CHAPTER XI
ANCHORED TO EARTH
With the voyage on the steamer, their arrival in Africa, the manystrange sights of the city of Majumba, and the refitting of theairship, our friends had hardly had time to catch their breath sinceTom Swift's determination to go elephant hunting. Now, as the BlackHawk was speeding into the interior, they felt, for the first timein many weeks, that they "could take it easy," as Ned Newtonexpressed it.
"Thank goodness," said the bank clerk, "I can sit down and look atsomething for a while," and he gazed out of the main cabin windowsdown at the wild country over which they were then flying.
For, so swiftly had the airship moved that it was hardly any time atall before it had left Majumba far behind, and was scudding over thewilderness.
"Bless my camera," exclaimed Mr. Damon, who had brought along one ofthe picture machines, "bless my camera! I don't call that much tolook at," and he pointed to the almost impenetrable forest overwhich they then were.
"No, it isn't much of a view," said the old elephant hunter, "butwait. You'll soon see all you want to. Africa isn't all like this.There are many strange sights before us yet. But, Tom Swift, tell ushow the airship is working in this climate. Do you find anydifficulty managing it?"
"Not at all," answered Tom, who was in the cabin then, having setthe automatic steering apparatus in the pilot house, and come backto join the others. "It works as well as it did in good old YorkState. Of course I can't tell what affect the continual hot andmoist air will have on the gas bag, but I guess we'll make out allright."
"I certainly hope so," put in Mr. Anderson. "It would be too bad tobe wrecked in the middle of Africa, with no way to get out."
"Oh, you needn't worry about that," said Ned with a laugh. "If theairship should smash, Tom would build another out of what was left,and we'd sail away as good as before."
"Hardly that," answered the young inventor.
"But we won't cross a bridge until we hear it coming, as Eradicatewould say. Hello, that looks like some sort of native village."
He pointed ahead to a little clearing in the forest, where a numberof mud and grass huts were scattered about. As they came nearer theycould see the black savages, naked save for a loin cloth, runningabout in great excitement, and pointing upward.
"Yes, that's one of the numerous small native villages we'll seefrom now on," said Mr. Durban. "Many a night have I spent in thosesame grass huts after a day's hunting. Sometimes, I've beencomfortable, and again not. I guess we've given those fellows ascare."
It did seem so, for by this time the whole population, includingwomen and children, were running about like mad. Suddenly, frombelow there sounded a deep booming noise, which came plainly to theears of the elephant hunters through the opened windows of theairship cabin.
"Hark! What's that?" cried Tom, raising his hand for silence.
"Bless my umbrella! it sounds like thunder," said Mr. Damon.
"No, it's one of their war drums," explained Mr. Durban. "Thenatives make large ones out of hollow trees, with animal skinsstretched over the ends, and they beat them to sound a warning, orbefore going into battle. It makes a great noise."
"Do you think they want to fight us?" asked Ned, looking anxiouslyat Tom, and then toward where his rifle stood in a corner of thecabin.
"No, probably that drum was beaten by some of the native priests,"explained the hunter. "The natives are very superstitious, andlikely they took us for an evil spirit, and wanted to drive usaway."
"Then we'll hustle along out of their sight," said Tom, as he wentto the pilot house to increase the speed of the airship, for he hadbeen letting it drift along slowly to enable the adventurers to viewthe country over which they were passing. A few minutes later, underthe increased force of the machinery, the Black Hawk left the nativevillage, and the crowd of frightened blacks, far behind.
The travelers passed over a succession of wild stretches of forestor jungle, high above big grassy plains, over low but ruggedmountain ranges, and big rivers. Now and then they would cross somelake, on the calm surface of which could be made out natives, in bigcanoes, hollowed out from trees. In each case the blacks showedevery appearance of fright at the sight of the airship throbbingalong over their heads.
On passing over the lake, Ned Newton looked down and cried outexcitedly:
"Look! Elephants! They're in swimming, and the natives are shootingthem! Now's our chance, Tom!"
Mr. Anderson and Mr. Durban, after a quick glance, drew backlaughing.
"Those are hippopotami!" exclaimed the old elephant man. "Goodhunting, if you don't care what you shoot, but not much sport in it.It will be some time yet before we see any elephants, boys."
Ned was rather chagrined at his mistake, but the African travelerstold him that any one, not familiar with the country, would havemade it, especially in looking down from a great height.
