tom swift and his wizard camera(汤姆·史威夫特和他的女巫相机)-第22章
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them； though。〃
A few more miles were covered down stream； and then Tom tried the
opposite direction。 But all to no purpose。 A number of boats were seen；
and several rafts； but they had no white men on them。
〃Maybe the Englishmen disguised themselves like natives； Tom；〃
suggested Ned。
Our hero shook his head。
〃I could see everything in the boats； through these powerful glasses；〃
he replied； 〃and there was nothing like my camera。 〃I'd know that a mile
off。 No； they didn't take to this stream； though they probably crossed it。
We'll have to keep on the way we were going。 It will soon be night； and
we'll have to camp。 Then we'll take up the search to…morrow。〃
It was just getting dusk； and Tom was looking about for a good place
to land in the jungle； when Ned； who was standing in the bow； cried：
〃I say； Tom； here's a native village just ahead。 There's a good place to
stop； and we can stay there over night。〃
〃Good！〃 exclaimed Tom。 〃And； what's more； we can make some
inquiries as to whether or not the Englishmen have passed here。 This is
great！ Maybe we'll come out all right； after all！ They can't travel at night
or at least I don't believe they willand if they have passed this village we
can catch them to…morrow。 We'll go down。〃
They were now over the native town； which was in a natural clearing
in the jungle。 The natives had by this time caught sight of the big airship
over them； and were running about in terror。 There was not a man； woman
or child in sight when the Flyer came down； for the inhabitants had all fled
in fright。
〃Not much of a chance to make inquiries of these folks；〃 said Mr。
Nestor。
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〃Oh； they'll come back；〃 predicted Tom。 〃They are naturally curious；
and when they see that the thing isn't going to blow up； they'll gather
around。 I've seen the same thing happen before。〃
Tom proved a true prophet。 In a little while some of the men began
straggling back； when they saw our friends walking about the airship； as it
rested on the ground。 Then came the children； and then the women； until
the whole population was gathered about the airship； staring at it
wonderingly。 Tom made signs of friendship； and was lucky enough to find
a native who knew a few French words。 Tom was not much of a French
scholar； but he could frame a question as to the Englishmen。
〃Oui！〃 exclaimed the native； when he understood。 Then he rattled off
something； which Tom； after having it repeated； and making signs to the
man to make sure he understood； said meant that the Englishmen had
passed through the village that morning。
〃We're on the right trail！〃 cried the young inventor。 〃They're only a
day's travel ahead of us。 We'll catch them to…morrow； and get my camera
back。〃
The natives soon lost all fear of the airship； and some of the chief men
even consented to come aboard。 Tom gave them a few trifles for presents；
and won their friendship to such an extent that a great feast was hastily
gotten up in honor of the travelers。 Big fires were lighted； and fowls by the
score were roasted。
〃Say； I'm glad we struck this place！〃 exclaimed Ned； as he sat on the
ground with the others； eating roast fowl。 〃This is all to the chicken
salad！〃
〃Things are coming our way at last；〃 remarked Tom。 〃We'll start the
first thing in the morning。 I wish I had my camera now。 I'd take a picture
of this scene。 Dad would enjoy it； and so would Mrs。 Baggert。 Oh； I
almost wish I was home again。 But if I get my camera I've got a lot more
work ahead of me。〃
〃What kind？〃 asked Ned。
〃I don't know。 I'm to stop in Paris for the next instructions from Mr。
Period。 He is keeping in touch with the big happenings of the world； and
he may send us to Japan； to get some earthquake pictures。〃
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The night was quiet after the feast； and in the morning Tom and his
friends sailed off in their airship； leaving behind the wondering and
pleased natives； for our hero handed out more presents； of small value to
him； but yet such things as the blacks prized highly。
Once more they were flying over the trail； and they put on more speed
now； for they were fairly sure that the men they sought were ahead of
them about a day's travel。 This meant perhaps twenty miles； and Tom
figured that he could cover fifteen in a hurry； and then go over the
remaining five slowly； so as not to miss his quarry。
〃Say； don't you smell something？〃 asked Ned a little later； when the
airship had been slowed down。 〃Something like smoke？〃
