-away +course.”</p> +<p>Which the youth did, pointing the nose of the craft along +parallel to the surface of the earth, and nearly a mile above it. +Then, increasing the speed of the motor, and with the big +propellers humming, they made fast time.</p> +<p>The old elephant hunter grew more calm as he saw that the +airship did not show any inclination to fall, and he noted that Tom +and the others not only knew how to manage it, but took their fight +as much a matter of course as if they were in an automobile +skimming along on the surface of the ground.</p> +<p>Tom put his craft through a number of evolutions, and when he +found that she was in perfect control as an aeroplane, he started +the gas machine, filled the big black bag overhead, and, when it +was sufficiently buoyant, he shut off the motor, and the Black Hawk +floated along like a balloon.</p> +<p>“That’s what we’ll do if our power happens to +give out when we get over an African jungle, with a whole lot of +wild elephants down below, and a forest full of the red pygmies +waiting for us,” explained Tom to Mr. Durban.</p> +<p>“And I guess you’ll need to do it, too,” +answered the hunter. “I don’t know which I fear worse, +the bad elephants wild with rage, as they get some times, or the +little red men who are as strong as gorillas, and as savage as +wolves. It would be all up with us if we got into their hands. But +I think this airship will be just what we need in Africa. I’d +have been able to get out of many a tight place if I had had one on +my last trip.”</p> +<p>While the Black Hawk hung thus, up the air, not moving, save as +the wind blew her, Tom with his father and Mr. Jackson made an +inspection of the machinery to find out whether it had been +strained any. They found that it had worked perfectly, and soon the +craft was in motion again, her nose this time being pointed toward +the earth. Tom let out some of the gas, and soon the airship was on +the ground in front of the shed she had so recently left.</p> +<p>“She’s all right,” decided the young inventor +after a careful inspection. “I’ll give her a couple +more trials, put on the finishing touches and then we’ll be +ready for our trip to Africa. Have you got everything arranged to +go, Ned?”</p> +<p>“Sure. I have a leave of absence from the bank, thanks to +your father and Mr. Damon, most of my clothes are packed, +I’ve bought a gun and I’ve got a lot of quinine in case +I get a fever.”</p> +<p>“Good!” cried the elephant hunter. +“You’ll do all right, I reckon. I’m glad I met +you young fellows. Well, I’ve lived through my first trip in +the air, which is more than I expected when I started.”</p> +<p>They discussed their plans at some length, for, now that the +airship had proved all that they had hoped for, it would not be +long ere they were under way. In the days that followed Tom put the +finishing touches on the craft, arranged to have it packed up for +shipment, and spent some time practicing with his electric rifle. +He got to be an expert shot, and Mr. Durban, who was a wonder with +the ordinary rifle, praised the young inventor highly.</p> +<p>“There won’t many of the big tuskers get away from +you, Tom Swift,” he said. “And that reminds me, I got a +letter the other day, from the firm I collect ivory for, stating +that the price had risen because of a scarcity, and urging me to +hurry back to Africa and get all I could. It seems that war has +broken out among some of the central African tribes, and they are +journeying about in the jungle, on the war path here and there, and +have driven the elephants into the very deepest wilds, where the +ordinary hunters can’t get at them.”</p> +<p>“Maybe we won’t have any luck, either,” +suggested Ned.</p> +<p>“Oh, yes, we will,” declared the hunter. “With +our airship, the worst forest of the dark continent won’t +have any terrors for us, for we can float above it. And the fights +of the natives won’t have any effect. In a way, this will be +a good thing, for with the price of ivory soaring, we can make more +money than otherwise. There’s a chance for us all to get a +lot of money.”</p> +<p>“Bless my piano keys!” exclaimed Mr. Damon, +“if I can get just one elephant, and pull out his big ivory +teeth, I’ll be satisfied. I want a nice pair of tusks to set +up on either side of my fireplace for ornaments.”</p> +<p>“A mighty queer place for such-like ornaments,” said +Mr. Durban in a low voice. Then he added: “Well, the sooner +we get started the better I’ll like it, for I want to get +that pair of big tusks for a special customer of mine.”</p> +<p>“I’ll give the Black Hawk one more trial flight, and +then take her apart and ship her,” decided Tom, and the final +flight, a most successful one, took place the following day.</p> +<p>Then came another busy season when the airship was taken apart +for shipment to the coast of Africa by steamer. It was put into big +boxes and crates, and Eradicate and his mule took them to the +station in Shopton.</p> +<p>“Don’t you want to come to Africa with us, +Rad?” asked Tom, when the last of the cases had been sent +off. “You’ll find a lot of your friends +there.”</p> +<p>“No, indeedy, I doan’t want t’ go,” +answered the colored man, “though I would like to see dat +country.”</p> +<p>“Then why don’t you come?”</p> +<p>“Hu! Yo’ think, Massa Tom, dat I go anywhere dat I +might meet dem little red men what Massa Durban talk about? No, +sah, dey might hurt mah mule Boomerang.”</p> +<p>“Oh, I wasn’t going to take the mule along,” +said Tom, wondering how the creature might behave in the +airship.</p> +<p>“Not take Boomerang? Den I SUTTINLY ain’t +goin,” and Eradicate walked off, highly offended, to give +some oats to his faithful if somewhat eccentric steed.</p> +<p>After the airship had been sent off there yet remained much for +Tom Swift to do. He had to send along a number of special tools and +appliances with which to put the ship together again, and also some +with which to repair the craft in case of accident. So that this +time was pretty well occupied. But at length everything was in +readiness, and with his electric rifle knocked down for +transportation, and with his baggage, and that of the others, all +packed, they set off one morning to take the train for New York, +where they would get a steamer for Africa.</p> +<p>Numerous good-bys had been said, and Tom had made a farewell +call on Mary Nestor, promising to bring her some trophy from +elephant land, though he did not quite know what it would be.</p> +<p>Mr. Damon, as the train started, blessed everything he could +think of. Mr. Swift waved his hand and wished his son and the +others good luck, feeling a little lonesome that he could not make +one of the party. Ned was eager with excitement, and anticipation +of what lay before him. Tom Swift was thinking of what he could +accomplish with his electric rifle, and of the wonderful sights he +would see, and, as for the old elephant hunter, he was very glad to +be on the move again, after so many weeks of idleness, for he was a +very active man.</p> +<p>Their journey to New York was uneventful, and they found that +the parts of the airship had safely arrived, and had been taken +aboard the steamer. The little party went aboard themselves, after +a day spent in sight-seeing, and that afternoon the Soudalar, which +was the vessel’s name, steamed away from the dock at high +tide.</p> +<p>“Off for Africa!” exclaimed Tom to Ned, as they +stood at the rail, watching the usual crowd wave farewells. +“Off for Africa, Ned.”</p> +<p>As Tom spoke, a gentleman who had been standing near him and his +chum, vigorously waving his hand to some one on the pier, turned +quickly. He looked sharply at the young inventor for a moment, and +then exclaimed:</p> +<p>“Well, if it isn’t Tom Swift! Did I hear you say you +were going to Africa?”</p> +<p>Tom looked at the gentleman with rather a puzzled air for a +moment. The face was vaguely familiar, but Tom could not recall +where he had seen it. Then it came to him in a flash.</p> +<p>“Mr. Floyd Anderson!” exclaimed our hero. “Mr. +Anderson of—”</p> +<p>“Earthquake Island!” exclaimed the gentleman +quickly, as he extended his hand. “I guess you remember that +place, Tom Swift.”</p> +<p>“Indeed I do. And to think of meeting you again, and on +this African steamer,” and Tom’s mind went back to the +perilous days when his wireless message had saved the castaways of +Earthquake Island, among whom were Mr. Anderson and his wife.</p> +<p>“Did I hear you say you were going to Africa?” asked +Mr. Anderson, when he had been introduced to Ned, and the others in +Tom’s party.</p> +<p>“That’s where we’re bound for,” answered +the lad. “We are going to elephant land. But where are you +going, Mr. Anderson?”</p> +<p>“Also to Africa, but not on a trip for pleasure or profit +like yourselves. I have been commissioned by a missionary society +to rescue two of its workers from the heart of the dark +continent.”</p> +<p>“Rescue two missionaries?” exclaimed Tom, +wonderingly.</p> +<p>“Yes, a gentleman and his wife, who, it is reported, have +fallen into the hands of a race known as the red pygmies, who hold +them captives!”</p> +<h3>CHAPTER IX</h3> +<h2><a id="Ch_9" name="Ch_9"></a>ATTACKED BY A WHALE</h2> +<p class="returnTOC"><a href="#Contents">Return to Table of +Contents</a></p> +<p>Surprise at Mr. Anderson’s announcement held Tom silent +for a moment. That the gentleman whom he had been the means of +rescuing, among others, from Earthquake Island, should be met with +so unexpectedly, was quite a coincidence, but when it developed +that he was bound to the same part of the African continent as were +Tom and his friends, and when he said he hoped to rescue some +missionaries from the very red pygmies so feared by the old +elephant hunter—this was enough to startle any one.</p> +<p>“I see that my announcement has astonished you,” +said Mr. Anderson, as he noted the look of surprise on the face of +the young inventor.</p> +<p>“It certainly has! Why, that’s where we are bound +for, in my new airship. Come down into our cabin, Mr. Anderson, and +tell us all about it. Is your wife with you?”</p> +<p>“No, it is too dangerous a journey on which to take her. I +have little hope of succeeding, for it is now some time since the +unfortunate missionaries were captured, but I am going to do my +best, and organize a relief expedition when I get to +Africa.”</p> +<p>Tom said nothing at that moment, but he made up his mind that if +it was at all possible he would lend his aid, that of his airship, +and also get his friends to assist Mr. Anderson. They went below to +a special cabin that had been reserved for Tom’s party, and +there, as the ship slowly passed down New York Bay, Mr. Anderson +told his story.</p> +<p>“I mentioned to you, when we were on Earthquake +Island,” he said to Tom, “that I had been in Africa, +and had done some hunting. That is not my calling, as it is that of +your friend, Mr. Durban, but I know the country pretty well. +However, I have not been there in some time.”</p> +<p>“My wife and I are connected with a church in New York +that, several years ago, raised a fund and sent two missionaries, +Mr. and Mrs. Jacob Illingway, to the heart of Africa. They built up +a little mission there, and for a time all went well, and they did +good work among the natives.”</p> +<p>“They are established in a tribe of friendly black men, of +simple nature, and, while the natives did not become Christianized +to any remarkable extent, yet they were kind to the missionaries. +Mr. and Mrs. Illingway used frequently to write to members of our +church, telling of their work. They also mentioned the fact that +adjoining the country of the friendly blacks there was a tribe of +fierce little red men,—red because of hair of that color all +over their bodies.”</p> +<p>“That’s right,” agreed Mr. Durban, shaking his +head solemnly. “They’re red imps, too!”</p> +<p>“Mr. Illingway often mentioned in his letters,” went +on Mr. Anderson, “that there were frequent fights between the +pygmies and the race of blacks, but the latter had no great fear of +their small enemies. However, it seems that they did not take +proper precautions, for not long ago there was a great battle, the +blacks were attacked by a large force of the red pygmies, who +overwhelmed them by numbers, and finally routed them, taking +possession of their country.”</p> +<p>“What became of the missionaries?” asked Ned +Newton.</p> +<p>“I’ll tell you,” said Mr. Anderson. “For +a long time we heard nothing, beyond the mere news of the fight, +which we read of in the papers. The church people were very anxious +about the fate of Mr. and Mrs. Illingway, and were talking of +sending a special messenger to inquire about them, when a cablegram +came from the headquarters of the society in London.”</p> +<p>“It seems that one of the black natives, named Tomba, who +was a sort of house servant to Mr. and Mrs. Illingway, escaped the +general massacre, in which all his friends were killed. He made his +way through the jungle to a white settlement, and told his story, +relating how the two missionaries had been carried away captive by +the pygmies.”</p> +<p>“A terrible fate,” commented Mr. Durban.</p> +<p>“Yes, they might better be dead, from all the accounts we +can hear,” went on Mr. Anderson.</p> +<p>“Bless my Sunday hat! Don’t say that!” +exclaimed Mr. Damon. “Maybe we can save them, Mr. +Anderson.”</p> +<p>“That is what I am going to try to do, though it may be +too late. As soon as definite news was received, our church held a +meeting, raised a fund, and decided to send me off to find Mr. and +Mrs. Illingway, if alive, or give them decent burial, if I could +locate their bones. The reason they selected me was because I had +been in Africa, and knew the country.”</p> +<p>“I made hurried arrangements, packed up, said good-by to +my wife, and here I am. But to think of meeting you, Tom Swift! And +to hear that you are also going to Africa. I wish I could command +an airship for the rescue. It might be more easily +accomplished!”</p> +<p>“That’s just what I was going to propose!” +exclaimed Tom. “We are going to the land of the red pygmies, +and while I have promised to help Mr. Durban in getting ivory, and +while I want to try my electric rifle on big game, still we can do +both, I think. You can depend on us, Mr. Anderson, and if the Black +Hawk can be of any service to you in the rescue, count us +in!”</p> +<p>“Gosh!” cried the former castaway of Earthquake +Island. “This is the best piece of luck I could have! Now +tell me all about your plans.” which Tom and the others did, +listening in turn, to further details about the missionaries.</p> +<p>Just how they would go to work to effect the rescue, or how they +could locate the particular tribe of little red men who had Mr. and +Mrs. Illingway, they did not know.</p> +<p>“We may be able to get hold of this Tomba,” said Mr. +Durban. “If not I guess between Mr. Anderson and myself we +can get on the trail, somehow. I’m anxious to get to the +coast, see the airship put together again, and start for the +interior.”</p> +<p>“So am I,” declared Tom, as he got out his electric +rifle, and began to put it together, for he wanted to show Mr. +Anderson how it worked.</p> +<p>They had a pleasant and uneventful voyage for two weeks. The +weather was good, and, to tell the truth, it was rather monotonous +for Torn and the others, who were eager to get into activity again. +Then came a storm, which, while it was not dangerous, yet gave them +plenty to think and talk about for three days. Then came more calm +weather, when the Soudalar plowed along over gently heaving +billows.</p> +<p>They were about a week from their port of destination, which vas +Majumba, on the African coast, when, one afternoon, as Tom and the +others were in their cabin, they heard a series of shouts on deck, +and the sound of many feet running to and fro.</p> +<p>“Something has happened!” exclaimed the young +inventor.</p> +<p>Tom raced for the companionway, and was soon on deck, followed +by Mr. Durban and the others. They saw a crowd of sailors and +passengers leaning over the port rail.</p> +<p>“What’s the matter?” asked Tom, of the second +mate, who was just passing.</p> +<p>“Fight between a killer and a whale,” was the reply. +“The captain has ordered the ship to lay-to so it can be +watched.”</p> +<p>Tom made his way to the rail. About a quarter of a mile away +there could be observed a great commotion in the ocean. Great +bodies seemed to be threshing about, beating the water to foam, +and, with the foam could be seen bright blood mingled. Occasionally +two jets of water, as from some small fountain, would shoot +upward.</p> +<p>“He’s blowing hard!” exclaimed one of the +sailors. “I guess he’s about done for!”</p> +<p>“Which one?” asked Tom.</p> +<p>“The whale,” was the reply. “The killer has +the best of the big fellow,” and the sailor quickly explained +how the smaller killer fish, by the peculiarity of its attack, and +its great ferocity, often bested its larger antagonist.</p> +<p>The battle was now at its height, and Tom and the others were +interested spectators. At times neither of the big creatures could +be seen, because of the smother of foam in which they rolled and +threshed about. The whale endeavored to sound, or go to the bottom, +but the killer stuck to him relentlessly.</p> +<p>Suddenly, however, as Tom looked, the whale, by a stroke of his +broad tail, momentarily stunned his antagonist. Instantly realizing +that he was free the great creature, which was about ninety feet +long, darted away, swimming on the surface of the water, for he +needed to get all the air possible.</p> +<p>Quickly acquiring momentum, the whale came on like a locomotive, +spouting at intervals, the vapor from the blowholes looking not +unlike steam from some submarine boat.</p> +<p>“He looks to be heading this way,” remarked Mr. +Durban to Tom.</p> +<p>“He is,” agreed the young inventor, “but I +guess he’ll dive before he gets here. He only wants to get +away from the killer. Look, the other one is swimming this way, +too!”</p> +<p>“Bless my harpoon, but he sure is!” called Mr. +Damon. “They’ll renew the fight near here.”</p> +<p>But he was mistaken, for the killer, after coming a little +distance after the whale, suddenly turned, hesitated for a moment, +and then disappeared in the depths of the ocean.</p> +<p>The whale, however, continued to come on, speeding through the +water with powerful strokes. There was an uneasy movement among +some of the passengers.</p> +<p>“Suppose he strikes the ship,” suggested one +woman.</p> +<p>“Nonsense! He couldn’t,” said her husband.</p> +<p>“The old man had better get under way, just the +same,” remarked a sailor near Tom, as he looked up at the +bridge where the captain was standing.</p> +<p>The “old man,” or commander, evidently thought the +same thing, for, after a glance at the oncoming leviathan, which +was still headed directly for the vessel, he shoved the lever of +the telegraph signal over to “full speed ahead.”</p> +<p>Hardly had he done so than the whale sank from sight.</p> +<p>“Oh, I’m so glad!” exclaimed the woman who had +first spoken of the possibility of the whale hitting the ship, +“I am afraid of those terrible creatures.”</p> +<p>“They’re as harmless as a cow, unless they get +angry,” said her husband.</p> +<p>Slowly the great ship began to move through the water. Tom and +his friends were about to go back to their cabin, for they thought +the excitement over, when, as the young inventor turned from the +rail, he felt a vibration throughout the whole length of the +steamer, as if it had hit on a sand-bar.</p> +<p>Instantly there was a jangling of bells in the engine room, and +the Soudalar lost headway.</p> +<p>“What’s the matter?” asked several +persons.</p> +<p>They were answered a moment later, for the big whale, even +though grievously wounded in his fight with the killer, had risen +not a hundred feet away from the ship, and was coming toward it +with the speed of an express train.</p> +<p>“Bless my blubber!” cried Mr. Damon. “We must +have hit the whale, or it hit us under the water and now it’s +going to attack us!”</p> +<p>He had no more than gotten the words out of his mouth ere the +great creature of the deep came on full tilt at the vessel, struck +it a terrific blow which made it tremble from stem to stern, and +careen violently.</p> +<p>There was a chorus of frightened cries, sailors rushed to and +fro, the engine-room bells rang violently, and the captain and +mates shouted hoarse orders.</p> +<p>“Here he comes again!” yelled Mr. Durban, as he +hurried to the side of the ship. “The whale takes us for an +enemy, I guess. and he’s going to ram us again!”</p> +<p>“And if he does it many times, he’ll start the +plates and cause a leak that won’t be stopped in a +hurry!” cried a sailor as he rushed past Tom.</p> +<p>The young inventor looked at the oncoming monster for a moment, +and then started on the run for his cabin.</p> +<p>“Here! Where are you going?” cried Mr. Damon, but +Tom did not answer.</p> +<h3>CHAPTER X</h3> +<h2><a id="Ch_10" name="Ch_10"></a>OFF IN THE AIRSHIP</h2> +<p class="returnTOC"><a href="#Contents">Return to Table of +Contents</a></p> +<p>As Tom Swift hurried down the companionway he again felt the +ship careen as the whale struck it a powerful blow, and he was +almost knocked off his feet. But he kept on.</p> +<p>Below he found some frightened men and women, a number of whom +were adjusting life preservers about them, under the impression +that the ship had struck a rock and was going down. They had not +been up on deck, and did not know of the battle between the killer +and the whale, nor what followed.