They sailed along about half a mile above the earth, Tom graduallyincreasing the speed of the ship, as he found the machinery to beworking well. Dinner was served as they were crossing a high grassyplateau, over which could be seen bounding a number of antelopes.
"Some of those would go good for a meal," said Mr. Durban, after apause during which he watched the graceful creatures.
"Then we'll go down and get some for supper," decided Tom, for inthat hot climate it was impossible to carry fresh meat on theairship.
Accordingly, the Black Hawk was sent down, and came to rest in anatural clearing on the edge of the jungle. After waiting until thefierce heat of noonday was over, the travelers got out their riflesand, under the leadership of Mr. Durban and Mr. Anderson, who wasalso an experienced hunter, they set off.
Game was plentiful, but as they could only eat a comparatively smallquantity, and as it would not keep, they only shot what they needed.Tom had his electric rifle, but hesitated to use it, as Mr. Durbanand Mr. Anderson had each already bowled over a fine buck.
However, a chance came most unexpectedly, for, as they were passingalong the banks of a little stream, which was almost hidden fromview by thick weeds and rank grass, there was a sudden commotion inthe bushes, and a fierce wild buffalo sprang out at the party.
There are few animals in Africa more dreaded by hunters than thewild buffalo, for the beast, with its spreading sharp horns is aformidable foe, and will seldom give up the attack until utterlyunable to move. They are fierce and relentless.
"Look out!" yelled Mr. Durban. "To cover, everybody! If that beastgets after you it's no fun! You and I will fire at him, Mr. Anderson!"
Mr. Durban raised his rifle, and pulled the trigger, but, for somereason, the weapon failed to go off. Mr. Anderson quickly raisedhis, but his foot slipped in a wet place and he fell. At that momentthe buffalo, with a snort of rage, charged straight for the fallen man.
"Tom! your electric rifle!" yelled Ned Newton, but he need not havedone so, for the young inventor was on the alert.
Taking instant aim, and adjusting his weapon for the heaviestcharge, Tom fired at the advancing beast. The result was the same asin the case of the whale, the buffalo seemed to melt away. And itwas stopped only just in time, too, for it was close to theprostrate Mr. Anderson, who had sprained his ankle slightly, andcould not readily rise.
It was all over in a few seconds, but it was a tense time while itlasted.
"You saved my life again, Tom Swift," said Mr. Anderson, as helimped toward our hero. "Once on Earthquake Island, and again now. Ishan't forget it," and he shook hands with the young inventor.
The others congratulated Tom on his quick shot, and Mr. Damon, asusual blessed everything in sight, and the electric rifleespecially.
They went back to the airship, taking the fresh meat with them, buton account of the injury to Mr. Anderson's ankle could not makequick progress, so that it was almost dusk when they reached thecraft.
"Well, we'll have supper, and then start off," proposed Tom, "Idon't think it would be wise to remain on the ground so near thejungle."
&nb
sp; "No' it's safer in the air," agreed Mr. Durban. The meal was muchenjoyed, especially the fresh meat, and, after it was over, Tom tookhis place in the pilot house to start the machinery, and send theairship aloft.
The motor hummed and throbbed, and the gas hissed into the bag, forthe ground was not level enough to permit of a running start bymeans of the planes. Lights gleamed from the Black Hawk and the bigsearch-lantern in front cast a dazzling finger of light into theblack forest.
"Well, what are you waiting for?" called Ned, who heard themachinery in motion, but who could not feel the craft rising. "Whydon't you go up, Tom?"
"I'm trying to," answered the young inventor. "Something seems to bethe matter." He pulled the speed lever over a few more notches, andincreased the power of the gas machine. Still the Black Hawk did notrise.
"Bless my handkerchief box!" cried Mr. Damon, "what's the matter?"
"I don't know," answered Tom. "We seem to be held fast."
He further increased the speed of the propellers, and the gasmachine was set to make vapor at its fullest capacity, and force itinto the bag. Still the craft was held to the earth.
"Maybe the gas has no effect in this climate," called Ned.
"It can't be that," replied Tom. "The gas will operate anywhere. Itworked all right today."
Suddenly she airship moved up a little way, and then seemed to bepulled down again, hitting the ground with a bump.
"Something is holding us!" cried Tom. "We're anchored to earth! Imust see what it is!" and, catching up his electric rifle, he dashedout of the cabin.