〃Humph！ I believe I do get an odor of something burning；〃 admitted
Tom； sniffing the atmosphere。
〃Bless my pocket book！〃 exclaimed Mr。 Damon； 〃look down there；
boys！〃 He pointed below； and； to the surprise of the lads； and no less of
himself； he saw many animals hurrying back along the jungle trail。
There were scores of deer； leaping along； here and there a tawny lion；
and one or two tigers。 Off to one side a rhinoceros crashed his way
through the tangle； and occasionally an elephant was seen。
〃That's queer；〃 cried Ned。 〃And they're not paying any attention to
each other； either。〃
〃Something is happening；〃 was Mr。 Nestor's opinion。 〃Those animals
are running away from something。〃
〃Maybe it's an elephant drive；〃 spoke Tom。 〃I think〃
But he did not finish。 The smell of smoke suddenly became stronger；
and； a moment later； as the airship rose higher； in response to a change in
the angle of the deflecting rudder； which Ned shifted； all on board saw a
great volume of black smoke rolling toward the sky。
〃A jungle fire！〃 cried Tom。 〃The jungle is burning！ That's why the
animals are running back this way。〃
〃We'd better not go on！〃 shouted Ned； choking a bit； as the smoke
rolled nearer。
〃No； we've got to turn back！〃 decided Tom。 〃Say； this will stop the
Englishmen！ They can't go on。 We'll go back to the village we left； and
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wait for them。 They're trapped！〃 And then he added soberly： 〃I hope my
camera doesn't get burnt up！〃
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CHAPTER XXII
A DANGEROUS COMMISSION
〃Look at that smoke！〃 yelled Ned； as he sent the airship about in a
great circle on the backward trail。
〃And there's plenty of blaze； too；〃 added Tom。 〃See the flames eating
away！ This stuff is as dry as tinder for there hasn't been any rain for
months。〃
〃Much hot！〃 was the comment of the giant； when he felt the warm
wind of the fire。
〃Bless my fountain pen！〃 gasped Mr。 Damon； as he looked down into
the jungle。 〃See all those animals！〃
The trail was now thick with deer； and many small beasts； the names
of which Tom did not know。 On either side could be heard larger brutes；
crashing their way forward to escape the fire behind them。
〃Oh； if you only had your camera now！〃 cried Ned。 〃You could get a
wonderful picture； Tom。〃
〃What's the use of wishing for it。 Those Englishmen have it； and〃
〃Maybe they're using it！〃 interrupted Ned。 〃No； I don't think they
would know how to work it。 Do you see anything of them； Ned？〃
〃Not a sight。 But they'll surely have to come back； just as you said；
unless they got ahead of the fire。 They can't go on； and it would be
madness to get off the trail in a jungle like this。〃
〃I don't believe they could have gotten ahead of the fire；〃 spoke Tom。
〃They couldn't travel fast enough for that； and see how broad the blaze is。〃
They were now higher up； well out of the heat and smoke of the
conflagration； and they could see that it extended for many miles along the
trail； and for a mile or so on either side of it。
〃We're far enough in advance； now； to go down a bit； I guess；〃 said
Tom； a little later。 〃I want to get a good view of the path； and I can't do
that from up here。 I have an idea that〃
Tom did not finish； for as the airship approached nearer the ground； he
caught up a pair of binoculars； and focussed them on something on the
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trail below。
〃What is it？〃 cried Ned； startled by something in his chum's manner。
〃It's them！ The Englishmen！〃 cried Tom。 〃See； they are racing back
along the trail。 Their porters have deserted them。 But they have my camera！
I can see it！ I'm going down； and get it！ Ned； stand by the wheel； and make
a quick landing。 Then we'll go up again！〃
Tom handed the glasses to his chum； and Ned quickly verified the
young inventor's statement。 There were the two rascally Englishmen。 The
fire was still some distance in the rear； but was coming on rapidly。 There
were no animals to be seen； for they had probably gone off on a side trail；
or had slunk deeper into the jungle。 Above the distant roar of the blaze
sounded the throb of the airship's motor。 The Englishmen heard it； and
looked up。 Then； suddenly； they motioned to Tom to descend。
〃That's what I'm going to do；〃 he said aloud； but of course they could
not hear him。
〃They're waiting for us！〃 cried Ned。 〃I wonder why？〃 for the rascals
had come to a halt； setting down the packs they carried on the trail。 One of
the things they had was undoubtedly Tom's camera。
〃They probably want us to save their lives；〃 said Tom。 〃They know
they can't out…run this fire。 They've given up！ We have them no