</p> +<p>“Oh, I know we’re sinking!” cried one timid +woman. “What has happened?” she appealed to Tom.</p> +<p>“It will be all right in a little while,” he assured +her.</p> +<p>“But what is it? I want to know. Have we had a +collision.”</p> +<p>“Yes, with a whale,” replied Tom, as he grabbed up +something from his stateroom, and again rushed up on deck. As he +reached it the whale came on once more, and struck the ship another +terrific blow. Then the monster sank and could be seen swimming +back, just under the surface of the water, getting ready to renew +the attack.</p> +<p>“He’s going to ram us again!” cried Mr. Damon. +“Bless my machine oil! Why doesn’t the captain do +something?”</p> +<p>At that moment the commander cried from the bridge:</p> +<p>“Send a man below, Mr. Laster, to see if we are making any +water. Then tell half a dozen of the sailors to get out the rifles, +and see if they can’t kill the beast. He’ll put us in +Davy Jones’s locker if he keeps this up! Lively now, +men!”</p> +<p>The first mate, Mr. Laster, called out the order. A sailor went +below to see if the ship was leaking much, and the captain rang for +full speed ahead. But the Soudalar was slow in getting under way +again, and, even at top speed she was no match for the whale, which +was again rushing toward the vessel.</p> +<p>“Quick with those rifles!” cried the captain. +“Fire a volley into the beast!”</p> +<p>“There’s no need!” suddenly called Mr. Damon, +who had caught sight of Tom Swift, and the object which the lad +carried.</p> +<p>“No need?” demanded the commander. “Why, has +the whale sunk, or made off?”</p> +<p>“No,” answered the eccentric man, “the whale +is still coming on, but Tom Swift will fix him. Get there, Tom, and +let him have a good one!”</p> +<p>“What sort of a gun is that?” demanded the commander +as the young inventor took his place at the rail, which was now +almost deserted.</p> +<p>Tom did not answer. Bracing himself against the rolling and +heaving of the vessel, which was now under about half speed, Tom +aimed his electric rifle at the oncoming leviathan. He looked at +the automatic gage, noted the distance and waiting a moment until +the crest of a wave in front of the whale had subsided, he pressed +the button.</p> +<p>If those watching him expected to hear a loud report, and see a +flash of flame, they were disappointed. There was absolutely no +sound, but what happened to the whale was most surprising.</p> +<p>The great animal stopped short amid a swirl of foam, and the +next instant it seemed to disintegrate. It went all to pieces, just +as had the dummy figure which Tom on one occasion fired at with his +rifle and as had the big packing-cases. The whale appeared to +dissolve, as does a lump of sugar in a cup of hot tea, and, five +seconds after Tom Swift had fired his electric gun, there was not a +sign of the monster save a little blood on the calm sea.</p> +<p>“What—what happened?” asked the captain in +bewilderment. “Is—is that monster gone?”</p> +<p>“Completely gone!” cried Mr. Damon. “Bless my +powder horn, Tom, but I knew you could do it!”</p> +<p>“Is that a new kind of whale gun, firing an explosive +bullet?” inquired the commander, as he came down off the +bridge and shook hands with Tom. “If it is, I’d like to +buy one. We may be rammed again by another whale.”</p> +<p>“This is my new, electric rifle,” explained the +young inventor modestly, “and it fires wireless charges of +electricity instead of bullets. I’m sorry I can’t let +you have it, as it’s the only one I have. But I guess no more +whales will ram us. That one was evidently crazed by the attack of +the killer, and doubtless took us for another of its +enemies.”</p> +<p>Sailors and passengers crowded around Tom, eager to shake his +hand, and to hear about the gun. Many declared that he had saved +the ship.</p> +<p>This was hardly true, for the whale could not have kept up its +attacks much longer. Still he might have done serious damage, by +causing a leak, and, while the Soudalar was a stanch craft, with +many water-tight compartments, still no captain likes to be a week +from land with a bad leak, especially if a storm comes up. Then, +too, there was the danger of a panic among the passengers, had the +attacks been kept up, so, though Tom wanted to make light of his +feat, the others would not let him.</p> +<p>“You’re entitled to the thanks of all on +board,” declared Captain Wendon, “and I’ll see +that the owners hear of what you did. Well, I guess we can go on, +now. I’ll not stop again to see a fight between a killer and +a whale.”</p> +<p>The steamer resumed her way at full speed, and the sailor, who +had gone below, came up to report that there was only a slight +leak, which need not cause any uneasiness.</p> +<p>Little was talked of for the next few days but the killing of +the whale, and Tom had to give several exhibitions of his electric +rifle, and explain its workings. Then, too, the story of his +expedition became known, and also the object of Mr. +Anderson’s quest, and Tom’s offer of aid to help rescue +the missionaries, so that, altogether, our hero was made much of +during the remainder of the voyage.</p> +<p>“Well, if your gun will do that to a whale, what will it +do to an elephant?” asked Mr. Durban one morning, when they +were within a day’s steaming of their port. “I’m +afraid it’s almost too strong, Tom. It will leave +nothing—not even the tusks to pick up.”</p> +<p>“Oh, I can regulate the power,” declared the lad. +“I used full force on the whale, just to see what it would +do. It was the first tine I’d tried it on anything alive. I +can so regulate the charge that it will kill even an elephant, and +leave scarcely a mark on the beast.”</p> +<p>“I’d like to see it done,” remarked the old. +hunter.</p> +<p>“I’ll show you, if we sight any sharks,” +promised Tom. He was able to keep his word for that afternoon a +school of the ugly fish followed the steamer for the sake of the +food scraps thrown overboard. Tom took his position in the stern, +and gave an exhibition of shooting with his electric gun that +satisfied even Mr. Durban, exacting as he was.</p> +<p>For the lad, by using his heaviest charges, destroyed the +largest sharks so that they seemed to instantly disappear in the +water, and from that he toned down the current until he could kill +some of the monsters so easily and quickly that they seemed to +float motionless on the surface, yet there was no life left in them +once the electric charge touched them.</p> +<p>“We’ll use the light charges when we’re +killing elephants for their tusks,” said Tom, “and the +heavy ones when we’re in danger from a rush of the +beasts.”</p> +<p>He little knew how soon he would have to put his plan into +effect.</p> +<p>They arrived safely at Majumba, the African coast city, and for +two days Tom was kept busy superintending the unloading of the +parts of his airship. But it was safely taken ashore, and he and +his friends hired a disused warehouse in which to work at +reassembling the Black Hawk.</p> +<p>Tom had everything down to a system, and, in less than a week +the aircraft was once more ready to be sent aloft. It was given a +try- out, much to the astonishment of the natives, and worked +perfectly. Then Tom and his friends busied themselves laying in a +stock of provisions and stores for the trip into the interior.</p> +<p>They made inquiries about the chances of getting ivory and were +told that they were good if they went far enough into the jungle +and forests, for the big beasts had penetrated farther and farther +inland.</p> +<p>They also tried to get some news regarding the captive +missionaries, but were unsuccessful nor could they learn what had +become of Tomba, who had brought the dire news to civilization.</p> +<p>“It’s too soon to hope for anything yet,” said +Mr. Anderson. “Wait until we get near the country of the red +pygmies.”</p> +<p>“And then it may be too late,” said Tom in a low +voice.</p> +<p>It was two weeks after their arrival in Majumba that Tom +announced that all was in readiness. The airship was in perfect +working order, it was well stocked with food, arms, articles and +trinkets with which to trade among the natives, spare parts for the +machinery, special tools and a good supply of the chemicals needed +to manufacture the lifting gas.</p> +<p>Of course Tom did not leave behind his electric weapon and Mr. +Durban and the others took plenty of ammunition for the ordinary +rifles which they carried.</p> +<p>One morning, after cabling to his father that they were about to +start, Tom gave a last careful look to his airship, tested the +motor and dynamos, took a hasty survey of the storeroom, to see +that nothing had been forgotten, and gave the word to get +aboard.</p> +<p>They took their places in the cabin. Outside a crowd of natives, +and white traders of many nationalities had gathered. Tom pulled +the starting lever. The Black Hawk shot across a specially prepared +starting ground, and, attaining sufficient momentum, suddenly arose +into the air.</p> +<p>There was a cheer from the watching crowd, and several +superstitious blacks, who saw the airship for the first time, ran +away in terror.</p> +<p>Up into the blue atmosphere Tom took his craft. He looked down +on the city over which he was flying. Then he pointed the prow of +the Black Hawk toward the heart of the dark continent.</p> +<p>“Off for the interior!” he murmured. “I wonder +if we’ll ever get out again?”</p> +<p>No one could answer. They had to take their chances with the +dangers and terrors of elephant land, and with the red pygmies. Yet +Tom Swift was not afraid.</p> +<h3>CHAPTER XI</h3> +<h2><a id="Ch_11" name="Ch_11"></a>ANCHORED TO EARTH</h2> +<p class="returnTOC"><a href="#Contents">Return to Table of +Contents</a></p> +<p>With the voyage on the steamer, their arrival in Africa, the +many strange sights of the city of Majumba, and the refitting of +the airship, our friends had hardly had time to catch their breath +since Tom Swift’s determination to go elephant hunting. Now, +as the Black Hawk was speeding into the interior, they felt, for +the first time in many weeks, that they “could take it +easy,” as Ned Newton expressed it.</p> +<p>“Thank goodness,” said the bank clerk, “I can +sit down and look at something for a while,” and he gazed out +of the main cabin windows down at the wild country over which they +were then flying.</p> +<p>For, so swiftly had the airship moved that it was hardly any +time at all before it had left Majumba far behind, and was scudding +over the wilderness.</p> +<p>“Bless my camera,” exclaimed Mr. Damon, who had +brought along one of the picture machines, “bless my camera! +I don’t call that much to look at,” and he pointed to +the almost impenetrable forest over which they then were.</p> +<p>“No, it isn’t much of a view,” said the old +elephant hunter, “but wait. You’ll soon see all you +want to. Africa isn’t all like this. There are many strange +sights before us yet. But, Tom Swift, tell us how the airship is +working in this climate. Do you find any difficulty managing +it?”</p> +<p>“Not at all,” answered Tom, who was in the cabin +then, having set the automatic steering apparatus in the pilot +house, and come back to join the others. “It works as well as +it did in good old York State. Of course I can’t tell what +affect the continual hot and moist air will have on the gas bag, +but I guess we’ll make out all right.”</p> +<p>“I certainly hope so,” put in Mr. Anderson. +“It would be too bad to be wrecked in the middle of Africa, +with no way to get out.”</p> +<p>“Oh, you needn’t worry about that,” said Ned +with a laugh. “If the airship should smash, Tom would build +another out of what was left, and we’d sail away as good as +before.”</p> +<p>“Hardly that,” answered the young inventor.</p> +<p>“But we won’t cross a bridge until we hear it +coming, as Eradicate would say. Hello, that looks like some sort of +native village.”</p> +<p>He pointed ahead to a little clearing in the forest, where a +number of mud and grass huts were scattered about. As they came +nearer they could see the black savages, naked save for a loin +cloth, running about in great excitement, and pointing upward.</p> +<p>“Yes, that’s one of the numerous small native +villages we’ll see from now on,” said Mr. Durban. +“Many a night have I spent in those same grass huts after a +day’s hunting. Sometimes, I’ve been comfortable, and +again not. I guess we’ve given those fellows a +scare.”</p> +<p>It did seem so, for by this time the whole population, including +women and children, were running about like mad. Suddenly, from +below there sounded a deep booming noise, which came plainly to the +ears of the elephant hunters through the opened windows of the +airship cabin.</p> +<p>“Hark! What’s that?” cried Tom, raising his +hand for silence.</p> +<p>“Bless my umbrella! it sounds like thunder,” said +Mr. Damon.</p> +<p>“No, it’s one of their war drums,” explained +Mr. Durban. “The natives make large ones out of hollow trees, +with animal skins stretched over the ends, and they beat them to +sound a warning, or before going into battle. It makes a great +noise.”</p> +<p>“Do you think they want to fight us?” asked Ned, +looking anxiously at Tom, and then toward where his rifle stood in +a corner of the cabin.</p> +<p>“No, probably that drum was beaten by some of the native +priests,” explained the hunter. “The natives are very +superstitious, and likely they took us for an evil spirit, and +wanted to drive us away.”</p> +<p>“Then we’ll hustle along out of their sight,” +said Tom, as he went to the pilot house to increase the speed of +the airship, for he had been letting it drift along slowly to +enable the adventurers to view the country over which they were +passing. A few minutes later, under the increased force of the +machinery, the Black Hawk left the native village, and the crowd of +frightened blacks, far behind.</p> +<p>The travelers passed over a succession of wild stretches of +forest or jungle, high above big grassy plains, over low but rugged +mountain ranges, and big rivers. Now and then they would cross some +lake, on the calm surface of which could be made out natives, in +big canoes, hollowed out from trees. In each case the blacks showed +every appearance of fright at the sight of the airship throbbing +along over their heads.</p> +<p>On passing over the lake, Ned Newton looked down and cried out +excitedly:</p> +<p>“Look! Elephants! They’re in swimming, and the +natives are shooting them! Now’s our chance, Tom!”</p> +<p>Mr. Anderson and Mr. Durban, after a quick glance, drew back +laughing.</p> +<p>“Those are hippopotami!” exclaimed the old elephant +man. “Good hunting, if you don’t care what you shoot, +but not much sport in it. It will be some time yet before we see +any elephants, boys.”</p> +<p>Ned was rather chagrined at his mistake, but the African +travelers told him that any one, not familiar with the country, +would have made it, especially in looking down from a great +height.</p> +<p>They sailed along about half a mile above the earth, Tom +gradually increasing the speed of the ship, as he found the +machinery to be working well. Dinner was served as they were +crossing a high grassy plateau, over which could be seen bounding a +number of antelopes.</p> +<p>“Some of those would go good for a meal,” said Mr. +Durban, after a pause during which he watched the graceful +creatures.</p> +<p>“Then we’ll go down and get some for supper,” +decided Tom, for in that hot climate it was impossible to carry +fresh meat on the airship.</p> +<p>Accordingly, the Black Hawk was sent down, and came to rest in a +natural clearing on the edge of the jungle. After waiting until the +fierce heat of noonday was over, the travelers got out their rifles +and, under the leadership of Mr. Durban and Mr. Anderson, who was +also an experienced hunter, they set off.</p> +<p>Game was plentiful, but as they could only eat a comparatively +small quantity, and as it would not keep, they only shot what they +needed. Tom had his electric rifle, but hesitated to use it, as Mr. +Durban and Mr. Anderson had each already bowled over a fine +buck.</p> +<p>However, a chance came most unexpectedly, for, as they were +passing along the banks of a little stream, which was almost hidden +from view by thick weeds and rank grass, there was a sudden +commotion in the bushes, and a fierce wild buffalo sprang out at +the party.</p> +<p>There are few animals in Africa more dreaded by hunters than the +wild buffalo, for the beast, with its spreading sharp horns is a +formidable foe, and will seldom give up the attack until utterly +unable to move. They are fierce and relentless.</p> +<p>“Look out!” yelled Mr. Durban. “To cover, +everybody! If that beast gets after you it’s no fun! You and +I will fire at him, Mr. Anderson!”</p> +<p>Mr. Durban raised his rifle, and pulled the trigger, but, for +some reason, the weapon failed to go off. Mr. Anderson quickly +raised his, but his foot slipped in a wet place and he fell. At +that moment the buffalo, with a snort of rage, charged straight for +the fallen man.</p> +<p>“Tom! your electric rifle!” yelled Ned Newton, but +he need not have done so, for the young inventor was on the +alert.</p> +<p>Taking instant aim, and adjusting his weapon for the heaviest +charge, Tom fired at the advancing beast. The result was the same +as in the case of the whale, the buffalo seemed to melt away. And +it was stopped only just in time, too, for it was close to the +prostrate Mr. Anderson, who had sprained his ankle slightly, and +could not readily rise.</p> +<p>It was all over in a few seconds, but it was a tense time while +it lasted.</p> +<p>“You saved my life again, Tom Swift,” said Mr. +Anderson, as he limped toward our hero. “Once on Earthquake +Island, and again now. I shan’t forget it,” and he +shook hands with the young inventor.</p> +<p>The others congratulated Tom on his quick shot, and Mr. Damon, +as usual blessed everything in sight, and the electric rifle +especially.</p> +<p>They went back to the airship, taking the fresh meat with them, +but on account of the injury to Mr. Anderson’s ankle could +not make quick progress, so that it was almost dusk when they +reached the craft.</p> +<p>“Well, we’ll have supper, and then start off,” +proposed Tom, “I don’t think it would be wise to remain +on the ground so near the jungle.”</p> +<p>“No’ it’s safer in the air,” agreed Mr. +Durban. The meal was much enjoyed, especially the fresh meat, and, +after it was over, Tom took his place in the pilot house to start +the machinery, and send the airship aloft.</p> +<p>The motor hummed and throbbed, and the gas hissed into the bag, +for the ground was not level enough to permit of a running start by +means of the planes. Lights gleamed from the Black Hawk and the big +search-lantern in front cast a dazzling finger of light into the +black forest.</p> +<p>“Well, what are you waiting for?” called Ned, who +heard the machinery in motion, but who could not feel the craft +rising. “Why don’t you go up, Tom?”</p> +<p>“I’m trying to,” answered the young inventor. +“Something seems to be the matter.” He pulled the speed +lever over a few more notches, and increased the power of the gas +machine. Still the Black Hawk did not rise.</p> +<p>“Bless my handkerchief box!” cried Mr. Damon, +“what’s the matter?”</p> +<p>“I don’t know,” answered Tom. “We seem +to be held fast.”</p> +<p>He further increased the speed of the propellers, and the gas +machine was set to make vapor at its fullest capacity, and force it +into the bag. Still the craft was held to the earth.</p> +<p>“Maybe the gas has no effect in this climate,” +called Ned.</p> +<p>“It can’t be that,” replied Tom. “The +gas will operate anywhere. It worked all right today.”</p> +<p>Suddenly she airship moved up a little way, and then seemed to +be pulled down again, hitting the ground with a bump.</p> +<p>“Something is holding us!” cried Tom. +“We’re anchored to earth! I must see what it is!” +and, catching up his electric rifle, he dashed out of the +cabin.</p> +<h3>CHAPTER XII</h3> +<h2><a id="Ch_12" name="Ch_12"></a>AMONG THE NATIVES</h2> +<p class="returnTOC"><a href="#Contents">Return to Table of +Contents</a></p> +<p>For a moment after Tom’s departure the others stared +blankly at one another. They could hear the throbbing and hum of +the machinery, and feel the thrill of the anchored airship. But +they could not understand what the trouble was.</p> +<p>“We must help Tom!” cried Ned Newton at length as he +caught up his rifle. “Maybe we are in the midst of a herd of +elephants, and they have hold of the ship in their +trunks.”</p> +<p>“It couldn’t be!” declared Mr. Durban, yet +they soon discovered that Ned’s guess was nearer the truth +then any of them had suspected at the time.</p> +<p>“We must help him, true enough!” declared Mr. +Anderson, and he and the others followed Ned out on deck.</p> +<p>“Where are you Tom?” called his chum.</p> +<p>“Here.” was the answer. “I’m on the +forward deck.”</p> +<p>“Do you see anything?”</p> +<p>“No, it’s too dark. Turn the search-light this +way.”</p> +<p>“I will,” shouted Mr. Damon, and a moment later the +gleam of the powerful lantern brought Tom clearly into view, as he +stood on the small forward observation platform in the bow of the +Black Hawk.</p> +<p>An instant later the young inventor let out a startled cry.</p> +<p>“What is it?” demanded Mr. Durban.</p> +<p>“An immense snake!” shouted Tom. “It’s +wound around a tree, and partly twined around the ship! +That’s why we couldn’t go up! I’m going to shoot +it.”