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;