tom swift and his wizard camera(汤姆·史威夫特和他的女巫相机)-第20章
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〃I either；〃 admitted Tom。 〃But； if things go right； I'm going to get some
dandy films！〃
Nearer and nearer the rival forces advanced。 At first they had stared；
and shouted in wonder at the sight of the airship； hovering above them； but
their anger soon drew their attention to the fighting at hand； and； after
useless gestures toward the craft of the air； and after some of them had
vainly fired their guns or arrows at it； they paid no more attention； but
rushed on with their shouts and cries and amid the beating of their rude
drums。
〃I think I'll begin to take pictures now；〃 said Tom； as Ned； in charge of
the ship； sent it about in a circle； giving a general view of the rival forces。
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〃I'll show a scene of the two crowds getting ready for business； and； later
on； when they're actually giving each other cats and dogs； I'll get all the
pictures possible。〃
The camera was started while； safe in the a those on the Flyer watched
what went on below them。
Suddenly the forward squads of the two small armies of blacks met。
With wild； weird yells they rushed at each other。 The air was filled with
flying arrows and spears。 The sound of the old… fashioned muzzle…loading
guns could he heard； and clouds of smoke arose。 Tilting his camera； and
arranging the newly attached reflecting mirrors so as to give the effect as if
a spectator was looking at the battle from in front； instead of from above；
Tom Swift took picture after picture。
The fight was now on。 With yells of rage and defiance the Africans
came together； giving blow for blow。 It was a wild melee； and those on the
airship looked on fascinated； though greatly wishing that such horrors
could be stopped。
〃How about it； Tom？〃 cried Ned。
〃Everything going good！ I don't like this business； but now I'm in it
I'm going to stick。 Put me down a little lower；〃 answered the young
inventor。
〃All right。 I say Tom； look over there。〃
〃Where？〃
〃By that lightning…struck gum tree。 See those two men； and some sort
of a machine they've got stuck up on stilts？ See it？〃
〃Sure。 Those are the two Englishmenmy rivals！ They're taking
pictures； too！〃
And then； with a crash and roar； with wild shouts and yells； with
volley after volley of firearms； clouds of smoke and flights of arrows and
spears； the native battle was in full swing； while the young inventor；
sailing above it in his airship； reeled off view after view of the strange
sight。
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CHAPTER XIX
A HEAVY LOSS
〃Bless my battle axe； but this is awful！〃 cried Mr。 Damon。
〃War is always a fearful thing；〃 spoke Mr。 Nestor。 〃But this is not as
bad as if the natives fought with modern weapons。 See！ most of them are
fighting with clubs； and their fists。 They don't seem to hurt each other very
much。〃
〃That's so；〃 agreed Mr。 Damon。 The two gentlemen were in the main
cabin； looking down on the fight below them； while Tom； with Ned to help
him change the reels of films； as they became filled with pictures； attended
to the camera。 Koku was steering the craft； as he had readily learned how
to manage it。
〃Are those Englishmen taking pictures yet？〃 asked Tom； too busy to
turn his head； and look for himself。
〃Yes； they're still at；〃 replied Ned。 〃But they seem to be having trouble
with their machine；〃 he added as he saw one of the men leave the
apparatus； and run hurriedly back to where they had made a temporary
camp。
〃I guess it's an old…fashioned kind；〃 commented Tom。 〃Say； this is
getting fierce！〃 he cried； as the natives got in closer contact with each
other。 It was now a hand…to…hand battle。
〃I should say so！〃 yelled Ned。 〃It's a wonder those Englishmen aren't
afraid to be down on the same level with the black fighters。〃
〃Oh； a white person is considered almost sacred by the natives here； so
the missionaries told me；〃 said Tom。 〃A black man would never think of
raising his hand to one； and the Englishmen probably know this。 They're
safe enough。 In fact I'm thinking of soon going down myself； and getting
some views from the ground。〃
〃Bless my gizzard； Tom！〃 cried Mr。 Damon。 〃Don't do it！〃
〃Yes； I think I will。 Why； it's safe enough。 Besides； if they attack us we
have the electric rifles。 Ned； you tell Koku to get the guns out； to have in
readiness； and then you put the ship down。 I'll take a chance。〃
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〃Jove！ You've been doing nothing but take chances since we came on
this trip！〃 exclaimed Ned； admiringly。 〃All right！ Here we go；〃 and he
went to relieve Koku at the wheel； while the giant； grinning cheerfully at