</p> +<p>They looked to where he pointed, and there, in the glare of the +light, could be seen an immense python, fully twenty-five feet +long, the forward part of its fat ugly body circled around the +slender prow of the airship, while the folds of the tail were about +a big tree.</p> +<p>Tom Swift raised his electric rifle, took quick aim, and, having +set it to deliver a moderate charge, pressed the button. The result +was surprising, for the snake being instantly killed the folds +uncoiled and the ship shot upward, only, instead of rising on an +even keel, the bow pointed toward the sky, while the stern was +still fast to the earth. Tilted at an angle of forty-five degrees +the Black Hawk was in a most peculiar position, and those standing +on the deck began to slide along it.</p> +<p>“There’s another snake at the stern!” cried +Mr. Damon as he grasped a brace to prevent falling off. +“Bless my slippers! it’s the mate of the one you +killed! Shoot the other one, Tom!”</p> +<p>The young inventor needed no urging. Making his way as best he +could to the stern of the airship, he killed the second python, +which was even larger than the first, and in an instant the Black +Hawk shot upward, this time level, and as it should be. Things on +board were soon righted, and the travelers could stand upright. +High above the black jungle rose the craft, moving forward under +the full power of the propellers, until Tom rushed into the engine +room, and reduced speed.</p> +<p>“Well, talk about things happening!” exclaimed Ned, +when they had somewhat recovered from the excitement. “I +should say they were beginning with a vengeance!”</p> +<p>“That’s the way in Africa,” declared Mr. +Durban. “It’s a curious country. Those pythons +generally go in pairs, but it’s the first time I ever knew +them to tackle an airship. They probably stay around here where +there is plenty of small game for them, and very likely they merely +anchored to our craft while waiting for a supper to come +along.”</p> +<p>“It was a very odd thing,” said Tom. “I +couldn’t imagine what held us. After this I’ll see that +all is clear before I try to go up. Next time we may he held by a +troop of baboons and it strains the machinery to have it pull +against dead weight in that way.”</p> +<p>However, it was found no harm had resulted from this experience, +and, after reducing the gas pressure, which was taking them too +high, Tom set the automatic rudders.</p> +<p>“We’ll keep on at slow speed through the +night,” he explained, “and in the morning we’ll +be pretty well into the interior. Then we can lay our course for +wherever we want to go. Where had we better head for?”</p> +<p>“I don’t want to interfere with your plans,” +said Mr. Anderson, “but I would like to rescue those +missionaries. But the trouble is, I don’t know just where to +look for them. We couldn’t get much of a line in Majumba on +where the country of the red pygmies is located. What do you think +about it, Mr. Durban?”</p> +<p>“As far as elephant hunting goes we can probably do as +well in the pygmy land as anywhere else,” answered the +veteran, “and perhaps it will be well to head for that place. +If we run across any elephant herds in the meanwhile, we can stop, +get the ivory, and proceed.”</p> +<p>They discussed this plan at some length, and agreed that it was +the best thing to do. Mr. Durban had a map of the country around +the center of Africa, and he marked on it, as nearly as he could, +the location of the pygmies’ country, while Mr. Anderson also +had a chart, showing the location of the mission which had been +wiped out of existence. It was in the midst of a wild and desolate +region.</p> +<p>“We’ll do the best we can,” declared Tom, +“and I think we’ll succeed. We ought to be there in +about a week, if we have no bad luck.”</p> +<p>All that night the Black Hawk flew on over Africa, covering mile +after mile, passing over jungle, forest, plains, rivers and lakes, +and, doubtless, over many native villages, though they could not be +seen.</p> +<p>Morning found the travelers above a great, grassy plain, dotted +here and there with negro settlements which were separated by +rivers, lakes or thin patches of forest.</p> +<p>“Well, we’ll speed up a bit,” decided Tom +after breakfast, which was eaten to the weird accompaniment of +hundreds of native warning- drums, beaten by the superstitious +blacks.</p> +<p>Tom went to the engine room, and turned on more speed. He was +about to go back to the pilot house, to set the automatic steering +apparatus to coincide with the course mapped out, when there was a +crash of metal, an ominous snapping and buzzing sound, followed by +a sudden silence.</p> +<p>“What’s that?” cried Ned, who was in the motor +compartment with his chum.</p> +<p>“Something’s gone wrong!” exclaimed the young +inventor, as he sprang back toward the engine. The propellers had +ceased revolving, and as there was no gas in the bag at that time, +it having been decided to save the vapor for future needs, the +Black Hawk began falling toward the earth.</p> +<p>“We’re going down!” yelled Ned.</p> +<p>“Yes, the main motor has broken!” exclaimed Tom. +“We’ll have to descend to repair it.”</p> +<p>“Say!” yelled Mr. Damon, rushing in, +“we’re right over a big African village! Are we going +to fall among the natives?”</p> +<p>“It looks that way,” admitted Tom grimly, as he +hastened to the pilot house to shift the wings so that the craft +could glide easily to the ground.</p> +<p>“Bless my shoe blacking!” cried the eccentric man as +he heard the beating of drums, and the shouts of the savages.</p> +<p>A little later the airship had settled into the midst of a crowd +of Africans, who swarmed all about the craft.</p> +<h3>CHAPTER XIII</h3> +<h2><a id="Ch_13" name="Ch_13"></a>ON AN ELEPHANT TRAIL</h2> +<p class="returnTOC"><a href="#Contents">Return to Table of +Contents</a></p> +<p>“Get ready with your guns, everybody!” cried the old +elephant hunter, as he prepared to leave the cabin of the Black +Hawk. “Tom Swift, don’t forget your electric rifle. +There’ll be trouble soon!”</p> +<p>“Bless my cartridge belt!” gasped Mr. Damon. +“Why? What will happen?”</p> +<p>“The natives,” answered Mr. Durban. +“They’ll attack us sure as fate! See, already +they’re getting out their bows and arrows, and blowguns! +They’ll pierce the gas bag in a hundred places!”</p> +<p>“If they do, it will be a bad thing for us,” +muttered Tom. “We can’t have that happen.”</p> +<p>He followed the old elephant hunter outside, and Mr. Anderson, +Ned Newton and Mr. Damon trailed after, each one with a gun, while +Tom had his electric weapon. The airship rested on its wheels on +some level ground, just in front of a large hut, surrounded by a +number of smaller ones. All about were the natives, tall, gaunt +black men, hideous in their savagery, wearing only the loin cloth, +and with their kinky hair stuck full of sticks, bones and other odd +objects they presented a curious sight.</p> +<p>Some of them were dancing about, brandishing their +weapons—clubs spears, bows, and arrows, or the long, slender +blowguns, consisting merely of a hollow reed. Women and children +there were, too, also dancing and leaping about, howling at the +tops of their voices. Above the unearthly din could be heard the +noise of the drums and tom-toms, while, as the adventurers drew up +in front of their airship, there came a sort of chant, and a line +of natives, dressed fantastically in the skins of beasts, came +filing out of the large hut.</p> +<p>“The witch-doctors!” exclaimed Tom, who had read of +them in African travel books.</p> +<p>“Are they going to attack us?” cried Ned.</p> +<p>“Bless my hymn book! I hope not!” came from Mr. +Damon. “We wouldn’t have any chance at all in this +horde of black men. I wish Eradicate Sampson and his mule Boomerang +were here. Maybe he could talk their language, and tell them that +we meant no harm.”</p> +<p>“If there’s any talking to be done, I guess our guns +will have to do it,” said Tom grimly.</p> +<p>“I can speak a little of their language,” remarked +Mr. Durban, “but what in the world are the beggars up to, +anyhow? I supposed they’d send a volley of arrows at us, +first shot, but they don’t seem to be going to do +that.”</p> +<p>“No, they’re dancing around us,” said Tom.</p> +<p>“That’s it!” exclaimed Mr. Anderson. “I +have it! Why didn’t I think of it before? The natives are +welcoming us!”</p> +<p>“Welcoming us?” repeated Ned.</p> +<p>“Yes,” went on the missionary seeker. “They +are doing a dance in our honor, and they have even called out the +witch-doctors to do us homage.”</p> +<p>“That’s right,” agreed Mr. Durban, who was +listening to the chanting of the natives dressed in animal skins. +“They take us for spirits from another land, and are making +us welcome here. Listen, I’ll see if I can make out what else +they are saying.”</p> +<p>The character of the shouts and chants changed abruptly, and the +dancing increased in fervor, even the children throwing themselves +wildly about. The witch-doctors ran around like so many maniacs, +and it looked as much like an American Indian war dance as anything +else.</p> +<p>“I’ve got it!” shouted Mr. Durban, for he had +to call loudly to be heard above the din. “They are asking us +to make it rain. It seems there has been a dry spell here, and +their own rain-makers and witch-doctors haven’t been able to +get a drop out of the sky. Now, they take it that we have come to +help them. They think we are going to bring rain.”</p> +<p>“And if we don’t, what will happen?” asked +Tom.</p> +<p>“Maybe they won’t be quite so glad to see us,” +was the answer.</p> +<p>“Well, if they don’t mean war, we might as well put +up our weapons,” suggested Mr. Anderson. “If +they’re going to be friendly, so much the better, and if it +should happen to rain while we’re here, they’d think we +brought it, and we could have almost anything we wanted. Perhaps +they have a store of ivory hidden away, Mr. Durban. Some of these +tribes do.”</p> +<p>“It’s possible, but the chances for rain are very +small. How long will we have to stay here, Tom Swift?” asked +the elephant hunter anxiously.</p> +<p>“Well, perhaps I can get the motor mended in two or three +days,” answered the young inventor.</p> +<p>“Then we’ll have to stay here in the +meanwhile,” decided Mr. Durban. “Well, we’ll make +the best of it. Ha, here comes the native king to do us +honor,” and, as he spoke there came toward the airship a +veritable giant of a black man, wearing a leopard skin as a royal +garment, while on his head was a much battered derby hat, probably +purchased at a fabulous price from some trader. The king, if such +he could be called, was accompanied by a number of attendants and +witch-doctors. In front walked a small man, who, as it developed, +was an interpreter. The little cavalcade advanced close to the +airship, and came to a halt. The king made a low bow, either to the +craft or to the elephant hunters drawn up in front of it. His +attendants followed his example, and then the interpreter began to +speak.</p> +<p>Mr. Durban listened intently, made a brief answer to the little +man, and then the elephant hunter’s face lighted up.</p> +<p>“It’s all right,” he said to Tom and the +others. “The king takes us for wonderful spirits from another +land. He welcomes us, says we can have whatever we want, and he +begs us to make it rain. I have said we will do our best, and I +have asked that some food be sent us. That’s always the first +thing to do. We’ll be allowed to stay here in peace until Tom +can mend the ship, and then we’ll hit the air trail +again.”</p> +<p>The talk between Mr. Durban and the interpreter continued for +some little time longer. Then the king went back to his hut, +refusing, as Mr. Durban said, an invitation to come aboard and see +how a modern airship was constructed. The natives, too, seemed +anxious to give the craft a wide berth.</p> +<p>The excitement had quieted down now, and, in a short tine a +crowd of native women came toward the airship, bearing, in baskets +on their heads, food of various kinds. There were bananas, some +wild fruits, yams, big gourds of goats’ milk, some boiled and +stewed flesh of young goats, nicely cooked, and other things, the +nature of which could only be guessed at.</p> +<p>“Shall we eat this stuff, or stick to Mr. Damon’s +cooking?” asked Tom.</p> +<p>“Oh, you’ll find this very good,” explained +Mr. Durban. “I’ve eaten native cookery before. Some of +it is excellent and as this appears to be very good, Mr. Damon can +have a vacation while we are here.”</p> +<p>The old elephant hunter proved the correctness of his statement +by beginning to eat, and soon all the travelers were partaking of +the food left by the native women. They placed it down on the +ground at a discreet distance from the airship, and hurriedly +withdrew. But if the women and men were afraid, the children were +not, and they were soon swarming about the ship, timidly touching +the sides with their little black fingers, but not venturing on +board.</p> +<p>Tom, with Ned and Mr. Damon to help him, began work on the motor +right after dinner. He found the break to be worse than he had +supposed, and knew that it would take at least four days to repair +it.</p> +<p>Meanwhile the airship continued to be a source of wonder to the +natives. They were always about it, save at night, but their +admiration was a respectful one. The king was anxious for the rain- +making incantations to begin, but Mr. Durban put him off.</p> +<p>“I don’t want to deceive these simple +natives,” he said, “and for our own safety we +can’t pretend to make rain, and fail. As soon as we have a +chance we’ll slip away from here.”</p> +<p>But an unexpected happening made a change in their plans. It was +on, the afternoon of their third day in the native village, and Tom +and his assistants were working hard at the motor. Suddenly there +seemed to be great excitement in the vicinity of the king’s +hut. A native had rushed into the village from the jungle, +evidently with some news, for presently the whole place was in a +turmoil.</p> +<p>Once more the king and his attendants filed out toward the +airship. Once more the interpreter talked to Mr. Durban, who +listened eagerly.</p> +<p>“By Jove! here’s our chance!” he cried to Tom, +when the little man had finished.</p> +<p>“What is it?” asked the young inventor.</p> +<p>“A runner has just come in with news that a large herd of +wild elephants is headed this way. The king is afraid the big +beasts will trample down all their crops, as often occurs, and he +begs us to go out and drive the animals away. It’s just what +we want. Come on, Tom, and all of you. The airship will be safe +here, for the natives think that to meddle with it would mean death +or enchantment for then. We’ll get on our first elephant +trail!”</p> +<p>The old hunter went into the cabin for his big game gun, while +Tom hastened to get out his electric rifle. Now he would have a +chance to try it on the powerful beasts which he had come to Africa +to hunt.</p> +<p>Amid the excited and joyous shouts of the natives, the hunters +filed out of the village, led by the dusky messenger who had +brought the news of the elephants. And, as Tom and the others +advanced, they could hear a distant trumpeting, and a crashing in +the jungle that told of the near presence of the great animals.</p> +<h3>CHAPTER XIV</h3> +<h2><a id="Ch_14" name="Ch_14"></a>A STAMPEDE</h2> +<p class="returnTOC"><a href="#Contents">Return to Table of +Contents</a></p> +<p>“Look to your guns, everybody!” cautioned Mr. +Durban. “It’s no joke to be caught in an elephant herd +with an unloaded rifle. Have you plenty of ammunition, Mr. +Damon?”</p> +<p>“Ammunition? Bless my powder bag, I think I have enough +for all the elephants I’ll kill. If I get one of the big +beasts I’ll be satisfied. Bless my piano keys! I think I see +them, Tom!”</p> +<p>He pointed off through the thick jungle. Surely something was +moving there amid the trees; great slate-colored bodies, massive +forms and waving trunks! The trumpeting increased, and the crashing +of the underbrush sounded louder and nearer.</p> +<p>“There they are!” cried Tom Swift joyously.</p> +<p>“Now for my first big game!” yelled Ned Newton.</p> +<p>“Take it easy,” advised Mr. Anderson. +“Remember to aim for the spot I mentioned to you as being the +best, just at the base of the skull. If you can’t make a head +shot, or through the eye, try for the heart. But with the big +bullets we have, almost any kind of a shot, near a vital spot, will +answer.”</p> +<p>“And Tom can fire at their TOES and put them out of +business,” declared Ned, who was eagerly advancing. +“How about it, Tom?”</p> +<p>“Well, I guess the electric rifle will come up to +expectations. Say, Mr. Durban, they seem to be heading this +way!” excitedly cried Tom, as the herd of big beasts suddenly +turned and changed their course.</p> +<p>“Yes, they are,” admitted the old elephant hunter +calmly. “But that won’t matter. Take it easy. Kill all +you can.”</p> +<p>“But we don’t want to put too many out of +business,” said Tom, who was not needlessly cruel, even in +hunting.</p> +<p>“I know that,” answered Mr. Durban. “But this +is a case of necessity. I’ve got to get ivory, and we have to +kill quite a few elephants to accomplish this. Besides the brutes +will head for the village and the natives’ grain fields, and +trample them down, if they’re not headed back. So all +together now, we’ll give them a volley. This is a good place! +There they are. All line up now. Get ready!”</p> +<p>He halted, and the others followed his example. The natives had +come to a stop some time before, and were huddled together in the +jungle back of our friends, waiting to see the result of the white +men’s shots.</p> +<p>Tom, Ned, Mr. Damon, and the two older hunters were on an +irregular line in the forest. Before them was the mass of elephants +advancing slowly, and feeding on the tender leaves of trees as they +came on. They would reach up with their long trunks, strip off the +foliage, and stuff it into their mouths. Sometimes, they even +pulled up small trees by the roots for the purpose of stripping +them more easily.</p> +<p>“Jove! There are some big tuskers in that bunch!” +cried Mr. Durban. “Aim for the bulls, every one, don’t +kill the mothers or little ones.” Tom now saw that there were +a number of baby Elephants in the herd, and he appreciated the +hunter’s desire to spare them and their mothers.</p> +<p>“Here we go!” exclaimed Mr. Durban, as he saw that +Tom and the others were ready. “Aim! Fire!”</p> +<p>There were thundering reports that awoke the echoes of the +jungle, and the sounds of the rifles were followed by shrill +trumpets of rage. When the smoke blew away three elephants were +seen prostrate, or, rather two, and part of another one. The last +vas almost blown to pieces by Tom Swift’s electric rifle; for +the young inventor had used a little too heavy charge, and the big +beast had been almost annihilated.</p> +<p>Mr. Durban had dropped his bull with a well-directed shot, and +Mr. Anderson had a smaller one to his credit.</p> +<p>“I guess I missed mine,” said Ned ruefully.</p> +<p>“Bless my dress-suit case!” exclaimed Mr. Damon. +“So did I!”</p> +<p>“One of you hit that fellow!” cried Mr. Durban. +“He’s wounded.”</p> +<p>He pointed to a fair-sized bull who was running wildly about, +uttering shrill cries of anger. The other beasts had gathered in a +compact mass, with the larger bulls, or tuskers, on the outside, to +protect the females and young.</p> +<p>“I’ll try a shot at him,” said Tom, and +raising his electric, gun, he took quick aim. The elephant dropped +in his tracks, for this time the young inventor had correctly +adjusted the power of the wireless bullet.</p> +<p>“Good!” cried Mr. Durban. “Give them some +more! This is some of the best ivory I’ve seen +yet!”</p> +<p>As he spoke he fired, and bowled over another magnificent +specimen. Ned Newton, determined to make a record of at least one, +fired again, and to his delight, saw a big fellow drop.</p> +<p>“I got him!” he yelled.</p> +<p>Mr. Anderson also got another, and then Mr. Damon, blessing +something which his friends could not make out, fired at one of the +largest bulls in the herd.</p> +<p>“You only nipped him!” exclaimed Mr. Durban when the +smoke had drifted away. “I guess I’ll put him out of +his misery!”</p> +<p>He raised his weapon and pulled the trigger but no report +followed. He uttered an exclamation of dismay.</p> +<p>“The breech-action has jammed!” he exclaimed. +“Drop him, Tom. He’s scented us, and is headed this +way. The whole herd will follow in a minute.”</p> +<p>Already the big brute wounded by Mr. Damon had trumpeted out a +cry of rage and defiance. It was echoed by his mates. Then, with +upraised trunk, he darted forward, followed by a score of big +tuskers.</p> +<p>But Tom had heard and understood. The leading beast had not +taken three steps before he dropped under the deadly and certain +fire of the young inventor.</p> +<p>“Bless my wishbone!” cried Mr. Damon when he saw how +effective the electric weapon was.</p> +<p>There was a shout of joy from the natives in the rear. They saw +the slain creatures and knew there would be much fresh meat and +feasting for them for days to come.</p> +<p>Suddenly Mr. Durban cried out: “Fire again, Tom! Fire +everybody! The whole herd is coming this way. If we don’t +stop them they’ll overrun the fields and village, anti may +smash the airship! Fire again!”