第 16 节
作者:
千顷寒 更新:2021-02-20 15:27 字数:9288
the closely packed body of elephants; so Tom could get good pictures; for
the herd had divided; and a small number had gone off with one of the
other bulls。
〃Yes; I'll get some great pictures;〃 agreed Tom; as he looked in through
a red covered opening in the camera; to see how much film was left。
The airship was now so low down that Tom; and the others; could
easily make out the faces of the hunters; and the native helpers。 One of the
hunters; evidently the chief; shaking his fist at our hero; cried:
〃Can't you take your blooming ship out of the way; my man? It's
scaring the beasts; and we've been a couple of weeks on this drive。 We
don't want to lose all our work。 Take your bloody ship away!〃
〃I guess he must be an Englishman;〃 remarked Mr。 Nestor; with a
laugh。
〃Bless my dictionary; I should say so;〃 agreed Mr。 Damon。 〃Bloody;
blooming ship! The idea!〃
〃Well; I suppose we have scared the beasts;〃 said Tom。 〃We ought to
get out of the way。 Put her up; Ned; and we'll come down some distance in
advance。〃
〃Why; aren't you going to take any more views of the elephants?〃
〃Yes; but I've got enough of a view from above。 Besides; I've got to
put in a fresh reel of film; and I might as well get out of their sight to do it。
Maybe that will quiet them; and the hunters can turn them back toward the
stockade。 If they do; I have another plan。〃
62
… Page 63…
TOM SWIFT AND HIS WIZARD CAMERA
〃What is it?〃 his chum wanted to know。
〃I'm going to make a landing; set up my camera at the entrance to the
stockade; and get a series of pictures as the animals come in。 I think that
will be a novelty。
〃That certainly will;〃 agreed Mr。 Nestor。 〃I am sure Mr。 Period will
appreciate that。 But won't it be dangerous; Tom?〃
〃I suppose so; but I'm getting used to danger;〃 replied our hero; with a
laugh。
Ned put the ship high into the air; as Tom shut off the power from the
camera。 Then the Flyer was sent well on in advance of the stampede of
elephants; so they could no longer see it; or hear the throb of the powerful
engines。 Tom hoped that this would serve to quiet the immense creatures。
As the travelers flew on; over the jungle; they could still hear the
racket made by the hunters and beaters; and the shrill trumpeting of the
elephants; as they crashed through the forest。
Tom at once began changing the film in the camera; and Ned altered
the course of the airship; to send it back toward the stockade; which they
had passed just before coming upon the herd of elephants。
I presume most of my readers know what an elephant drive is like。 A
stockade; consisting of heavy trees; is made in the jungle。 It is like the old
fashioned forts our forefathers used to make; for a defense against the
Indians。 There is a broad entrance to it; and; when all is in readiness; the
beaters go out into the jungle; with the white hunters; to round up the
elephants。 A number of tame pachyderms are taken along to persuade the
wild ones to follow。 Gradually the elephants are gathered together in a
large body; and gently driven toward the stockade。 The tame elephants go
in first; and the others follow。 Then the entrance is closed; and all that
remains to be done is to tame the wild beasts; a not very easy task。
〃Are you all ready?〃 asked Ned; after a bit; as he saw Tom come
forward with the camera。
〃Yes; I'm loaded for some more excitement。 You can put me right over
the stockade now; Ned; and when we see the herd coming back I'll go
down; and take some views from the ground。〃
〃I think they've got 'em turned;〃 said Mr。 Damon。 〃It sounds as if they
63
… Page 64…
TOM SWIFT AND HIS WIZARD CAMERA
were coming back this way。〃
A moment later they had a glimpse of the herd down below。 It was true
that the hunters had succeeded in stopping the stampede; and once more
the huge beasts were going in the right direction。
〃There's a good place to make a landing;〃 suggested Tom; as he saw a
comparatively clear place in the jungle。 〃It's near the stockade; and; in case
of danger; I can make a quick get…away。〃
〃What kind of danger are you looking for?〃 asked Ned; as he shifted
the deflecting rudder。
〃Oh; one of the beasts might take a notion to chase me。〃
The landing was made; and Tom; taking Ned and Mr。 Nestor with him;
and leaving the others to manage the airship in case a quick flight would
be necessary; made his way along a jungle trail to the entrance to the
stockade。 He carried his camera with him; for it was not heavy。
On came the elephants; frightened by the shouts and cries of the
beaters; and the firing of guns。 The young inventor took his place near the
stockade entrance; and; as the elephants advanced through the forest;
tearing up trees and bushes; Tom got some good pictures of them。
Suddenly the advance of the brutes was checked; and the foremost of
them raised their trunks; trumpeted in anger; and were about to turn back
again。
〃Get away from that bloomin' gate!〃 shouted a hunter to Tom。 〃You're
scaring them as bad as your airship did。〃
〃Yes; they won't go in with you there!〃 added another man。
Tom slipped around the corner of the stockade; out of sight; and from
that vantage point he took scores of pictures; as the tame animals led the
wild ones into the fenced enclosure。 Then began another wild scene as the
gate was closed。
The terrified animals rushed about; trying in vain to find a way of
escape。 Tom managed to climb up on top of the logs; and got some
splendid pictures。 But this was nearly his undoing。 For; just as the last
elephant rushed in; a big bull charged against the stockade; and jarred Tom
so that he was on the point of falling。 His one thought was about his
camera; and he looked to see if he could drop it on the soft grass; so it
64
… Page 65…
TOM SWIFT AND HIS WIZARD CAMERA
would not be damaged。
He saw Koku standing below him; the giant having slipped out of the
airship; to see the beasts at closer range。
〃Catch this; Koku!〃 cried Tom; tossing the big man his precious
camera; and the giant caught it safely。 But Tom's troubles were not over。 A
moment later; as the huge elephant again rammed the fence; Tom fell off;
but fortunately outside。 Then the large beast; seeing a small opening in the
gate that was not yet entirely closed; made for it。 A moment later he was
rushing straight at Tom; who was somewhat stunned by his fall; though it
was not a severe one。
〃Look out!〃 yelled Ned。
〃Take a tree; Tom!〃 cried Mr。 Nestor。
The elephant paid no attention to any one but Tom; whom he seemed
to think had caused all his trouble。 The young inventor dashed to one side;
and then started to run toward the airship; for which Ned and Mr。 Nestor
were already making。 The elephant hunters at last succeeded in closing the
gate; blocking the chance of any more animals to escape。
〃Run; Tom! Run!〃 yelled Ned; and Tom ran as he had never run before。
The elephant was close after him though; crashing through the jungle。 Tom
could see the airship just ahead of him。
Suddenly he felt something grasp him from behind。 He thought surely
it was the elephant's trunk; but a quick glance over his shoulder showed
him the friendly face of Koku; the giant。
〃Me run for you;〃 said Koku; as he caught Tom up under one arm; and;
carrying the camera under the other; he set off at top speed。 Now Koku
could run well at times; and this time he did。 He easily outdistanced the
elephant; and; a little later; he set Tom down on the deck of the airship;
with the camera beside him。 Then Ned and Mr。 Nestor came up panting;
having run to one side。
〃Quick!〃 cried Tom。 〃We must get away before the elephant charges
the Flyer。〃
〃He has stopped;〃 shouted Mr。 Nestor; and it was indeed so。 The big
beast; seeing again the strange craft that had frightened him before; stood
still for a moment; and then plunged off into the jungle; trumpeting with