the prospect of taking part in the fight himself； got out the rifles； including
his own。
Meanwhile the native battle went on fiercely。 Many on both sides fell；
and not a few ran away； when they got the chance； their companions
yelling at them； evidently trying to shame them into coming back。
As the airship landed； Mr。 Damon； Mr。 Nestor； Ned and Koku stood
ready with the deadly electric rifles； in case an attack should be made on
them。 But the fighting natives paid no more attention to our friends than
they did to the two Englishmen。 The latter moved their clumsy camera
from place to place； in order to get various views of the fighting。
〃This is the best yet！〃 cried Tom； as； after a lull in the fight； when the
two opposing armies had drawn a little apart； they came together again
more desperately than before。 〃I hope the pictures are being recorded all
right。 I have to go at this thing pretty much in the dark。 Say； look at the
beggars fight！〃 he finished。
But a battle； even between uncivilized blacks； cannot go on for very
long at a time。 Many had fallen； some being quite severely injured it
seemed； being carried off by their friends。 Then； with a sudden rush； the
side which； as our friends learned later； had been robbed of their cattle；
made a fierce attack； overwhelming their enemies； and compelling them to
retreat。 Across the open plain the vanquished army fled； with the others
after them。 Tom； meanwhile； taking pictures as fast as he could。
〃This ends it！〃 he remarked to Ned； when the warriors were too far
away to make any more good views。 〃Now we can take a rest。〃
〃The Englishmen gave up some time ago；〃 said his chum； motioning
to the two men who were taking their machine off the tripod。
〃Guess their films gave out；〃 spoke Tom。 〃Well； you see it didn't do
any harm to come down； and I got some better views here。〃
〃Here they come back！〃 exclaimed Ned； as a horde of the black
fellows emerged f row the jungle； and came on over the plain。
〃Hear 'em sing！〃 commented Tom； as the sound of a rude chant came
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to their ears。 〃They must be the winners all right。〃
〃I guess so；〃 agreed Ned。 〃But what about staying here now？ Maybe
they won't be so friendly to us when they haven't any fighting to occupy
their minds。〃 〃Don't worry；〃 advised Tom。 〃They won't bother us。〃
And the blacks did not。 They were caring for their wounded； who had
not already been taken from the field； and they paid no attention to our
friends； save to look curiously at the airship。
〃Bless my newspaper！〃 cried Mr。 Damon； with an air of relief。 〃I'm
glad that's over； and we didn't have to use the electric rifles； after all。〃
〃Here come the Englishmen to pay us a visit；〃 spoke Ned a little later；
as they sat about the cabin of the Flyer。 The two rival picture men soon
climbed on deck。
〃Beg pardon；〃 said the taller of the two； addressing our hero； 〃but
could you lend us a roll of film？ Ours are all used up； and we want to get
some more pictures before going back to our main camp。〃
〃I'm sorry；〃 replied Tom； 〃but I use a special size； and it fits no camera
but my own。〃
〃Ah！ might we see your camera？〃 asked the other Englishman。 〃That
is； see how it works？〃
〃I don't like to be disobliging；〃 was Tom's answer； 〃but it is not yet
patented andwell〃 he hesitated。
〃Oh； I see！〃 sneered the taller visitor。 〃You're afraid we might steal
some of your ideas。 Hum！〃 Come on Montgomery；〃 and； swinging on his
heels； with a military air； he hurried away； followed by his companion。
〃They don't like that； but I can't help it；〃 remarked Tom to his friends a
little later。 〃I can't afford to take any chances。〃
〃No； you did just right；〃 said Mr。 Nestor。 〃Those men may be all right；
but from the fact that they are in the picture taking business I'd be
suspicious of them。〃
〃Well； what's next on the programme？〃 asked Ned as Tom put his
camera away。
〃Oh； I think we'll stay here over night；〃 was our hero's reply。 〃It's a
nice location； and the gas machine needs cleaning。 We can do it here； and
maybe I can get some more pictures。〃
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They were busy the rest of the day on the gas generator； but the main
body of natives did not come back； and the Englishmen seemed to have
disappeared。
Everyone slept soundly that night。 So soundly； in fact； that the sun was
very high when Koku was the first to awaken； His head felt strangely
dizzy； and he wondered at a queer smell in the room he had to himself。
〃Nobody up yet；〃 he exclaimed in surprise； as he staggered into the
main cabin。 There； too； was the strange； sweetish； sickly smell。 〃Mr。 Tom；
where you be？ Time t