</p> +<p>Almost as he spoke, the rush, which had been stopped +momentarily, when Tom dropped the wounded elephant, began again. +With shrill menacing cries the score of bulls in the lead came on, +followed this time by the females and the young.</p> +<p>“It’s a stampede!” yelled Mr. Anderson, firing +into the midst of the herd. Mr. Durban was working frantically at +his clogged rifle. Ned and Mr. Damon both fired, and Tom Swift, +adjusting his weapon to give the heaviest charges, shot a fusillade +of wireless bullets into the center of the advancing elephants, who +were now wild with fear and anger.</p> +<p>“It’s a stampede all right!” said Tom, when he +saw that the big creatures were not going to stop, in spite of the +deadly fire poured into them.</p> +<h3>CHAPTER XV</h3> +<h2><a id="Ch_15" name="Ch_15"></a>LIONS IN THE NIGHT</h2> +<p class="returnTOC"><a href="#Contents">Return to Table of +Contents</a></p> +<p>Shouting, screaming, imploring their deities in general, and the +white men in particular for protection, the band of frightened +natives broke and ran through the jungle, caring little where they +went so long as they escaped the awful terror of the pursuing herd +of maddened elephants. Behind them came Tom Swift and the others, +for it were folly to stop in the path of the infuriated brutes.</p> +<p>“Our only chance is to get on their flank and try to turn +them!” yelled Mr. Durban. “We may beat them in getting +to the clearing, for the trail is narrow. Run, +everybody!”</p> +<p>No one needed his excited advice to cause them to hurry. They +scudded along, Mr. Damon’s cap falling off in his haste. But +he did not stop to pick it up.</p> +<p>The hunters had one advantage. They were on a narrow but well- +cleared trail through the jungle, which led from the village where +they were encamped, to another, several miles away. This trail was +too small for the elephants, and, indeed, had to be taken in single +file by the travelers.</p> +<p>But it prevented the elephants making the same speed as did our +friends, for the jungle, at this point, consisted of heavy trees, +which halted the progress of even the strongest of the powerful +beasts. True, they could force aside the frail underbrush and the +small trees, but the others impeded their progress.</p> +<p>“We’ll get there ahead of them!” cried Tom. +“Have you got your rifle in working order yet, Mr. +Durban?”</p> +<p>“No, something has broken, I fear. We’ll have to +depend on your electric gun, Tom. Have you many charges +left?”</p> +<p>“A dozen or so. But Ned and the others have plenty of +ammunition.”</p> +<p>“Don’t count—on—me!” panted Mr. +Damon, who was well-nigh breathless from the run. +“I—can’t—aim—straight—any—more!”</p> +<p>“I’ll give ’em a few more bullets!” +declared Mr. Anderson.</p> +<p>The fleeing natives were now almost lost to sight, for they +could travel through the jungle, ignoring the trail, at high speed. +They were almost like snakes or animals in this respect. Their one +thought was to get to their village, and, if possible, protect +their huts and fields of grain from annihilation by the +elephants.</p> +<p>Behind our friends, trumpeting, bellowing and crashing came the +pachyderms. They seemed to be gaining, and Tom, looking back, saw +one big brute emerge upon the trail, and follow that.</p> +<p>“I’ve got to stop him, or some of the others will do +the same,” thought the young inventor. He halted and fired +quickly. The elephant seemed to melt away, and Tom with regret, saw +a pair of fine tusks broken to bits. “I used too heavy a +charge,” he murmured, as he took up the retreat again.</p> +<p>In a few minutes the party of hunters, who were now playing more +in the role of the hunted, came out into the open. They could hear +the natives beating on their big hollow tree drums, and on +tom-toms, while the witch-doctors and medicine men were chanting +weird songs to drive the elephants away.</p> +<p>But the beasts came on. One by one they emerged from the jungle, +until the herd was gathered together again in a compact mass. Then, +under the leadership of some big bulls, they advanced. It seemed as +if they knew what they were doing, and were determined to revenge +themselves by trampling the natives’ huts under their +ponderous feet.</p> +<p>But Tom and the others were not idle. Taking a position off to +one side, the young inventor began pouring a fusillade of the +electric bullets into the mass of slate-colored bodies. Mr. +Anderson was also firing, and Ned, who had gotten over some of his +excitement, was also doing execution. Mr. Durban, after vainly +trying to get his rifle to work, cast it aside. “Here! Let me +take your gun!” he cried to Mr. Damon, who, panting from the +run, was sitting beneath a tree.</p> +<p>“Bless my cartridge belt! Take it and welcome!” +assented the eccentric man. It still had several shots in the +magazine, and these the old hunter used with good effect.</p> +<p>At first it seemed as if the elephants could not be turned back. +They kept on rushing toward the village, which was not far away, +and Tom and the others followed at one side, as best they could, +firing rapidly. The electric rifle did fearful execution.</p> +<p>Emboldened by the fear that all their possessions would be +destroyed a body of the natives rushed out, right in front of the +elephants, and beat tom-toms and drums, almost under their feet, at +the same time singing wild songs.</p> +<p>“I’m afraid we can’t stop them!” +muttered Mr. Anderson. “We’d better hurry to the +airship, and protect that, Tom.”</p> +<p>But, almost as he spoke, the tide of battle turned. The +elephants suddenly swung about, and began a retreat. They could not +stand the hot fire of the four guns, including Tom’s fearful +weapon. With wild trumpetings they fled back into the jungle, +leaving a number of their dead behind.</p> +<p>“A close call,” murmured Tom, as he drew a breath of +relief. Indeed this was true, for the tide had turned when the +foremost elephants were not a hundred feet away from the first rows +of native huts.</p> +<p>“I should say it was,” agreed Ned Newton, wiping his +face with his handkerchief. He, as well as the others, was an +odd-looking sight. They were blackened by powder smoke, scratched +by briars, and red from exertion.</p> +<p>“But we got more ivory in this hour than I could have +secured in a week of ordinary hunting” declared Mr. Durban. +“If this keeps up we won’t have to get much more, +except that I don’t think any of the tusks to-day are large +enough for the special purpose of my customer.”</p> +<p>“The sooner we get enough ivory the quicker we can go to +the rescue of the missionaries,” said Mr. Anderson.</p> +<p>“That’s so,” remarked Tom. “We must not +forget the red pygmies.”</p> +<p>The natives were now dancing about, wild in delight at the +prospect of unlimited eating, and also thankful for what the white +men had done for them. Alone, the blacks would never have been able +to stop the stampede. They were soon busy cutting up the elephants +ready for a big feast, and runners were sent to tell neighboring +tribes, in adjoining villages, of the delights awaiting them.</p> +<p>Mr. Durban gave instructions about saving the ivory tusks, and +the valuable teeth, each pair worth about $1,000, were soon cut out +and put away for our friends. Some had been lost by the excessive +power of Tom’s gun, but this could not be helped. It was +necessary to stop the rush at any price.</p> +<p>There was soon a busy scene at the native village, and with the +arrival of other tribesmen it seemed as if Bedlam had broken loose. +The blacks chattered like so many children as they prepared for the +feast.</p> +<p>“Do white men ever eat elephant meat?” asked Mr. +Damon, as the adventurers were gathered about the airship.</p> +<p>“Indeed they do,” declared Mr. Durban. “Baked +elephant foot is a delicacy that few appreciate. I’ll have +the natives cook some for us.”</p> +<p>He gave the necessary orders, and the travelers had to admit +that it was worth coming far to get.</p> +<p>For the next few days and nights there was great feasting in +that African village, and the praises of the white men, and power +of Tom Swift’s electric rifle, were sung loud and long.</p> +<p>Our friends had resumed work on repairing the airship, and the +young inventor declared, one night, that they could proceed the +next day.</p> +<p>They were seated around a small campfire, watching the dancing +and antics of some natives who were at their usual work of eating +meat. All about our friends were numerous blazes for the cooking of +the feasts, and some were on the very edge of the jungle.</p> +<p>Suddenly, above the uncouth sounds of the merry-making, there +was heard a deep vibration and roar, not unlike the distant rumble +of thunder or the hum of a great steamer’s whistle heard afar +in the fog.</p> +<p>“What’s that?” cried Ned.</p> +<p>“Lions,” said Mr. Durban briefly. “They have +been attracted by the smell of cooking.”</p> +<p>At that moment, and instantly following a very loud roar, there +was an agonized scream of pain and terror. It sounded directly in +back of the airship.</p> +<p>“A lion!” cried Mr. Anderson. “One of the +brutes has grabbed a native!”</p> +<p>Tom Swift caught up his rifle, and darted off toward the dark +jungle.</p> +<h3>CHAPTER XVI</h3> +<h2><a id="Ch_16" name="Ch_16"></a>SEEKING THE MISSIONARIES</h2> +<p class="returnTOC"><a href="#Contents">Return to Table of +Contents</a></p> +<p>“Here! Come back!” yelled Mr. Damon and Mr. +Anderson, in the same breath, while the old elephant hunter cried +out: “Don’t you know you’re risking your life, +Tom to go off in the dark, to trail a lion?”</p> +<p>“I can’t stand it to let the native be carried +off!” Tom shouted back.</p> +<p>“But you can’t see in the dark,” objected Mr. +Anderson. He had probably forgotten the peculiar property of the +electric rifle. Tom kept on, and the others slowly followed.</p> +<p>The natives had at once ceased their merrymaking at the roaring +of the lions, and now all were gathered close about the campfires, +on which more wood had been piled, to drive away the fearsome +brutes.</p> +<p>“There must be a lot of them,” observed Mr. Durban, +as menacing growls and roars came from the jungle, along the edge +of which Tom and the others were walking just then. “There +are so many of the brutes that they are bold, and they must be +hungry, too. They came close to our fire, because it wasn’t +so bright as the other blazes, and that native must have wandered +off into the forest. Well, I guess it’s all up with +him.”</p> +<p>“He’s screaming yet,” observed Ned.</p> +<p>Indeed, above the rumbling roars of the lions, and the crackling +of the campfires, could be heard the moaning cries of the +unfortunate black.</p> +<p>“He’s right close here!” suddenly called Tom. +“He’s skirting the jungle. I think I can get +him!”</p> +<p>“Don’t take any risks!” called Mr. Durban, who +had caught up his own rifle, that was now in working order +again.</p> +<p>Tom Swift was not in sight. He had now penetrated into the +jungle— into the black forest where stalked the savage lions, +intent on getting other prey. Mr. Durban and Mr. Anderson vainly +tried to pierce the darkness to see something at which to shoot. +Ned Newton had eagerly started to follow his chum, but could not +discern where Tom was. A nameless fear clutched at the lad’s +heart. Mr. Damon was softly blessing everything of which he could +think.</p> +<p>Once more came that pitiful cry from the native, who was, as +they afterward learned, being dragged along by the lion, who had +grabbed him by the shoulder.</p> +<p>Suddenly in the dense jungle there shone a purple-bluish light. +It illuminated the scene like some great sky-rocket for an instant, +and in that brief time Ned and the others caught sight of a great, +tawny form, bounding along. It was a lion, with head held high, +dragging along a helpless black man.</p> +<p>A second later, and before the intense glare had died away, the +watchers saw the lion gently sink down, as though weary. He stopped +short in his tracks, his head rolled back, the jaws relaxed and the +native, who was unconscious now, toppled to one side.</p> +<p>“Tom’s killed him with the electric rifle!” +cried Mr. Durban.</p> +<p>“Bless my incandescent lamp! so he has,” agreed Mr. +Damon. “Bless my dynamo! but that’s a wonderful gun, +it’s as powerful as a thunderbolt, or as gentle as a summer +shower.”</p> +<p>Mr. Durban seeing that the lion was dead, in that brief glance +he had had of the brute, called to some of the natives to come and +get their tribesman. They came, timidly enough at first, carrying +many torches, but when they understood that the lion was dead, they +advanced more boldly. They carried the wounded black to a hut, +where they applied their simple but effective remedies for the +cruel bite in his shoulder.</p> +<p>After Tom had shot several other of the illuminated charges into +the jungle, to see if he could discover any more lions, but failed +to do so, he and his friends returned to the anchored airship, amid +the murmured thanks of the Africans.</p> +<p>Bright fires were kept blazing all the rest of the night, but, +though lions could be heard roaring in the jungle, and though they +approached alarmingly close to the place where our friends were +encamped, none of the savage brutes ventured within the +clearing.</p> +<p>With the valuable store of ivory aboard the Black Hawk, which +was now completely repaired, an early start was made the next +morning. The Africans besought Tom and his companions to remain, +for it was not often they could have the services of white men in +slaying elephants and lions.</p> +<p>“But, we’ve got to get on the trail,” decided +Tom, when the natives had brought great stores of food, and such +simple presents as they possessed, to induce the travelers to +remain.</p> +<p>“Every hour may add to the danger of the missionaries in +the hands of the red pygmies.”</p> +<p>“Yes,” said Mr. Anderson gravely, “it is our +duty to save them.”</p> +<p>And so the airship mounted into the air, our friends waving +farewells to the simple-hearted blacks, who did a sort of farewell +war-dance in their honor, shouting their praises aloud, and beating +the drums and tom-toms, so that the echoes followed for some time +after the Black Hawk had begun to mount upward toward the sky.</p> +<p>The craft was in excellent shape, due to the overhauling Tom had +given it while making the repairs. With the propellers beating the +air, and the rudder set to hold them about two thousand feet high, +the travelers moved rapidly over clearings, forests and +jungles.</p> +<p>It was agreed that now, when they had made such a good start in +collecting ivory, that they would spend the next few days in trying +to get on the trail of the red pygmies. It might seem a simple +matter, after knowing the approximate location of the land of these +fierce little natives, to have proceeded directly to it. But Africa +is an immense continent, and even in an airship comparatively +little of the interior can be seen at a time.</p> +<p>Besides, the red pygmies had a habit of moving from place to +place, and they were so small, and so wild, capable of living in +very tiny huts or caves, and so primitive, not building regular +villages as the other Africans do, that as Ned said, they were as +hard to locate as the proverbial flea.</p> +<p>Our friends had a general idea of where to look for them, but on +nearing that land, and making inquiries of several friendly tribes, +they learned that the red pygmies had suddenly disappeared from +their usual haunts.</p> +<p>“I guess they heard that we were after them,” said +Tom, with a grim smile one day, as he sent the airship down toward +the earth, for they were over a great plain, and several native +villages could he seen dotted on its surface.</p> +<p>“More likely they are in hiding because they have as +captives two white persons,” said Mr. Anderson. “They +are fierce and fearless, but, nevertheless, they have, in times +past, felt the vengeance of the white man, and perhaps they dread +that now.”</p> +<p>They made a descent, and spent several days making inquiries +from the friendly blacks about the race of little men. But scarcely +anything was learned. Some of the negro tribes admitted having +heard of the red pygmies, and others, with superstitious +incantations and imprecations, said they had never heard of +them.</p> +<p>One tribe of very large negroes had heard a rumor to the effect +that the band of the pygmies was several days’ journey from +their village, across the mountains, and when Tom sent his airship +there, the searchers only found an impenetrable jungle, filled with +lions and other wild beasts, but not a sign of the pygmies, and +with no elephants to reward their search.</p> +<p>“But we’re not going to give up,” declared +Tom, and the others agreed with him. Forward went the Black Hawk in +the search for the imprisoned ones, but, as the days passed, and no +news was had, it seemed to grow more and more hopeless.</p> +<p>“I’m afraid if we do find them now,” remarked +Mr. Anderson at length, “that we’ll only recover the +bodies of the missionaries.”</p> +<p>“Then we’ll avenge them,” said Tom +quietly.</p> +<p>They had stopped at another native village to make inquiries, +but without result, and were about to start off again that night +when a runner came in to announce that a herd of big elephants was +feeding not many miles away.</p> +<p>“Well, we’ll stay over a day or so, and get some +more ivory,” decided Mr. Durban and that night they got ready +for what was to prove a big hunt.</p> +<h3>CHAPTER XVII</h3> +<h2><a id="Ch_17" name="Ch_17"></a>SHOTS FROM ABOVE</h2> +<p class="returnTOC"><a href="#Contents">Return to Table of +Contents</a></p> +<p>“There they are!”</p> +<p>“My, what a lot of big ones!”</p> +<p>“Jove! Mr. Anderson, see those tusks!”</p> +<p>“Yes, you ought to get what you want this time, Mr. +Durban.”</p> +<p>“Bless my hatband! There must be two hundred of +them!” exclaimed Mr. Damon.</p> +<p>“I’m glad I recharged my rifle last night!” +exclaimed Tom Swift. “It’s fully loaded now.”</p> +<p>Then followed exulting cries and shouts of the natives, who were +following our friends, the elephant hunters, who had given voice to +the remarks we have just quoted.</p> +<p>It was early in the morning, and the hunt was about to start, +for the news brought in by the runner the night before had been +closely followed by the brutes themselves, and at dawn our friends +were astir, for scouts brought in word that the elephants, +including many big ones, were passing along only a few miles from +the African village.</p> +<p>Cautiously approaching, with the wind blowing from the elephants +to them, the white hunters made their way along. Mr. Durban was in +the lead, and when he saw a favorable opportunity he motioned for +the others to advance. Then, when he noticed the big bull sentinels +of the herd look about as if to detect the presence of enemies, he +gave another signal and the hunters sank out of sight in the tall +grass.</p> +<p>As for the natives, they were like snakes, unseen but ever +present, wriggling along on their hands and knees. They were +awaiting the slaughter, when there would be fresh meat in +abundance.</p> +<p>At length the old elephant hunter decided that they were near +enough to chance some shots. As a matter of fact, Tom Swift, with +his electric rifle, had been within range some time before, but as +he did not want to spoil the sport for the others, by firing and +killing, and so alarming the herd, he had held back. Now they could +all shoot together.</p> +<p>“Let her go!” suddenly cried Mr. Durban, and they +took aim.</p> +<p>There was a fusillade of reports and several of the big brutes +toppled over.</p> +<p>“Bless my toothbrush!” cried Mr. Damon, +“that’s the time I got one!”</p> +<p>“Yes, and a fine specimen, too!” added Mr. Durban, +who had only succeeded in downing a small bull, with an indifferent +pair of tusks. “A fine speciment, Mr. Damon, I congratulate +you!”</p> +<p>As for Tom Swift, he had killed two of the largest elephants in +the herd.</p> +<p>But now the hunters had their work cut out for them, since the +beasts had taken fright and were charging away at what seemed an +awkward gait, but which, nevertheless, took them rapidly over the +ground.</p> +<p>“Come on!” cried Mr. Durban. “We must get some +more. Some of the finest tusks I have ever seen are running away +from us!”</p> +<p>He began to race after the retreating herd, but it is doubtful +if he would have caught up to them had not a band of natives, who +had crept up and surrounded the beasts, turned them by shouts and +the beating of tom-toms. Seeing an enemy in front of them, the +elephants turned, and our friends were able to get in several more +shots. Tom Swift picked out only those with immense tusks, and soon +had several to his credit. Ned Newton also bagged some prizes.</p> +<p>But finally the elephants, driven to madness by the firing and +the yells of the natives, broke through the line of black men, and +charged off into the jungle, where it was not only useless but +dangerous to follow them.</p> +<p>“Well, we have enough,” said Mr. Durban, and when +the tusks had been collected it was found that indeed a magnificent +and valuable supply had been gathered.</p> +<p>“But I have yet to get my prize ones,” said the old +hunter with a sigh. “Maybe we’ll find the elephant with +them when we locate the red pygmies.”</p> +<p>“If we do, we’ll have our work cut out for +us,” declared Tom.