tom swift and his wizard camera(汤姆·史威夫特和他的女巫相机)-第13章
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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； 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。〃
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〃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
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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
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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
