第 15 节
作者:
千顷寒 更新:2021-02-20 15:27 字数:9321
suddenly; and spread rapidly。 Kind persons aboard the Belchar looked
after the unfortunates。 Luckily there was not a large passenger list on the
tramp。 And the crew was comparatively small; so it was not hard work to
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make room for them; or take care of them; aboard the Belchar。
Tom developed his pictures; and produced then in one of the large
saloons; on a machine he borrowed from the man of whom Ned had
spoken。 A dollar admission was charged; and the crowd was so large that
Tom had to give two performances。 The films; showing the burning
steamer and the rescue; were excellent; and enough money was realized to
aid; most substantially; the unfortunate passengers and crew。
A few days later a New York bound steamer was spoken; and on it
Tom sent the roll of developed films to Mr。 Period; with a letter of
explanation。
I will not give all the details of the rest of the voyage。 Sufficient to say
that no accidents marred it; nor did Tom discover any suspicious
characters aboard。 In due time our friends arrived at Calcutta; and were
met by an agent of Mr。 Period; for he had men in all quarters of the world;
making films for him。
This agent took Tom and his party to a hotel; and arranged to have the
airship parts sent to a large open shed; not far away; where it could be
put together。 The wonderful scenes in the Indian city interested Tom and
his companions for a time; but they had observed so many strange sights
from time to time that they did not marvel greatly。 Koku; however; was
much delighted。 He was like a child。
〃What are you going to do first?〃 asked Ned; when they had recovered
from the fatigue of the ocean voyage and had settled themselves in the
hotel。
〃Put the airship together;〃 replied our hero; 〃and then; after getting
some Durbar pictures; we'll head for the jungle。 I want to get some
elephant pictures; showing the big beasts being captured。〃
Mr。 Period's agent was a great help to them in this。 He secured native
helpers; who aided Tom in assembling the airship; and in a week or two it
was ready for a flight。 The wonderful camera; too; was looked over; and
the picture agent said he had never seen a better one。
〃It can take the kind of pictures I never could;〃 he said。 〃I get Calcutta
street scenes for Mr。 Period; and occasionally I strike a good one。 But I
wish I had your chance。〃
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Tom invited him to come along in the airship; but the agent; who only
looked after Mr。 Period's interests as a side issue; could not leave his work。
The airship was ready for a flight; stores and provisions had been put
on board; there was enough gasoline for the motor; and gas for the balloon
bag; to carry the Flyer thousands of miles。 The moving picture camera had
been tested after the sea voyage; and had been found to work perfectly。
Many rolls of films were taken along。 Tom got some fine views of the
Durbar of India; and his airship created a great sensation。
〃Now I guess we're all ready for the elephants;〃 said Tom one day as
he came back from an inspection of the airship as it rested in the big shed。
〃We'll start to…morrow morning; and head for the jungle。〃
Amid the cries from a throng of wondering and awed natives; and with
the farewells of Mr。 Period's agent ringing in their ears; Tom and his party
made an early start。 The Flyer rose like a bird; and shot across the city;
while on the house tops many people watches the strange sight。 Tom did
not start his camera working; as Mr。 Period's agent said he had made many
pictures of the Indian city; and even one taken from an airship; would not
be much of a novelty。
Tom had made inquiries; and learned that by a day's travel in his
airship (though it would have been much longer ordinarily) he could reach
a jungle where elephants might be found。 Of course there was nothing
certain about it; as the big animals roamed all over; being in one district
one day; and on the next; many miles off。
Gradually the city was left behind; and some time later the airship was
sailing along over the jungle。 After the start; when Ned and Tom; with Mr。
Damon helping occasionally; had gotten the machinery into proper
adjustment; the Flyer almost ran herself。 Then Tom took his station
forward; with his camera in readiness; and a powerful spyglass at hand; so
that he might see the elephants from a distance。
He had been told that; somewhere in the district for which he was
headed; an elephant drive was contemplated。 He hoped to be on hand to
get pictures of it; and so sent his airship ahead at top speed。
On and on they rode; being as much at ease in the air as they would
have been if traveling in a parlor car。 They did not fly high; as it was
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necessary to be fairly close to the earth to get good pictures。
〃Well; I guess we won't have any luck to…day;〃 remarked Ned; as night
approached; and they had had no sight of the elephants。 They had gone
over mile after mile of jungle; but had seen few wild beasts in sufficient
numbers to make it worth while to focus the camera on them。
〃We'll float along to…night;〃 decided Tom; 〃and try again in the
morning。〃
It was about ten o'clock the next day; when Ned; who had relieved
Tom on watch; uttered a cry:
〃What is it?〃 asked his chum; as he rushed forward。 〃Has anything
happened?〃
〃Lots!〃 cried Ned。 〃Look!〃 He pointed down below。 Tom saw;
crashing through the jungle; a big herd of elephants。 Behind them; almost
surrounding them; in fact; was a crowd of natives in charge of white
hunters; who were driving the herd toward a stockade。
〃There's a chance for a grand picture!〃 exclaimed Tom; as he got the
camera ready。 〃Take charge of the ship; Ned。 Keep her right over the big
animals; and I'll work the camera。〃
Quickly he focused the lens on the strange scene below him。 There
was a riot of trumpeting from the elephants。 The beaters and hunters
shouted and yelled。 Then they saw the airship and waved their hands to
Tom and his friends; but whether to welcome them; or warn them away;
could not be told。
The elephants were slowly advancing toward the stockade。 Tom was
taking picture after picture of them; when suddenly as the airship came
lower; in response to a signal to Ned from the young inventor; one of the
huge pachyderms looked up; and saw the strange sight。 He might have
taken it for an immense bird。 At any rate he gave a trumpet of alarm; and
the next minute; with screams of rage and fear; the elephants turned; and
charged in a wild stampede on those who were driving them toward the
stockade。
〃Look!〃 cried Ned。 〃Those hunters and natives will be killed!〃
〃I'm afraid so!〃 shouted Tom; as he continued to focus his camera on
the wonderful sight。
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CHAPTER XII
THE LION FIGHT
Crashing through the jungle the huge beasts turned against those who
had; been driving them on toward the stockade。 With wild shouts and yells;
the hunters and their native helpers tried to turn back the elephant tide; but
it was useless。 The animals had been frightened by the airship; and were
following their leader; a big bull; that went crashing against great trees;
snapping them off as if they were pipe stems。
〃Say; this is something like!〃 cried Ned; as he guided the airship over
the closely packed body of elephants; so Tom could get good pictures; for
the herd had divided;