</p> +<p>As on the other occasion after the hunt, there was a great feast +for the natives, who invited tribes from miles around, and for two +days, while the tusks were being cut out and cleaned, there were +barbeques on every side.</p> +<p>It was one afternoon, when they were seated in the shade of the +airship, cleaning their guns, and discussing the plans they had +best follow next, that our travellers suddenly heard a great +commotion amongst the Africans, who had for the past hour been very +quiet, most of them sleeping after the feasts. They yelled and +shouted, and began to beat their drums.</p> +<p>“Something is coming,” said Ned.</p> +<p>“Perhaps there’s going to be a fight,” +suggested Tom.</p> +<p>“Maybe it’s the red pygmies,” said Mr. Damon. +“Bless my—”</p> +<p>But what he was going to bless he did not say, for at that +instant it seemed as if every native in sight suddenly disappeared, +almost like magic. They sank down into the grass, darted into their +huts, or hid in the tall grass.</p> +<p>“What can it be?” cried Tom, as he looked to see +that his rifle was in working order.</p> +<p>“Some enemy,” declared Mr. Anderson.</p> +<p>“There they are!” cried Ned Newton, and as he spoke +there burst into view, coming from the tall grass that covered the +plain about the village, a herd of savage, wild buffaloes. On +rushed the shaggy creatures, their long, sharp horns seeming like +waving spears as they advanced.</p> +<p>“Here’s more sport!” cried Tom.</p> +<p>“No! Not sport! Danger!” yelled Mr. Durban. +“They’re headed right for us!”</p> +<p>“Then we’ll stop them,” declared the young +inventor, as he raised his gun.</p> +<p>“No! No!” begged the old hunter. “It’s +as much as our lives are worth to try to stop a rush of wild +buffaloes. You couldn’t do it with Gatling guns. We can kill +a few, but the rest won’t stop until they’ve finished +us and the aeroplane too.”</p> +<p>“Then what’s to be done?” demanded Mr. +Anderson.</p> +<p>“Get into the airship!” cried Mr. Durban. +“Send her up. It’s the only way to get out of their +path. Then we can shoot them from above, and drive them +away!”</p> +<p>Quickly the adventurers leaped into the craft. On thundered the +buffaloes. Tom feared he could not get the motor started quickly +enough. He did not dare risk rising by means of the aeroplane +feature, but at once started the gas machine.</p> +<p>The big bag began to fill. Nearer came the wild creatures, +thundering over the ground, snorting and bellowing with rage.</p> +<p>“Quick, Tom!” yelled Ned, and at that instant the +Black Hawk shot upward, just as the foremost of the buffaloes +passed underneath, vainly endeavoring to gore the craft with their +sweeping horns. The air-travelers had risen just in time.</p> +<p>“Now it’s our turn!” shouted Ned, as he began +firing from above into the herd of infuriated animals below him. +Tom, after seeing that the motor was working well, sent the airship +circling about, while standing in the steering tower, he guided his +craft here and there, meanwhile pouring a fusillade of his wireless +bullets into the buffaloes. Many of them dropped in their tracks, +but the big herd continued to rush here and there, crashing into +the frail native huts, tearing them down, and, whenever a black man +appeared, chasing after him infuriatedly.</p> +<p>“Keep at it!” cried Mr. Durban, as he poured more +lead into the buffaloes. “If we don’t kill enough of +them, and drive the others away, there won’t be anything left +of this village.”</p> +<h3>CHAPTER XVIII</h3> +<h2><a id="Ch_18" name="Ch_18"></a>NEWS OF THE RED PYGMIES</h2> +<p class="returnTOC"><a href="#Contents">Return to Table of +Contents</a></p> +<p>Seldom had it been the lot of Tom and his companions to take +part in such a novel hunting scene as that in which they were now +participating. With the airship moving quickly about, darting here +and there under the guidance of the young inventor, the erratic +movements hither and thither of the buffaloes could be followed +exactly. Wherever the mass of the herd went the airship hovered +over them.</p> +<p>“Want any help, Tom?” called Ned, who was firing as +fast as his gun could be worked.</p> +<p>“I guess not,” answered the steersman of the Black +Hawk, who was dividing his attention between managing the craft and +firing his electric rifle.</p> +<p>The others, too, were kept busy with their weapons, shooting +down on the infuriated animals. It seemed like a needless +slaughter, but it was not. Had it not been for the white men, the +native village, which consisted of only frail huts, would have been +completely wiped out by the animals. As it was they were kept +“milling” about in a circle in an open space, just as +stampeded cattle on the western ranges are kept from getting away, +by being forced round and round.</p> +<p>Not a native was in sight, all being hidden away in the jungle +or dense grass. The white hunters in their airship had matters to +themselves.</p> +<p>At last the firing proved even too much for the buffaloes which, +as we have said, are among the most dreaded of African beasts. With +bellows of fear, the leading bulls of the herd unable to find the +enemy above their heads, darted of into the forest the way they had +come.</p> +<p>“There they go!” yelled Mr. Durban.</p> +<p>“Yes, and I’m glad to see the last of them,” +added Mr. Anderson, with a breath of relief.</p> +<p>“Score another victory for the electric rifle,” +exclaimed Ned.</p> +<p>“Oh, you did as much execution as I did,” declared +the inventor of the weapon.</p> +<p>“Bless my ramrod!” cried Mr. Damon. “I never +shot so much in all my life before.”</p> +<p>“Yes, there is enough food to last the natives for a +week,” observed Mr. Durban, as Tom adjusted the deflecting +rudder to send the airship down.</p> +<p>“It won’t last much longer at the rate they +eat,” spoke the young inventor with a laugh. “I never +saw such fellows for appetites! They seem to eat in their +sleep.”</p> +<p>There were many dead buffaloes, but there was no fear that the +meat, which was much prized by the Africans, would be wasted. +Already the natives were coming from their hiding places, knowing +that the danger was over. Once more they sang the praises of the +mighty white hunters, and the magical air craft in which they moved +about.</p> +<p>With the elephants previously killed, the buffaloes provided +material for a great feast, preparations for which were at once +gotten under way, in spite of the fact that the blacks had hardly +stopped eating since the big hunt began. But it was about all they +had to do.</p> +<p>Some of the buffaloes were very large, and there were a number +of pairs of fine horns. Tom and Ned had some of the blacks cut them +off for trophies, and they were stored in the airship together with +the ivory.</p> +<p>Becoming rather tired of seeing so much feasting, our friends +bade the Africans farewell the next day, and once more resumed +their quest. They navigated through the air for another week, +stopping at several villages, and scanning the jungles and plains +by means of powerful telescopes, for a sight of the red pygmies. +They also asked for news of the sacking of the missionary +settlement, but, beyond meager facts, could learn nothing.</p> +<p>“Well, we’ve got to keep on, that’s +all,” decided Mr. Durban. “We may find them most +unexpectedly.”</p> +<p>“I’m sorry if I have taken you away from your work +of gathering ivory,” spoke Mr. Anderson. “Perhaps you +had better let me go, and I’ll see if I can’t organize +a band of friendly blacks, and search for the red dwarfs +myself.”</p> +<p>“Not much!” exclaimed Tom warmly. “I said +we’d help rescue those missionaries, and we’ll do it, +too!”</p> +<p>“Of course,” declared the old elephant hunter. +“We have quite a lot of ivory and, while we need more to make +it pay well, we can look for it after we rescue the missionaries as +well as before. Perhaps there will be a lot of elephants in the +pygmies’ land.”</p> +<p>“I was only thinking that we can’t go on forever in +the airship.” said Mr. Anderson. “You’ll have to +go back to civilization soon, won’t you, Tom, to get +gasolene?”</p> +<p>“No, we have enough for at least a month,” answered +the young inventor. “I took aboard an unusually large supply +when we started.”</p> +<p>“What would happen if we ran out of it in the +jungle?” asked Ned. “Bless my pocketbook! What an +unpleasant question!” exclaimed Mr. Damon. “You are +almost as cheerful, Ned, as was my friend Mr. Parker, the gloomy +scientist, who was always predicting dire happenings.”</p> +<p>“Well, I was only wondering,” said Ned, who was a +little abashed by the manner in which his inquiry was received.</p> +<p>“Oh, it would be all right,” declared Tom. “We +would simply become a balloon, and in time the wind would blow us +to some white settlement. There is plenty of material for making +the lifting gas.”</p> +<p>This was reassuring, and, somewhat easier in mind, Ned took his +place in the observation tower which looked down on the jungle over +which they were passing.</p> +<p>It was a dense forest. At times there could be seen, in the +little clearings, animals darting along. There were numbers of +monkeys, an occasional herd of buffaloes were observed, sometimes a +solitary stray elephant was noted, and as for birds, there were +thousands of them. It was like living over a circus, Ned +declared.</p> +<p>They had descended one day just outside a large native village +to make inquiries about elephants and the red pygmies. Of the big +beasts no signs had been seen in several months, the hunters of the +tribe told Mr. Durban. And concerning the red pygmies, the blacks +seemed indisposed to talk.</p> +<p>Tom and the others could not understand this, until a +witch-doctor, whom the elephant hunter had met some time ago, when +he was on a previous expedition, told him that the tribe had a +superstitious fear of speaking of the little men.</p> +<p>“They may be around us—in the forest or jungle at +any minute,” the witch-doctor said. “We never speak of +them.”</p> +<p>“Say, do you suppose that can be a clew?” asked Tom +eagerly. “They may be nearer at hand than we +think.”</p> +<p>“It’s possible.” admitted the hunter. +“Suppose we stay here for a few days, and I’ll see if I +can’t get some of the natives to go off scouting in the +woods, and locate them, or at least put us on the trail of the red +dwarfs.”</p> +<p>This was considered good advice, and it was decided to adopt it. +Accordingly the airship was put in a safe place, and our friends +prepared to spend a week, if necessary, in the native village. +Their presence with the wonderful craft was a source of wonder, and +by means of some trinkets judiciously given to the native king, and +also to his head subjects, and to the witch-doctors (who were a +power in the land), the good opinion of the tribe was won. Then, by +promising rewards to some of the bolder hunters, Mr. Durban finally +succeeded in getting them to go off scouting in the jungle for a +clew to the red pygmies.</p> +<p>“Now we’ll have to wait,” said Mr. Anderson, +“and I hope we get good news.”</p> +<p>Our friends spent their time observing some of the curious +customs of the natives, and in witnessing some odd dances gotten up +in their honor. They also went hunting, and got plenty of game, for +which their hosts were duly grateful. Tom did some night stalking +and found his illuminating bullets a great success.</p> +<p>One hot afternoon Tom and Mr. Damon strolled off a little way +into the jungle, Tom with his electric weapon, in case he saw any +game. But no animals save a few big monkeys where to be seen, and +the young inventor scorned to kill them. It seemed too much like +firing at a human being he said, though the natives stated that +some of the baboons and apes were fierce, and would attack one on +the slightest provocation.</p> +<p>“I believe I’ll sit down here and rest,” said +Tom, after a mile’s tramp, as he came to a little clearing in +the woods.</p> +<p>“Very well, I’ll go on,” decided Mr. Damon. +“Mr. Durban said there were sometimes rare orchids in these +jungles, and I am very fond of those odd flowers. I’m going +to see if I can get any.”</p> +<p>He disappeared behind a fringe of moss-grown trees, and Tom sat +down, with his rifle across his knees. He was thinking of many +things, but chiefly of what yet lay before them—the discovery +of the red dwarfs and the possible rescue of the missionaries.</p> +<p>He might have been thus day-dreaming for perhaps a half hour, +when he suddenly heard great commotion in the jungle, in the +direction in which Mr. Damon had vanished. It sounded as though +some one was running rapidly. Then came the report of the odd +man’s gun.</p> +<p>“He’s seen some game!” exclaimed Tom, jumping +up, and preparing to follow his friend. But he did not have the +chance. An instant later Mr. Damon burst through the bushes with +every appearance of fright, his gun held above his head with one +hand, and his pith helmet swaying to and fro in the other.</p> +<p>“They’re coming!” he cried to Tom.</p> +<p>“Who, the red pygmies?”</p> +<p>“No, but a couple of rhinoceroses are after me. I wounded +one, and he and his mate are right behind. Don’t let them +catch me, Tom!”</p> +<p>Mr. Damon was very much alarmed, and there was good occasion for +it, as Tom saw a moment later, for two fierce rhinoceroses burst +out of the jungle almost on the heels of the fleeing man.</p> +<p>Thought was not quicker than Tom Swift. He raised his deadly +rifle, and pressed the button. A charge of wireless electricity +shot toward the foremost animal, and it was dropped in its tracks. +The other came on woofing and snorting with rage. It was the one +Mr. Damon had slightly wounded.</p> +<p>“Come on!” yelled the young inventor, for his friend +was in front of the beast, and in range with the rifle. “Jump +to one side, Mr. Damon.”</p> +<p>Mr. Damon tried, but his foot slipped, and there was no need for +jumping. He fell and rolled over. The rhinoceros swerved toward +him, with the probable intention of goring the prostrate man with +the formidable horn, but it had no chance. Once more the young +inventor fired, this time with a heavier charge, and the animal +instantly toppled over dead.</p> +<p>“Are you hurt?” asked Tom anxiously, as he ran to +his friend. Mr. Damon got up slowly. He felt all over himself, and +then answered:</p> +<p>“No, Tom, I guess I’m not hurt, except in my +dignity. Never again will I fire at a sleeping rhinoceros unless +you are with me. I had a narrow escape,” and he shook +Tom’s hand heartily.</p> +<p>“Did you see any orchids?” asked the lad with a +smile.</p> +<p>“No, those beasts didn’t give me a chance! Bless my +tape measure! but they’re big fellows!”</p> +<p>Indeed they were fine specimens, and there was the usual +rejoicing among the natives when they brought in the great bodies, +pulling them to the village with ropes made of vines.</p> +<p>After this Mr. Damon was careful not to go into the jungle +alone, nor, in fact, did any of our friends so venture. Mr. Durban +said it was not safe.</p> +<p>They remained a full week in the native village, and received no +news. In fact, all but one of the hunters came back to report that +there was no sign of the red pygmies in that neighborhood.</p> +<p>“Well, I guess we might as well move on, and see what we +can do ourselves,” said Mr. Durban.</p> +<p>“Let’s wait until the last hunter comes back,” +suggested Tom. “He may bring word.”</p> +<p>“Some of his friends think he’ll never come +back,” remarked Mr. Anderson.</p> +<p>“Why not?” asked Ned.</p> +<p>“They think he has been killed by some wild +beast.”</p> +<p>But this fear was ungrounded. It was on the second day after the +killing of the rhinoceroses that, as Tom was tinkering away in the +engine-room of the airship, and thinking that perhaps they had +better get under way, that a loud shouting was heard among the +natives.</p> +<p>“I wonder what’s up now?” mused the young +inventor as he went outside. He saw Mr. Durban and Mr. Anderson +running toward the ship. Behind them was a throng of blacks, led by +a weary man whom Tom recognized as the missing hunter. The +lad’s heart beat high with hope. Did the African bring +news?</p> +<p>On came Mr. Durban, waving his hands to Tom.</p> +<p>“We’ve located ’em!” he shouted.</p> +<p>“Not the red pygmies?” asked Tom eagerly.</p> +<p>“Yes; this hunter has news of them. He has been to the +border of their country, and narrowly escaped capture. Then he was +attacked by a lion, and slightly wounded. But, Tom, now we can get +on the trail!”</p> +<p>“Good!” cried the young inventor. +“That’s fine news!” and he rejoiced that once +more there would be activity, for he was tired of remaining in the +African camp, and then, too, he wanted to proceed to the rescue. +Already it might be too late to save the unfortunate +missionaries.</p> +<h3>CHAPTER XIX</h3> +<h2><a id="Ch_19" name="Ch_19"></a>AN APPEAL FOR HELP</h2> +<p class="returnTOC"><a href="#Contents">Return to Table of +Contents</a></p> +<p>The African hunter’s story was soon told. He had gone on +farther than had any of his companions, and, being a bold and brave +man, had penetrated into the very fastness of the jungle where few +would dare to venture.</p> +<p>But even he had despaired of getting on the trail of the fierce +little red men, until one afternoon, just at dusk he had heard +voices in the forest. Crouching behind a fallen tree, he waited and +saw passing by some of the pygmy hunters, armed with bows and +arrows, and blowguns. They had been out after game. Cautiously the +hunter followed them, until he located one of their odd villages, +which consisted of little mud huts, poorly made.</p> +<p>The black hunter remained in the vicinity of the pygmies all +that night, and was almost caught, for some wild dogs which hung +around the village smelled him out, and attracted to him the +attention of the dwarf savages. The hunter took to a tree, and so +escaped. Then, carefully marking the trail, he came away in the +morning. When near home, a lion had attacked him, but he speared +the beast to death, after a hand-to-hand struggle in which his leg +was torn.</p> +<p>“And do you think we can find the place?” asked Ned, +when Mr. Durban had finished translating the hunter’s +story.</p> +<p>“I think so,” was the reply.</p> +<p>“But is this the settlement where the missionaries +are?” asked Tom anxiously.</p> +<p>“That is what we don’t know,” said Mr. +Anderson. “The native scout could not learn that. But once we +get on the trail of the dwarfs, I think we can easily find the +particular tribe which has the captives.”</p> +<p>“At any rate, we’ll get started and do +something,” declared Tom, and the next day, after the African +hunter had described, as well as he could, where the place was, the +Black Hawk was sent up into the air, good-bys were called down, and +once more the adventurers were under way.</p> +<p>It was decided that they had better proceed cautiously, and +lower the airship, and anchor it, sometime before getting above the +place where the pygmy village was.</p> +<p>“For they may see us, and, though they don’t know +what our craft is, they may take the alarm and hide deeper in the +jungle with the prisoners, where we can’t find them,” +said Tom.</p> +<p>His plan was adopted, and, while it had taken the native hunter +several days to reach the borders of the dwarfs’ land, those +in the airship made the trip in one day. That is, they came as far +toward it as they thought would be safe, and one night, having +located a landmark which Mr. Durban said was on the border, the +nose of the Black Hawk was pointed downward, and soon they were +encamped in a little clearing in the midst of the dense jungle +which was all about them.</p> +<p>With his electric rifle, Tom noiselessly killed some birds, very +much like chicken, of which an excellent meal was made and then, as +it became dark very early, and as nothing could be done, they +lighted a campfire, and retired inside their craft to pass the +night.</p> +<p>It must have been about midnight that Tom, who was a light +sleeper at times, was awakened by some noise outside the window +near which his stateroom was. He sat up and listened, putting out +his hand to where his rifle stood in the corner near his bunk. The +lad heard stealthy footsteps pattering about on the deck of the +airship. There was a soft, shuffling sound, such as a lion or a +tiger makes, when walking on bare boards. In spite of himself, Tom +felt the hair on his head beginning to creep, and a shiver ran down +his back.</p> +<p>“There’s something out there!” he whispered. +“I wonder if I’d better awaken the others? No, if +it’s a sneaking lion, I can manage to kill him, +but—”</p> +<p>He paused as another suggestion came to him.</p> +<p>The red pygmies! They went barefoot! Perhaps they were swarming +about the ship which they might have discovered in the +darkness.</p> +<p>Tom Swift’s heart beat rapidly. He got softly out of his +bunk, and, with his rifle in hand made his way to the door opening +on deck. On his way he gently awakened Ned and Mr. Durban, and +whispered to them his fear.</p> +<p>“If the red pygmies are out there we’ll need all our +force,” said the old elephant hunter. “Call Mr. Damon +and Mr. Anderson, Ned, and tell them to bring their +guns.”</p> +<p>Soon they were all ready, fully armed. They listened intently. +The airship was all in darkness, for lights drew a horde of +insects. The campfire had died down. The soft footsteps could still +be heard moving about the deck.</p> +<p>“That sounds like only one person or animal,” +whispered Ned.</p> +<p>“It does,” agreed Tom. “Wait a minute, +I’ll fire an illuminating charge, and we can see what it +is.”</p> +<p>The others posted themselves at windows that gave a view of the +deck. Tom poked his electric rifle out of a crack of the door, and +shot forth into the darkness one of the blue illuminations. The +deck of the craft was instantly lighted up brilliantly, and in the +glare, crouched on the deck, could be seen a powerful black man, +nearly naked, gazing at the hunters.</p> +<p>“A black!” gasped Tom, as the light died out. +“Maybe it is one from the village we just left. What do you +want? Who are you?” called the lad, forgetting that the +Africans spoke only their own language. To the surprise of all, +there came his reply in broken English:</p> +<p>“Me Tomba! Me go fo’ help for Missy +Illingway—fo’ Massy Illingway. Me run away from little +red men! Me Christian black man. Oh, if you be English, help Missy +Illingway—she most die! Please help. Tomba go but Tomba be +lost! Please help!”</p> +<h3>CHAPTER XX</h3> +<h2><a id="Ch_20" name="Ch_20"></a>THE FIGHT</h2> +<p class="returnTOC"><a href="#Contents">Return to Table of +Contents</a></p> +<p>Surprise, for the moment, held Tom and the others speechless. To +be answered in English, poor and broken as it was, by a native +African, was strange enough, but when this same African was found +aboard the airship, in the midst of the jungle, at midnight, it +almost passed the bounds of possibility.</p> +<p>“Tomba!” mused Tom, wondering where he had heard +that name before. “Tomba?”</p> +<p>“Of course!” cried Mr. Anderson, suddenly. +“Don’t you remember? That’s the name of the +servant of Mr. and Mrs. Illingway, who escaped and brought news of +their capture by the pygmies. That’s who Tomba is.”</p> +<p>“Yes, but Tomba escaped,” objected Mr. Durban. +“He went to the white settlements with the news. How comes he +here?”</p> +<p>“We’ll have to find out,” said Tom, simply. +“Tomba, are you there?” he called, as he fired other +illuminating charge. It disclosed the black man standing up on the +deck, and looking at them appealingly.</p> +<p>“Yes, Tomba here,” was the answer. “Oh, you be +English, Tomba know. Please help Missy and Massy Illingway. Red +devils goin’ kill ’em pretty much quick.”</p> +<p>“Come in!” called Tom, as he turned on the electric +lights in the airship. “Come in and tell us all about it. But +how did you get here?”</p> +<p>“Maybe there are two Tombas,” suggested Ned.</p> +<p>“Bless my safety razor!” cried Mr. Damon +“perhaps Ned is right!”</p> +<p>But he wasn’t, as they learned when they had questioned +the African, who came inside the airship, looking wonderingly +around at the many strange things he saw. He was the same Tomba who +had escaped the massacre, and had taken news of the capture of his +master and mistress to the white settlement. In vain after that he +had tried to organize a band to go back with him to the rescue, but +the whites in the settlement were too few, and the natives too +timid. Then Tomba, with grief in his heart, and not wanting to live +while the missionaries whom he had come to care for very much, were +captives, he went back into the jungle, determined, if he could not +help them, that at least he would share their fate, and endeavor to +be of some service to them in their captivity.</p> +<p>After almost unbelievable hardships, he had found the red +pygmies, and had allowed himself to be captured by them. They +rejoiced greatly in the possession of the big black man, and for +some strange reason had not killed him. He was allowed to share the +captivity of his master and mistress.</p> +<p>Time went on, and the pygmies did not kill their prisoners. They +even treated them with some kindness but were going to sacrifice +them at their great annual festival, which was soon to take place. +Mr. and Mrs. Illingway, Tomba told our friends in his broken +English, had urged him to escape at the first opportunity. They +knew if he could get away he would travel through the jungle. They +could not, even if they had not been so closely guarded that escape +was out of the question.</p> +<p>But Tomba refused to go until Mr. Illingway had said that +perhaps he might get word to some white hunters, and so send help +to the captives. This Tomba consented to do, and, watching his +chance, he did escape. That was several nights ago, and he had been +traveling through the jungle ever since. It was by mere accident +that he came upon the anchored airship, and his curiosity led him +to board her. The rest is known.</p> +<p>“Well, of all queer yarns, this is the limit!” +exclaimed Tom, when the black had finished. “What had we +better do about it?”</p> +<p>“Get ready to attack the red pygmies at once!” +decided Mr. Durban. “If we wait any longer it may be too +late!”</p> +<p>“My idea, exactly,” declared Mr. Anderson.</p> +<p>“Bless my bowie-knife!” cried Mr. Damon. +“It’d like to get a chance at the red imps! Come on, +Tom! Let’s start at once.”</p> +<p>“No, we need daylight to fight by,” replied Tom, +with a smile at his friend’s enthusiasm. “We’ll +go forward in the morning.”</p> +<p>“In the airship?” asked Mr. Damon.</p> +<p>“I think so,” answered Tom. “There can be no +advantage now in trying to conceal ourselves. We can move upon them +from where we are so quickly that they won’t have much chance +to get away. Besides it will take us too long to make our way +through the jungle afoot. For, now that the escape of Tomba must be +known, they may kill the captives at once to forestall any +rescue.”</p> +<p>“Then we’ll move forward in the morning,” +declared Mr. Durban.</p> +<p>They took Tomba with them in the airship the next day, though he +prayed fervently before he consented to it. But they needed him to +point out the exact location of the pygmies’ village, since +it was not the one the hunter-scout had been near.</p> +<p>The Black Hawk sailed through the air. On board eager eyes +looked down for a first sight of the red imps. Tomba, who was at +Tom’s side in the steering tower, told him, as best he could, +from time to time, how to set the rudders.</p> +<p>“Pretty soon by-em-by be there,” said the black man +at length. “Pass ober dat hill, den red devils +live.”</p> +<p>“Well, we’ll soon be over that hill,” +announced Tom grimly. “I guess we’d better get our +rifles ready for the battle.”</p> +<p>“Are you going to attack them at once?” asked Mr. +Damon.</p> +<p>“Well,” answered the young inventor, “I +don’t believe we ought to kill any of them if we can avoid +it. I don’t like to do such a thing but, perhaps we +can’t help ourselves. My plan is to take the airship down, +close to the hut where the missionaries are confined. Tomba can +point it out to us. If we can rescue them without bloodshed, so +much the better. But we’ll fight if we have to.”</p> +<p>Grimly they watched as the airship sailed over the hill. Then +suddenly there came into view a collection of mud huts on a vast +plain, surrounded by dense jungle on every side. As the travelers +looked, they could see little creatures running wildly about. Even +without a glass it could be noted that their bodies were covered +with a curious growth of thick sandy hair.</p> +<p>“The red pygmies!” cried Tom. “Now for the +rescue!”</p> +<p>Eagerly Tomba indicated the hut where his master and mistress +were held. Telling his friends to have their weapons in readiness, +Tom steered the airship toward the rude shelter whence he hoped to +take the missionaries. Down to the ground swiftly shot the Black +Hawk. Tom checked her with a quick movement of the deflecting +rudder, and she landed gently on the wheels.</p> +<p>“Mr. Illingway! Mrs. Illingway! We have come to rescue +you!” yelled the young inventor, as he stepped out on the +deck, with his electric rifle in his hand. “Where are you? +Can you come out?”</p> +<p>The door of the hut was burst open, and a white man and woman, +recognizable as such, even in the rude skins that clothed them, +rushed out. Wonder spread over their faces as they saw the great +airship. They dropped on their knees.</p> +<p>The next instant a swarm of savage little red men surrounded +them, and rudely bore them, strugglingly, back into the hut.</p> +<p>“Come on!” cried Tom, about to leap to the ground. +“It’s now or never! We must save them!”</p> +<p>Mr. Durban pulled him back, and pointed to a horde of the +red-haired savages rushing toward the airship. “They’d +tear you to pieces in a minute!” cried the old hunter. +“We must fight them from the ship.”</p> +<p>There was a curious whistling sound in the air. Mr. Durban +looked up.</p> +<p>“Duck, everybody!” he yelled. “They’re +firing arrows at us! Get under shelter, for they may be +poisoned!”</p> +<p>Tom and the others darted into the craft. The arrows rattled on +deck in a shower, and hundreds of the red imps were rushing up to +give battle. Inside the hut where the missionaries were, it was now +quiet. Tom Swift wondered if they still lived.</p> +<p>“Give ’em as good as they send!” cried Mr. +Durban. “We will have to fire at them now. Open up with your +electric rifle, Tom!”</p> +<p>As he spoke the elephant hunter fired into the midst of the +screaming savages. The battle had begun.</p> +<h3>CHAPTER XXI</h3> +<h2><a id="Ch_21" name="Ch_21"></a>DRIVEN BACK</h2> +<p class="returnTOC"><a href="#Contents">Return to Table of +Contents</a></p> +<p>What the travelers had heard regarding the fierceness and +courage of the red pygmies had not been one bit exaggerated. Never +had such desperate fighting ever taken place. The red dwarfs, +scarcely one of whom was more than three feet high, were strongly +built, and there were so many of them, and they battled together +with such singleness of purpose, that they were more formidable +than a tribe of ordinary- sized savages would have been.</p> +<p>And their purpose was to utterly annihilate the enemy that had +so unexpectedly come upon them. It did not matter to them that Tom +and the others had arrived in an airship. The strange craft had no +superstitious terror for them, as it had for the simpler +blacks.</p> +<p>“Bless my multiplication tables!” cried Mr. Damon. +“What a mob of them!”</p> +<p>“Almost too many!” murmured Tom Swift, who was +rapidly firing his electric rifle at them. “We can never hope +to drive them back, I’m afraid.”</p> +<p>Indeed from every side of the plain, and even from the depths of +the jungle the red dwarfs were now pouring. They yelled most +horribly, screaming in rage, brandishing their spears and clubs, +and keeping up an incessant fire of big arrows from their bows, and +smaller ones from the blowguns.</p> +<p>As yet none of our friends had been hit, for they were sheltered +in the airship, and as the windows were covered with a mesh of +wire, to keep out insects, this also served to prevent the arrows +from entering. There were loopholes purposely made to allow the +rifles to be thrust out.</p> +<p>Mercifully, Tom and the others fired only to disable, and not to +kill the red pygmies. Wounded in the arms or legs, the little +savages would be incapable of fighting, and this plan was followed. +But so fierce were they that some, who were wounded twice, still +kept up the attack.</p> +<p>Tom’s electric rifle was well adapted for this work, as he +could regulate the charge to merely stun, no matter at what part of +the body it was directed. So he could fire indiscriminintly, +whereas the others had to aim carefully. And Tom’s fire was +most effective. He disabled scores of the red imps, but scores of +others sprang up to take their places.</p> +<p>After their first rush the pygmies had fallen back before the +well- directed fire of our friends, but as their chiefs and head +men urged them to the attack again, they came back with still +fiercer energy. Some, more bold than the others, even leaped to the +deck of the airship, and tried to tear the screens from the +windows. They partly succeeded, and in one casement from which Ned +was firing they made a hole.</p> +<p>Into this they shot a flight of arrows, and one slightly wounded +the bank clerk on the arm. The wound was at once treated with +antiseptics, after the window had been barricaded, and Ned declared +that he was ready to renew the fight. Tom, too, got an arrow +scratch on the neck, and one of the barbs entered Mr. +Durban’s leg, but the sturdy elephant hunter would not give +up, and took his place again after the wound had been bandaged.</p> +<p>From time to time as he worked his electric gun, which had been +charged to its utmost capacity, Tom glanced at the hut where the +missionaries were prisoners. There was no movement noticed about +it, and no sound came from it. Tom wondered what had happened +inside—he wondered what was happening as the battle +progressed.</p> +<p>Fiercely the fight was kept up. Now the red imps would be driven +back, and again they would swarm about the airship, until it seemed +as if they must overwhelm it. Then the fire of the white +adventurers was redoubled. The electric rifle did great work, and +Tom did not have to stop and refill the magazine, as did the +others.</p> +<p>Suddenly, above the noise of the conflict, Tom Swift heard an +ominous sound. It was a hissing in the air, and well he knew what +it was.</p> +<p>“The gas bag!” he cried. “They’ve +punctured it! The vapor is escaping. If they put too many holes in +the bag it will be all up with us!”</p> +<p>“What’s to be done?” asked Mr. Durban.</p> +<p>“If we can’t drive them back we must retreat +ourselves!” declared Tom desperately. “Our only hope is +to keep the airship safe from harm.”</p> +<p>Once more came a rush of the savages. They had discovered that +the gas bag was vulnerable, and were directing their arrows against +that. It was punctured in several more places. The gas was rapidly +escaping.</p> +<p>“We’ve got to retreat!” yelled Tom. He hurried +to the engine-room, and turned on the power. The great propellers +revolved, and sent the Black Hawk scudding across the level plain. +With yells of surprise the red dwarfs scattered arid made way for +it.</p> +<p>Up into the air it mounted on the broad wings. For the time +being our friends has been driven back, and the missionaries whom +they had come to rescue were still in the hands of the savages.</p> +<h3>CHAPTER XXII</h3> +<h2><a id="Ch_22" name="Ch_22"></a>A NIGHT ATTACK</h2> +<p class="returnTOC"><a href="#Contents">Return to Table of +Contents</a></p> +<p>“Well, what’s to be done?”</p> +<p>Tom Swift asked that question.</p> +<p>“Bless my percussion cap! They certainly are the very +worst imps for fighting that I ever heard of,” commented Mr. +Damon helplessly.</p> +<p>“Is the gas bag much punctured?” asked Ned +Newton.</p> +<p>“Wait a minute,” resumed the young inventor, as he +pulled the speed lever a trifle farther over, thereby sending the +craft forward more swiftly, “I think my question ought to be +answered first. What’s to be done? Are we going to run away, +and leave that man and woman to their fate?”</p> +<p>“Of course not!” declared Mr. Durban stoutly, +“but we couldn’t stay there, and have them destroy the +airship.”</p> +<p>“No, that’s so,” admitted Tom, “if we +lost the airship it would be all up with us and our chances of +rescuing the missionaries. But what can we do? I hate to +retreat!”</p> +<p>“But what else is there left for us?” demanded +Ned.</p> +<p>“Nothing, of course. But we’ve got to plan to get +the best of those red pygmies. We can’t go back in the +airship, and give them open battle. There are too many of them, +and, by Jove! I believe more are coming every minute!”</p> +<p>Tom and the others looked down. From all sides of the plain, +hastening toward the village of mud huts, from which our friends +were retreating, could be seen swarms of the small but fierce +savages. They were coming from the jungle, and were armed with war +clubs, bows and arrows and the small but formidable blowguns.</p> +<p>“Where are they coming from?” asked Mr. Damon.</p> +<p>“From the surrounding tribes,” explained Mr. Durban. +“They have been summoned to do battle against us.”</p> +<p>“But how did the ones we fought get word to the others so +soon?” Ned demanded.</p> +<p>“Oh, they have ways of signaling,” explained Mr. +Anderson. “They can make the notes of some of their +hollow-tree drums carry a long distance, and then they are very +swift runners, and can penetrate into the jungle along paths that a +white man would hardly see. They also use the smoke column as a +signal, as our own American Indians used to do. Oh, they can summon +all their tribesmen to the fight, and they probably will. Likely +the sound of our guns attracted the imps, though if we all had +electric rifles like Tom’s they wouldn’t make any +noise.”</p> +<p>“Well, my rifle didn’t appear to do so very much +good this tune,” observed the young inventor, as he stopped +the forward motion of the ship now, and let it hover over the plain +in sight of the village, the gas bag serving to sustain the craft, +and there was little wind to cause it to drift. “Those +fellows didn’t seem to mind being hurt and killed any more +than if mosquitoes were biting them.”</p> +<p>“The trouble is we need a whole army, armed with electric +rifles to make a successful attack,” said Mr. Durban. +“There are swarms of them there now, and more coming every +minute. I do hope Mr. and Mrs. Illingway are alive yet.”</p> +<p>“Yes,” added Mr. Anderson solemnly, “we must +hope for the best. But, like Tom Swift, I ask, what’s to be +done?”</p> +<p>“Bless my thinking cap!” exclaimed Mr. Damon. +“It seems to me if we can’t fight them openly in the +daytime, there’s only one other thing to do.”</p> +<p>“What’s that?” asked Tom. “Go away? +I’ll not do it!”</p> +<p>“No, not go away,” exclaimed Mr. Damon, “but +make a night attack. We ought to be able to do something then, and +with your illuminating rifle, Tom, we’d have an advantage! +What do you say?”</p> +<p>“I say it’s the very thing!” declared Tom, +with sudden enthusiasm. “We’ll attack them to-night, +when they’re off their guard, and we’ll see if we +can’t get the missionaries out of that hut. And to better +fool the savages, we’ll just disappear now, and make +’em believe we’ve flown away.”</p> +<p>“Then the missionaries will think we’re deserting +them,” objected Mr. Anderson.</p> +<p>But there was no help for it, and so Tom once more turned on the +power and the craft sailed away.</p> +<p>Tomba, the faithful black, begged to be allowed to go down, and +tell his master and mistress that help would soon be at hand again, +even though it looked like a retreat on the part of the rescuers, +but this could not he permitted.</p> +<p>“They’d tear you in pieces as soon as you got among +those red imps,” said Tom. “You stay here, Tomba, and +you can help us to-night.”</p> +<p>“A’right, me glad help lick red fellows,” said +the black, with as cheerful a grin as he could summon.</p> +<p>The Black Hawk circled around, with Tom and the others looking +for a good place to land. They were out of sight of the village now +but did not doubt but that they were observed by the keen eyes of +the little men.</p> +<p>“We want to pick out a place where they won’t come +upon us as we descend,” declared Tom. “We’ve got +to mend some leaks in the gas bag, for, while they are not serious, +if we get any more punctures they may become so. So we’ve got +to pick out a good place to go down.”</p> +<p>Finally, by means of powerful glasses, a desolate part of the +jungle was selected. No files of the red dwarfs, coming from their +scattered villages to join their tribesmen, had been noted in the +vicinity picked out, and it was hoped that it would answer. Slowly +the airship settled to earth, coming to rest in a thick grove of +trees, where there was an opening just large enough to allow the +Black Hawk to enter.</p> +<p>Our friends were soon busy repairing the leaks in the bag, while +Mr. Damon got a meal ready. As they ate they talked over plans for +the night attack.</p> +<p>It was decided to wait until it was about two o’clock in +the morning, as at that hour the dwarfs were most generally asleep, +Tomba said. They always stayed up quite late, sitting around camp- +fires, and eating the meat which the hunters brought in each day. +But their carousings generally ended at midnight, the black said, +and then they fell into a heavy sleep. They did not post guards, +but since they knew of the presence of the white men in the +airship, they might do it this time.</p> +<p>“Well, we’ve got to take our chance,” decided +Tom. “We’ll start off from here about one +o’clock, and I’ll send the ship slowly along. +We’ll get right over the hut where the captives are, if +possible, and then descend. I’ll manage the ship, and one of +you can work the electric rifle if they attack us. We’ll make +a dash, get Mr. and Mrs. Illingway from the hut, and make a quick +get-away.”</p> +<p>It sounded good, and they were impatient to put it into +operation. That afternoon Tom and his friends went carefully over +every inch of their craft, to repair it and have it in perfect +working order. Guns were cleaned, and plenty of ammunition laid +out. Then, shortly after one o’clock in the morning the ship +was sent up, and with the searchlight ready to be turned on +instantly, and with his electric rifle near at hand, Tom Swift +guided his craft on to the attack. Soon they could see the glow of +dying fires in the dwarfs’ village, but no sound came from +the sleeping hordes of red imps.</p> +<h3>CHAPTER XXIII</h3> +<h2><a id="Ch_23" name="Ch_23"></a>THE RESCUE</h2> +<p class="returnTOC"><a href="#Contents">Return to Table of +Contents</a></p> +<p>“Can you make out the hut, Tom?” asked Ned, as he +stood at his chum’s side in the steering tower, and gazed +downward on the silent village.</p> +<p>“Not very clearly. Suppose you take a look through the +night- glasses. Maybe you’ll have better luck.”</p> +<p>Ned peered long and earnestly.</p> +<p>“No, I can’t see a thing.” he said. “It +all looks to be a confused jumble of huts. I can’t tell one +from the other. We’ll have to go lower.”</p> +<p>“I don’t want to do that,” objected Tom. +“If this attack succeeds at all, it will have to be sharp and +quick. If we go down where they can spot us, and work our way up to +the hut where the captives are, we’ll run the chance of an +attack that may put us out of business.”</p> +<p>“Yes, we ought to get right over the hut, and then make a +sudden swoop down,” admitted Ned, “but if we +can’t see it—”</p> +<p>“I have it!” cried Tom suddenly. “Tomba! That +African can see in the dark like a cat. Why, just before we started +I dropped a wrench, and I didn’t have any matches handy to +look for it. I was groping around in the dark trying to get my +hands on it, and you know it was pretty black in the jungle. Well, +along come Tomba. and he spotted it at once and picked it up. +We’ll call him here and get him to point out the hut. He can +tell me how to steer.”</p> +<p>“Good!” cried Ned, and the black was soon standing +in the pilot house. He comprehended what was wanted of him, and +peered down, seeking to penetrate the darkness.</p> +<p>“Shall I go down a little lower?” asked Tom.</p> +<p>For a moment Tomba did not answer. Then be uttered an +exclamation of pleasure.</p> +<p>“Me see hut!” he said, clutching Tom’s arm. +“Down dere!” He pointed, but neither Tom nor Ned could +see it. However, as Tomba was now giving directions, telling Tom +when to go to the left or the right, as the wind currents deflected +they were certain of soon reaching the place where Mr. and Mrs. +Illingway were concealed, if they were still alive.</p> +<p>The Black Hawk was moving slowly, and was not under as good +control as if she had been making ninety miles an hour. As it was +desired to proceed as quietly as possible, the craft was being used +as a dirigible balloon, and the propellers were whirled around by +means of a small motor, worked by a storage battery. While not much +power was obtained this way, there was the advantage of silence, +which was very necessary. Slowly the Black Hawk sailed on through +the night. In silence the adventurers waited for the moment of +action. They had their weapons in readiness. Mr. Durban was to work +the electric rifle, as all Tom’s attention would be needed at +the machinery. As soon as the craft had made a landing he was to +leap out, carrying a revolver in either hand, and, followed by +Tomba, would endeavor to gain entrance to the hut, break through +the flimsy grass-woven curtain over the doorway, and get Mr. and +Mrs. Illingway out. Ned, Mr. Damon and the other two men would +stand by to fire on the red pygmies as soon as they commenced the +attack, which they would undoubtedly do as soon as the guards of +the captives raised the alarm.</p> +<p>The airship was in darkness, for it would have been dangerous to +show a light. Some wakeful dwarf might see the moving illumination +in the sky, and raise a cry.</p> +<p>“Mos’ dere,” announced Tomba at length. And +then, for the first time, Ned and Tom had a glimpse of the hut. It +stood away from the others, and was easy to pick out in daylight, +but even the darkness offered no handicap to Tomba. “Right +over him now,” he suddenly called, as he leaned out of the +pilot house window, and looked down. “Right over place. Oh, +Tomba glad when he see Missy an’ Massy!”</p> +<p>“Yes, I hope you do see them,” murmured Tom, as he +pulled the lever which would pump the gas from the inflated bag, +and compress it into tanks, until it was needed again to make the +ship rise. Slowly the Black Hawk sank down.</p> +<p>“Get ready!” called Tom in a low voice.</p> +<p>It was a tense moment. Every one of the adventurers felt it, and +all but Tom grasped their weapons with tighter grips. They were +ready to spring out as soon as a landing was made. Tom managed the +machinery in the dark, for he knew every wheel, gear and lever, and +could have put his hand on any one with his eyes shut. The two +loaded revolvers were on a shelf in front of him. The side door of +the pilot house was ajar, to allow him quick egress.</p> +<p>Tomba, armed with a big club he had picked up in the jungle, was +ready to follow. The black was eager for the fray to begin, though +how he and the others would fare amid the savages was hard to +say.</p> +<p>Still not a sound broke the quiet. It was very dark, for nearly +all the camp fires, over which the nightly feast had been prepared, +were out. The hut could be dimly made out, however.</p> +<p>Suddenly there was a slight tremor through the ship. She seemed +to shiver, and bound upward a little.</p> +<p>“We’ve landed!” whispered Tom. “Now for +it! Come on, Tomba!”</p> +<p>The big black glided after the lad like a shadow. With his two +weapons held in readiness our hero went out on deck. The others, +with cocked rifles, stood ready for the attack to open. It had been +decided that as soon as the first alarm was given by the dwarfs, +which would probably be when Tom broke into the hut, the firing +would begin.</p> +<p>“Open!” called Tom to Tomba, and the big black +dashed his club through the grass curtain over the doorway of the +hut. He fairly leaped inside, with a cry of battle on his lips.</p> +<p>“Mr. Illingway! Mrs. Illingway!” called Tom, +“We’ve come to save you. Hurry out. The airship is just +outside!”</p> +<p>He fired one shot through the roof of the hut, so that the flash +would reveal to him whether or not the two missionaries were in the +place. He saw two forms rise up in front of him, and knew that they +were the white captives he had observed daring the former +attack.</p> +<p>“Oh, what is it?” he heard the woman ask.</p> +<p>“A rescue! Thank the dear Lord!” answered her +husband fervently. “Oh, whoever you are, God bless +you!”</p> +<p>“Come quickly!” cried Tom, “we haven’t a +moment to lose!”</p> +<p>He was speaking to absolute blackness now, for it was darker +immediately following the revolver flash than before. But he felt a +man’s hand thrust about his arm, and he knew it was Mr. +Illingway.</p> +<p>“Take your wife’s hand, and follow me,” +ordered Tom. “Come, Tomba! Are there any of the red pygmies +in here?”</p> +<p>He had not seen any at the weapon’s flash, but his +question was answered a moment later, for there arose from within +and without the hut a chorus of wild yells. At the same time Tom +felt small arms grasp him about the legs.</p> +<p>“Come on!” he yelled. “They’re awake and +after us!”</p> +<p>The din outside increased. Tom heard the rifles of his friends +crack. He saw, through the torn door curtain, the flashes of fire. +Then came a blue glare, and Tom knew that Mr. Durban was using the +electric weapon.</p> +<p>By these intermittent gleams Tom managed to see sufficiently to +thrust Mr. and Mrs. Illingway ahead of him. Tomba was at their +side. The yells inside the hut were almost deafening. All the red +dwarfs left to guard the captives had awakened, and they could see +well enough to attack Tom. Fortunately they had no weapons, but +they fairly threw themselves upon the sturdy lad, trying to pull +him down.</p> +<p>“Go on! Go on!” he yelled to the captives, fairly +pushing them along. Then, knowing they were out of the way, he +turned and fired his two revolvers as fast as he could pull the +triggers, into the very faces of the red imps who were seeking to +drag him down. Again and again he fired, until he had emptied both +cylinders of his weapons.</p> +<p>He felt the grasps of the fiendish little men relax one by one. +Tom finally dragged himself loose, and staggered out of the hut. +The captives and Tomba were right in front of him. At the airship, +which loomed up in the flashes from the guns and electric rifle, +Tom’s friends were giving battle. About them swarmed the +hordes of savages, with more of the imps pouring in every +moment.</p> +<p>“Get aboard!” cried Tom to the missionaries. +“Get on the airship, and we’ll move out of +this!”</p> +<p>He felt a stinging pain in his neck, where an arrow struck him. +He tore the arrow out, and rushed forward. Fairly pushing Mr. and +Mrs. Illingway up on deck before him, Tom followed. Tomba was +capering about his master and mistress, and he swung his big club +savagely. He had not been idle, and many a red imp had gone down +under his blows.</p> +<p>“Rescued! Rescued!” murmured Mr. Illingway, as Tom +hastened to the pilot house to start the motor.</p> +<h3>CHAPTER XXIV</h3> +<h2><a id="Ch_24" name="Ch_24"></a>TWO OTHER CAPTIVES</h2> +<p class="returnTOC"><a href="#Contents">Return to Table of +Contents</a></p> +<p>But the rescue was not yet accomplished. Those on the airship +were still in danger, and grave peril, for all about them were the +red savages, shouting, howling, yelling and capering about, as they +were now thoroughly aroused, and realized that their captives had +been taken away from them. They determined to get them back, and +were rallying desperately to battle. Nearly all of them were armed +by this time, and flight after flight of spears and arrows were +thrown or shot toward the airship.</p> +<p>Fortunately it was too dark to enable the pygmies to take good +aim. They were guided, to an extent, by the flashes of fire from +the rifles, but these were only momentary. Still some of our +friends received slight wounds, for they stood on the open deck of +the craft.</p> +<p>“Bless my eye-glasses!” suddenly exclaimed Mr. +Damon. “I’m stuck!”</p> +<p>“Don’t mind that!” advised Ned. “Keep on +pouring lead into them. We’ll soon be away from +here!”</p> +<p>“Don’t fire any more!” called Mr. Durban. +“The gun-flashes tell them where to shoot. I’ll use the +electric rifle. It’s better.”</p> +<p>They followed his advice, and put aside their weapons. By means +of the electric flash, which he projected into the midst of the +savages, without the glare coming on the airship, Mr. Durban was +able to tell where to aim. Once he had a mass of red pygmies +located, he could keep on shooting charge after charge into their +midst.</p> +<p>“Use it full power!” called Tom, as he opened the +gas machine to its widest capacity, so the bag would quickly fill, +and the craft be sent forward, for it was so dark, and the ground +near the huts so uneven, that the Black Hawk could not rise as an +aeroplane.</p> +<p>The elephant hunter turned on full strength in the electric gun +and the wireless bullets were sent into the midst of the attackers. +The result was surprising. They were so closely packed together +that when one was hit the electrical shock was sent through his +nearly naked body into the naked bodies of his tribesmen who +pressed on every side of him. In consequence whole rows of the +savages went down at a time, disabled from fighting any more.</p> +<p>Meanwhile Tom was working frantically to hasten the rising of +the airship. His neck pained him very much where the arrow had +struck him, but he dared not stop now to dress the wound. He could +feel the blood running down his side, but he shut his teeth grimly +and said nothing.</p> +<p>The two missionaries, scarcely able to believe that they were to +be saved, had been shown into an inner cabin by Tomba, who had +become somewhat used to the airship by this time, and who could +find his way about well in the dark, for no lights had yet been +turned on.</p> +<p>Hundreds of pygmies had been disabled, yet still others came to +take their places. The gas bag was again punctured in several +places, but the rents were small, and Tom knew that he could make +the gas faster than it could escape, unless the bag was ripped +open.</p> +<p>“They’re climbing up the sides!” suddenly +called Ned Newton, for he saw several of the little men clambering +up. “What shall we do?”</p> +<p>“Pound their fingers!” called Mr. Anderson. +“Get clubs and whack them!” It was good advice. Ned +remembered on one occasion when he and Tom were looking at Andy +Foger’s airship, how this method had been proposed when the +bank clerk hung on the back fence. As he grabbed up a stick, and +proceeded to pound the hands and bare arms of the savages who were +clinging to the railing, Ned found himself wondering what had +become of the bully. He was to see Andy sooner than he +expected.</p> +<p>Suddenly in the midst of the fighting, which was now a +hand-to-hand conflict, there was a tremor throughout the length of +the airship.</p> +<p>“She’s going up!” yelled Ned.</p> +<p>“Bless my check-book!” cried Mr. Damon, “if we +don’t look out some of these red imps will go up with us, +too!”</p> +<p>As he spoke he whacked vigorously at the hands of several of the +pygmies, who dropped off with howls of anguish.</p> +<p>The craft quickly shot upward. There were yells of terror from a +few of the red savages who remained clinging to different parts of +the Black Hawk and then, fearing they might be taken to the clouds, +they, too, dropped off. The rescuers and rescued mounted higher and +higher, and, when they were far enough up so that there was no +danger from the spears or arrows, Tom switched on the lights, and +turned the electric current into the search-lantern, the rays of +which beamed down on the mass of yelling and baffled savages +below.</p> +<p>“A few shots for them to remember us by!” cried Mr. +Durban, as he sent more of the paralyzing electric currents into +the red imps. Their yell of rage had now turned to shouts of +terror, for the gleaming beam of light frightened them more than +did the airship, or the bullets of the white men. The red pygmies +fled to their huts.</p> +<p>“I guess we gave them a lesson,” remarked Tom, as he +started the propellers and sent the ship on through the night.</p> +<p>“Why, Tom! You’re hurt!” cried Ned, who came +into the pilot house at that moment, and saw blood on his chum.</p> +<p>“Only a scratch,” the young inventor declared.</p> +<p>“It’s more than that,” said Mr. Durban who +looked at it a little later. “It must be bound up, +Tom.”</p> +<p>And, while Ned steered the ship back to the jungle clearing +whence they had come to make the night attack, Tom’s wound +was dressed.</p> +<p>Meanwhile the two missionaries had been well taken care of. They +were given other garments, even some dresses being provided for +Mrs. Illingway, for when the voyage was begun Tom had considered +the possibility of having a woman on board, and had bought some +ladies’ garments. Then, having cast down to earth the +ill-smelling skins which formed their clothes while captives, Mr. +and Mrs. Illingway, decently dressed, thanked Tom and the others +over and over again.</p> +<p>“We had almost given up hope,” said the lady, +“when we saw them drive you back after the first attack. Oh, +it is wonderful to think how you saved us, and in an +airship!” and she and her husband began their thanks over +again.</p> +<p>A good meal was prepared by Mr. Damon, for the rescuers and +rescued ones were hungry, and since they had been held prisoners +the two missionaries had not been given very good food.</p> +<p>“Oh, it hardly seems possible that we are eating with +white men again,” said Mr. Illingway, as he took a second cup +of coffee, “hardly possible!”</p> +<p>“And to see electric lights, instead of a +camp-fire,” added his wife. “What a wonderful airship +you have, Tom Swift.”</p> +<p>“Yes, it’s pretty good,” he admitted. +“It came in useful to-night, all right.”</p> +<p>They were now far enough from the savages, and the +pygmies’ fires, which had been set aglow anew when the attack +began, could no longer be observed.</p> +<p>“We’ll land at the place where we camped +before,” said Tom, who had again assumed charge of the ship, +“and in the morning we’ll start for +civilization.”</p> +<p>“No can get two other white men?” suddenly asked +Tomba, who had been sitting, gazing at his recovered master and +mistress. “Fly-ship go back, an’ leave two white mans +here?” the black asked.</p> +<p>“What in the world does he mean?” demanded Tom. +“Of course we’re not going to leave any of our party +behind!”</p> +<p>“Let me question him,” suggested Mr. Illingway, and +he began to talk to the African in his own tongue. A rapid +conversation followed, and a look of amazement spread over the +faces of the two missionaries, as they listened.</p> +<p>“What is it?” asked Mr. Durban. “What does +Tomba say?”</p> +<p>“Why the pygmies have two other white men in +captivity,” said Mr. Illingway. “They were brought in +yesterday, after you were driven away. Two white men, or, rather a +white man and a youth, according to Tomba. They are held in one of +the huts near where we were, but tied so they couldn’t escape +in the confusion”</p> +<p>“How does Tomba know this?” asked Mr. Damon.</p> +<p>“He says,” translated Mr. Illingway, after more +questioning of the black, “that he heard the red pygmies +boasting of it after we had escaped. Tomba says he heard them say +that, though we were gone, and could not be killed, or sacrificed, +the other two captives would meet that horrible fate.”</p> +<p>“Two other white captives in the hands of the red +imps!” murmured Tom. “We must rescue them!”</p> +<p>“You’re not going to turn back now, are you?” +asked Mr. Durban.</p> +<p>“No, but I will as soon as I look the ship over. +We’ll come back to- morrow. And we’ll have to make a +day attack or it will be too late to save them. Two other white +captives! I wonder who they can be.”</p> +<p>There was a big surprise in store for Tom Swift.</p> +<h3>CHAPTER XXV</h3> +<h2><a id="Ch_25" name="Ch_25"></a>THE ROGUE +ELEPHANT—CONCLUSION</h2> +<p class="returnTOC"><a href="#Contents">Return to Table of +Contents</a></p> +<p>Early the next day the airship was again afloat. The night, what +little of darkness remained after the rescue, had been spent in the +clearing in the dense jungle. Some slight repairs had been made to +the craft, and it was once more in readiness to be used in battle +against the relentless savages.</p> +<p>“We can’t wait for darkness,” declared Tom. +“In the first place there isn’t time, and again, we +don’t know in what part of the village the other captives +are. We’ll have to hunt around.”</p> +<p>“And that means going right down into the midst of the +imps and fighting them hand to hand,” said Ned.</p> +<p>“That’s what it means,” assented Tom grimly, +“but I guess the powder bombs will help some.”</p> +<p>Before starting they had prepared a number of improvised bombs, +filled with powder, which could be set off by percussion. It was +the plan to drop these down from the airship, into the midst of the +savages. When the bomb struck the ground, or even on the bodies of +the red dwarfs, it would explode. It was hoped that these would so +dismay the little men that they would desert the village, and leave +the way clear for a search to be made for the other captives.</p> +<p>On rushed the Black Hawk. There was to be no concealment this +time, and Tom did not care how much noise the motors made. +Accordingly he turned on full seed.</p> +<p>It was not long before the big plain was again sighted. +Everything was in readiness, and the bombs were at hand to be +dropped overboard. Tom counted on the natives gathering together in +great masses as soon as they sighted the airship, and this would +give him the opportunity wanted.</p> +<p>But something different transpired. No sooner was the craft +above the village, than from all the huts came pouring out the +little red men. But they did not gather together—at least +just then. They ran about excitedly, and it could be seen that they +were bringing from the huts the rude household utensils in which +they did their primitive cooking. The women had their babies, and +some, not so encumbered, carried rolls of grass matting. The men +had all their weapons.</p> +<p>“Bless my wagon wheel!” cried Mr. Damon. +“What’s going on?”</p> +<p>“It looks like moving day,” suggested Ned +Newton.</p> +<p>“That’s just what it is!” declared Mr. Durban. +“They are going to migrate. Evidently they have had enough of +us, and they’re going to get out of the neighborhood before +we get a chance to do any more damage. They’re moving, but +where are the white captives?”</p> +<p>He was answered a moment later, for a crowd of the dwarfs +rushing to a certain hut, came out leading two persons by means of +bark ropes tied about their necks. It was too far off to enable Tom +or the others to recognize them, but they could tell by the +clothing that they were white captives.</p> +<p>“We’ve got to save them!” exclaimed the young +inventor.</p> +<p>“How?” asked Mr. Damon. And, indeed, it did seem a +puzzle for, even as Tom looked, the whole tribe of red imps took up +the march into the jungle, dragging the white persons with them. +The captives looked up, saw the airship, and made frantic motions +for help. It was too far off, yet, to hear their voices. But the +distance was lessening every moment, for Tom had speeded the motor +to the highest pitch.</p> +<p>“What are you going to do?” demanded Ned.</p> +<p>“I’ll show you,” answered his chum. +“Take some of those bombs, and be ready to drop them +overboard when I give the word.”</p> +<p>“But we may kill those white people,” objected +Ned.</p> +<p>“Not the way I’m going to work it. You drop them +when I give the word.”</p> +<p>Tom steered the airship toward the head of the throng of blacks. +The captives were in the rear, and the van of the strange +procession was near the edge of the jungle now. Once the red dwarfs +got into the tangle of underbrush they could never be found, and +their captives would die a miserable death.</p> +<p>“We’ve got to stop them,” murmured Tom. +“Are you ready, Ned?”</p> +<p>“Ready!”</p> +<p>“Then drop the bombs!”</p> +<p>Ned dropped them. A sharp explosion was heard, and the head of +the procession was blown apart and thrown into confusion. The +throng halted.</p> +<p>“Drop more!” cried Tom, sending the ship about in a +circle, and hovering it over the middle of the press of +savages.</p> +<p>More of the deadly tombs exploded. The pygmies were running +about wildly. Tom, who was closely watching the rear of the +cavalcade, suddenly called out:</p> +<p>“Now’s our chance! They’ve let their captives +go, and are running into the jungle. We must swoop down, and get +the prisoners!”</p> +<p>It was no sooner said than the nose of the Black Hawk was +pointed downward. Onward it flew, the two captives wildly waving +their hands to the rescuers. There was no more danger from the red +savages. They had been thrown into panic and confusion, and wore +rapidly disappearing into the forest. The terrible weapons of the +whites had been too much for them.</p> +<p>“Quick! Get on board!” called Tom, as he brought the +machinery to a stop. The airship now rested on the ground, close to +the former captives. “Get in here!” shouted the young +inventor. “They may change their minds and come +back.”</p> +<p>The two white persons ran toward the Black Hawk. Then one of +them— the smaller—halted and cried out:</p> +<p>“Why, it’s Tom Swift!”</p> +<p>Tom turned and glanced at the speaker. A look of astonishment +spread over his face.</p> +<p>“Andy Foger—here!” gasped Tom. “How in +the world—?”</p> +<p>“I dink besser as ve git on der board, und dalk +aftervard!” exclaimed Andy’s companion, who spoke with +a strong German accent. “I like not dose red little +mans.”</p> +<p>In another minute the two rescued ones were safe on Tom +Swift’s airship, and it had arisen high enough to be out of +all danger.</p> +<p>“How in the world did you ever get here?” asked Tom +of the lad who had so often been his enemy.</p> +<p>“I’ll tell you soon,” spoke Andy, “but +first, Tom, I want to ask your forgiveness for all I’ve done +to you, and to thank you, from the bottom of my heart, for saving +us. I thought we were going to be killed by those dwarfs; +didn’t you, Herr Landbacher?”</p> +<p>“Sure I did. But ve are all right now. Dis machine is efen +besser as mine vot vos lost. Is dere anyt’ing to eats, on +board, if you vill excuse me for being so bolt as to +ask?”</p> +<p>“Plenty to eat,” said Tom, laughing, “and +while you eat you can tell us your story. And as for you, Andy, I +hope we’ll be friends from now on,” and Tom held out +his hand.</p> +<p>There was not much to tell that the reader has not already +guessed. Andy and the German, as has been explained, went abroad to +give airship flights. They were in the lower part of Egypt, and a +sudden gale drove them into Africa.</p> +<p>For a long time they sailed on, and then their fuel gave out, +and they had to descend into the jungle. They managed to fall in +with some friendly blacks, who treated them well. The airship was +useless without gasolene, and it was abandoned.</p> +<p>Andy and the German inventor were planning to walk to some white +settlement, when the tribe they were with was attacked by the red +dwarfs and vanquished. Andy and his friend were taken prisoners, +and carried to the very village where the missionaries were, just +before the latter’s rescue.</p> +<p>Then came the fight, and the saving of Andy and the German, +almost at the last minute.</p> +<p>“Well, you certainly had nearly as many adventures as we +did,” said Tom. “But I guess they’re over +now.”</p> +<p>But they were not. For several days the airship sailed on over +the jungles without making a descent. Mr. and Mrs. Illingway wished +to be landed at a white settlement where they had other missionary +friends. Tom would go with them. This was done, and Tom and the +others spent some time in this place, receiving so many kinds of +thanks that they had to protest.</p> +<p>Andy and Herr Landbacher asked to be taken back to the coast, +where they could get a steamer to America. Andy was a very +different lad now, and not the bully of old.</p> +<p>“Well, hadn’t we better be thinking of getting back +home?” asked Tom one day.</p> +<p>“Not until we get some more ivory,” declared Mr. +Durban. “I think we’ll have to have another elephant +hunt.”</p> +<p>They did, about a week later, and got some magnificent tusks. +Tom’s electric rifle did great work, to the wonder of Andy +and Mr. Landbacher, who had never before seen such a curious +weapon. They also did some night hunting.</p> +<p>“But we haven’t got that pair of extra large tusks +that I want,” said the old hunter, as he looked at the store +of ivory accumulated after the last hunt. “I want those, and +then I’ll be satisfied. There is one section of the country +that we have not touched as yet, and I’d like to visit +that.”</p> +<p>“Then let’s go,” proposed Tom, so, good-bys +having been said to the missionaries, who sent greetings to their +friends in America, and to the church people who had arranged for +their rescue, the airship was once more sent to the deepest part of +a certain jungle, where Mr. Durban hoped to get what he wanted.</p> +<p>They had another big hunt, but none of the elephants had any +remarkable tusks, and the hunter was about to give up in despair, +and call the expedition over, when one afternoon, as they were +sailing along high enough to merely clear the tops of the trees, +Tom heard a great crashing down below.</p> +<p>“There’s something there,” he called to Mr. +Durban. “Perhaps a small herd of elephants. Shall we go +down?”</p> +<p>Before Mr. Durban could answer there came into view, in a small +clearing, an elephant of such size, and with such an enormous pair +of tusks, that the young inventor and the old hunter could not +repress cries of astonishment.</p> +<p>“There’s your beast!” said Tom. +“I’ll go down and you can pot him,” and, as he +spoke, Tom stopped the propellers, so that the ship hung motionless +in the air above where the gigantic brute was.</p> +<p>Suddenly, as though possessed by a fit of rage, the elephant +rushed at a good-sized tree and began butting it with his head. +Then, winding his trunk around it he pulled it up by the roots, and +began trampling on it out of a paroxysm of anger.</p> +<p>“A rogue elephant!” exclaimed Mr. Durban. +“Don’t go down if you value your life, or the safety of +the airship. If we attacked that brute on the ground, we would be +the hunted instead of the hunters. That’s a rogue elephant of +the worst kind, and he’s at the height of his +rage.”</p> +<p>This was indeed so, for the beast was tearing about the clearing +like mad, breaking off trees, and uprooting them in sheer +vantonness. Tom knew what a “rogue” elephant was. It is +a beazt that goes away from the herd, and lives solitary and alone, +attacking every living thing that comes in his way. It is a species +of masness, a disease which attacks elephants and sometimes passes +away. More often the afflicted creature gives battle to everything +and every animal he meets until he is killed or carried off by his +malady. It was sueh an elephant that Tom now saw, and he realized +what the hunter said about attacking one, as he saw the +brute’s mad rushes.</p> +<p>“Well, if it’s dangerous to attack him on the +ground, we’ll kill him from up above,” said the young +inventor. “Here is the electric rifle, Mr. Durban. I’ll +let you have the honor of getting those tusks. My! But +they’re whoppers! Better use almost a full charge. +Don’t take any chances on merely wounding him, and having him +rush off to the jungle.”</p> +<p>“I won’t,” said the old hunter, and he +adjusted the electric rifle which Tom handed him.</p> +<p>As the great beast was tearing around, trumpeting shrilly and +breaking off trees Mr. Durban fired. The creature sank down, +instantly killed, and was out of his misery, for often it is great +pain which makes an otherwise peaceable elephant become a +“rogue.”</p> +<p>“He’s done for,” said Ned. “I guess you +have the tusks you want now, Mr. Durban.”</p> +<p>“I think so,” agreed the hunter, and when the +airship was sent down, and the ivory cut out, it was found that the +tusks were even larger than they had supposed. “It is a prize +worth having,” said Mr. Durban. “I’m sure my +customer will think so, too. Now I’m ready to head for the +coast.”</p> +<p>Tom Swift went to the engine room, while the last big tusks were +being stored away with the other ivory. Several parts of the motor +needed oiling, and Ned was assisting in this work.</p> +<p>“Going to start soon?” asked Mr. Durban, appearing +in the doorway.</p> +<p>“Yes; why?” inquired Tom, who noted an anxious note +in the voice of the hunter.</p> +<p>“Well, I don’t like staying longer in this jungle +than I can help. It’s not healthy in the first place, and +then it’s a wild and desolate place, where all sorts of wild +beasts are lurking, and where wandering hands of natives may appear +at any time.”</p> +<p>“You don’t mean that the red pygmies will come back; +do you?” asked Ned.</p> +<p>“There’s no telling,” replied Mr. Durban with +a shrug of his shoulders. “Only, as long as we’ve got +what we’re after, I’d start off as soon as +possible.”</p> +<p>“Yes, don’t run any chances with those little red +men,” begged Andy Foger, who had given himself up for lost +when he and his companion fell into their hands.</p> +<p>“Radder vould I be mit cannibals dan dose little +imps!” spoke the German fervently.</p> +<p>“We’ll start at once,” declared Tom. +“Are you all aboard, and is everything loaded into the +airship?”</p> +<p>“Everything. I guess.” answered Mr. Anderson.</p> +<p>Tom looked to the motor, saw that it was in working order, and +shoved over the lever of the gas machine to begin the generating of +the lifting vapor. To his surprise there was no corresponding hiss +that told of the gas rushing into the bag.</p> +<p>“That’s odd,” he remarked. “Ned, see if +anything is wrong with that machine. I’ll pull the lever +again.”</p> +<p>The bank clerk stood beside the apparatus, while Tom worked the +handle, but whatever was the matter with it was too intricate or +complicated for Ned to solve.</p> +<p>“I can’t see what ails it,” he called to his +chum. “You better have a peep.”</p> +<p>“All right, I’ll look if you work the +handle.”</p> +<p>The passengers on the airship, which now rested in a little +clearing in the dense jungle, gathered at the engine room door, +looking at Tom and Ned as they worked over the machine.</p> +<p>“Bless my pulley wheel!” exclaimed Mr. Damon +“I hope nothing has gone wrong.”</p> +<p>“Well something has!” declared the young inventor in +a muffled voice, for he was down on his hands and knees peering +under the gas apparatus. “One of the compression cylinders +has cracked,” he added dubiously. “It must have snapped +when we landed this last time. I came down too heavily.”</p> +<p>“What does that mean?” asked Mr. Durban, who did not +know much about machinery.</p> +<p>“It means that I’ve got to put a new cylinder +in,” went on Tom. “It’s quite a job, too, but we +can’t make gas without it!”</p> +<p>“Well, can’t you do it just as well up in the air as +down here?” asked Mr. Durban. “Make an ascension, Tom, +and do the repairs up above, where we’ve got good air, and +where—”</p> +<p>He paused suddenly, and seemed to be listening.</p> +<p>“What is it?” asked the young inventor quickly. +There was no need to answer, for, from the jungle without, came the +dull booming of the war drums of some natives.</p> +<p>“That’s what I was afraid of!” cried the old +elephant hunter, catching up his gun. “Some black scout has +seen us and is summoning his tribesmen. Hurry, Tom, send up the +ship, and we’ll take care of the savages.”</p> +<p>“But I CAN’T send her up!” cried Tom.</p> +<p>“You can’t? Why not?”</p> +<p>“Because the gas machine won’t work until I put in a +new cylinder, and that will take at least a half a day.”</p> +<p>“Go up as an aeroplane then!” cried Mr. Damon. +“Bless my monkey wrench, Tom, you’ve often done it +before.”</p> +<p>For answer Tom waved his hand toward the thick jungle all about +them.</p> +<p>“We haven’t room to get a running start of ten +feet.” he said, “and without a start the airship can +never rise as a mere aeroplane. The only way we can get up from the +jungle is like a balloon, and without the gas—”</p> +<p>He paused significantly. The sound of the war drums became +louder, and to it was added a weird singing chant.</p> +<p>“The natives!” cried Mr. Anderson. +“They’re coming right this way! We must fight them off +if they attack us!”</p> +<p>“Where’s the electric rifle?” asked Ned. +“Get that out, Tom!”</p> +<p>“Wait!” suggested Mr. Durban. “This is +serious! It looks as if they were going to attack us, and they have +us at a disadvantage. Our only safety is in flight, but as Tom says +we can’t go up until the gas machine is fixed, he will have +to attend to that part of it while we keep off the black men. Tom, +we can’t spare you to fight this time! You repair the ship as +soon as you can, and we’ll guard her from the natives. And +you’ve got to work lively!”</p> +<p>“I will!” cried the young inventor. +“It’s luck we have a spare cylinder!”</p> +<p>Suddenly there was a louder shout in the jungle and it was +followed by a riot of sound. War drums were beaten, tom-toms +clashed and the natives howled.</p> +<p>“Here they are!” cried Mr. Anderson.</p> +<p>“Bless my suspenders!” shouted Mr. Damon. +“Where is my gun?”</p> +<p>“Here, you take mine, and I’ll use the electric +rifle,” answered the elephant hunter. As he spoke there was a +hissing sound in the air and a flight of spears passed over the +airship.</p> +<p>The defenders slipped outside, while Tom, with Ned to help him, +worked feverishly to repair the break. They were in a serious +strait, for with the airship practically helpless they were at the +mercy of the natives. And as Tom glanced momentarily from the +window, he saw scores of black, half-naked forms slipping in and +out among the trees and trailing vines.</p> +<p>Soon the rifles of his friends began to crack, and the yells of +the natives were changed to howls of anguish. The electric weapon, +though it made no noise, did great execution.</p> +<p>“I only hope they don’t puncture the gas bag,” +murmured Tom. as he began taking the generating machine apart so as +to get out the cracked cylinder.</p> +<p>“If they do, it’s all up with us,” murmured +Ned.</p> +<p>After their first rush, finding that the white men were on the +alert, the blacks withdrew some distance, where their spears and +arrows were not so effective. Our friends, including Andy Foger, +and the German, kept up a hot fire whenever a skulking black form +could be seen.</p> +<p>But, though the danger from the spears and arrows was less, a +new peril presented itself. This was from the blow guns. The +curious weapons shot small arrows, tipped with tufts of a cottony +substance in place of feathers, and could be sent for a long +distance. The barbs were not strong enough to pierce the tough +fabric of the gas bag, as a spear or arrow would have done, but +there was more danger from them to our friends who were on +deck.</p> +<p>“Those barbs may be poisoned,” said Mr. Durban, +“and in case any one is wounded, the wound, though it be but +a scratch, must be treated with antiseptics. I have +some.”</p> +<p>This course was followed, the elephant hunter being wounded +twice, and Andy Foger and Mr. Damon once each. There was not a +native to be seen now, for they were hiding behind the trees of the +jungle, but every now and then a blowgun barb would whizz out of +the forest.</p> +<p>Finally Mr. Durban suggested that they erect improvised +shelters, behind which they could stand with their rifle, and +breastworks were made out of packing boxes. Then our friends were +comparatively safe. But they had to be on the alert, and it was +nervous work, for they could not tell what minute the blacks would +rush from the jungle, and, in spite of the fire from the electric +rifle and other guns, overwhelm the ship.</p> +<p>It was very trying to Tom and Ned, for they had to work hard and +rapidly in the close engine room. The sweat dripped down off them, +but they kept at it. It was three hours before the broken cylinder +was removed, and it was no light task to put in the other, for the +valves had to be made very tight to prevent leakage.</p> +<p>The two lads stopped to get something to eat, while the guards +kept sharp watch against a surprise. At intervals came a flight of +barbs, and occasionally a black form could be seen, when it was +instantly fired at. Several times the barbaric noise of the +tom-toms and war drums, with which the shouts of the natives +mingled, broke out deafeningly.</p> +<p>“Think you can repair it by night?” asked Mr. Durban +anxiously of Tom.</p> +<p>“I hope so,” was the response.</p> +<p>“Because if we have to stay here after dark—well, I +don’t want to do it if I can help it,” finished the +hunter.</p> +<p>Neither did the young inventor, and he redoubled his efforts to +make the repairs. It was getting dark when the last belt was in +place, and it was high time, too, for the natives were getting +bolder, creeping up through the forest to within shooting distance +with their arrows and spears.</p> +<p>“There!” cried Tom at length. “Now we’ll +see if she works!” Once more he pulled the starting lever, +and this time there was the welcome hiss of the gas.</p> +<p>“Hurrah!” cried Ned.</p> +<p>The young inventor turned the machine on at full power. In a few +minutes the Black Hawk trembled through her length.</p> +<p>“She’s going up! Bless my balloon basket! +She’s going up!” cried Mr. Damon.</p> +<p>The natives must have suspected that something unusual was going +on, for they made a sudden rush, yelling and beating their drums. +Mr. Durban and the others hurried out on deck and fired at them, +but there vas little more need. With a bound the airship left the +earth, being rapidly carried up by the gas. The blacks sent a final +shower of spears after her, but only one was effective, slightly +wounding the German. Then Tom started the motor, the propellers +whizzed, and the Black Hawk was once more under way, just as night +settled over the jungle, and upon the horde of black and howling +savages that rushed around, maddened over the escape of their +intended victims.</p> +<p>No further accidents marred the trip to the coast, which was +reached in due time, and very glad our friends were to be away from +the jungle and the land of the red pygmies.</p> +<p>A division was made of the ivory, and Tom’s share was +large enough to provide him with a substantial amount. Ned and Mr. +Damon were also given a goodly sum from the sale of the tusks. The +big ones, from the “rogue,” were shipped to the man who +had commissioned Mr. Durban to secure them for him.</p> +<p>“Well, now for home,” said Tom, when the airship had +been taken apart for shipment. “I guess you’ll be glad +to get back to the United States, won’t you, +friends?”</p> +<p>“That’s what,” agreed Andy Foger. “I +think I’m done with airships. Ugh! When I think of those red +dwarfs I can’t sleep nights!”</p> +<p>“Yah, dot iss so!” agreed the German.</p> +<p>“Well, I’m going to settle down for a time,” +declared Tom. “I’ve had enough adventures for a while, +but those in elephant land—”</p> +<p>“They certainly put it all over the things that happen to +some people!” interrupted Ned with a laugh.</p> +<p>“Bless my fish-line, that’s so!” agreed Mr. +Damon.</p> +<p>But Tom Swift was not done with adventures, and what farther +happened to him may be learned by reading the next volume of this +series, which will be entitled, “Tom Swift in the City of +Gold; or, Marvelous Adventures Underground.”</p> +<p>They all made a safe and pleasant voyage home, and as news of +the rescue of the missionaries had been cabled to America, Tom and +his friends were met, as they left the steamer, by a crowd of +newspaper reporters, who got a good story of the battle with the +red pygmies, though Tom was inclined to make light of his part in +the affair.</p> +<p>“Now for Shopton, home, Dad, Eradicate Sampson and his +mule!” exclaimed Tom, as they boarded a train in New +York.</p> +<p>“And somebody else, too, I guess; eh?” asked Ned of +his chum, with a laugh.</p> +<p>“That’s none of your affair!” declared Tom, as +he blushed, and then he, too, joined in the merriment.</p> +<p>And now, for a time, we will say good-by to the young inventor +and his friends.</p> +<hr class="full" /> +<pre> +End of Project Gutenberg's Tom Swift and His Electric Rifle, by Appleton +</pre> +</body> +</html> diff --git a/old/10tom10h.zip b/old/10tom10h.zip Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..4a7f639 --- /dev/null +++ b/old/10tom10h.zip diff --git a/old/10tom10l.lit b/old/10tom10l.lit Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..9aba279 --- /dev/null +++ b/old/10tom10l.lit diff --git a/old/10tom10l.zip b/old/10tom10l.zip Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..b26ac77 --- /dev/null +++ b/old/10tom10l.zip diff --git a/old/10tom10p.prc b/old/10tom10p.prc Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..4afd364 --- /dev/null +++ b/old/10tom10p.prc diff --git a/old/10tom10p.zip b/old/10tom10p.zip Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..b9f494d --- /dev/null +++ b/old/10tom10p.zip |