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TOM SWIFT AND HIS ELECTRIC RIFLE
OR
Daring Adventures in Elephant Land
by VICTOR APPLETON
CONTENTS
I TOM WANTS EXCITEMENT II TRYING THE NEW GUN III A DIFFICULT TEST IV BIG TUSKS WANTED V RUSH WORK VI NEWS FROM ANDY VII THE BLACK HAWK FLIES VIII OFF FOR AFRICA IX ATTACKED BY A WHALE X OFF IN THE AIRSHIP XI ANCHORED TO EARTH XII AMONG THE NATIVES XIII ON THE ELEPHANT TRAIL XIV A STAMPEDE XV LIONS IN THE NIGHT XVI SEEKING THE MISSIONARIES XVII SHOTS FROM ABOVE XVIII NEWS OF THE RED PYGMIES XIX AN APPEAL FOR HELP XX THE FIGHT XXI DRIVEN BACK XXII A NIGHT ATTACK XXIII THE RESCUE XXIV TWO OTHER CAPTIVES XXV THE ROGUE ELEPHANT--CONCLUSION
CHAPTER I
TOM WANTS EXCITEMENT
"Have you anything special to do to-night, Ned?" asked Tom Swift,the well-known inventor, as he paused in front of his chum's window,in the Shopton National Bank.
"No, nothing in particular," replied the bank clerk, as he stackedup some bundles of bills. "Why do you ask?"
"I wanted you to come over to the house for a while."
"Going to have a surprise party, or something like that?"
"No, only I've got something I'd like to show you."
"A new invention?"
"Well, not exactly new. You've seen it before, but not since I'veimproved it. I'm speaking of my new electric rifle. I've got itready to try, now, and I'd like to see what you think of it. There'sa rifle range over at the house, and we can practice some shooting,if you haven't anything else to do."
"I haven't, and I'll be glad to come. What are you doing in thebank, anyhow; putting away more of your wealth, Tom?"
"Yes, I just made a little deposit. It's some money I got from thegovernment for the patents on my sky racer, and I'm salting it downhere until Dad and I can think of a better investment."
"Good idea. Bring us all the money you can," and the bank clerk, whoheld a small amount of stock in the financial institution, laughed,his chum joining in with him.
"Well, then. I'll expect you over this evening," went on theyouthful inventor, as he turned to leave the bank.
"Yes, I'll be there. Say, Tom, have you heard the latest about AndyFoger?"
"No, I haven't heard much since he left town right after I beat himin the aeroplane race at Eagle Park."
"Well, he's out of town all right, and I guess for a long time thistrip. He's gone to Europe."
"To Europe, eh? Well, he threatened to go there after he failed tobeat me in the race, but I thought he was only bluffing."
"No, he's really gone this time."
"Well, I, for one, am glad of it. Did he take his aeroplane along?"
"Yes, that's what he went for. It seems that this Mr. Landbacher,the German who really invented it, and built it with money which Mr.Foger supplied, has an idea he can interest the German or some otherEuropean government in the machine. Andy wanted to go along withhim, and as Mr. Foger financed the scheme, I guess he thought itwould be a good thing to have some one represent him. So Andy'sgone."
"Then he won't bother me. Well, I must get along. I'll expect youover to-night," and with a wave of his hand Tom Swift hurried fromthe bank.
The young inventor jumped into his electric runabout which stoodoutside the institution, and was about to start off when he saw anewsboy selling papers which had just come in from New York, on themorning train.
"Here, Jack, give me a TIMES," called Tom to the lad, and he tossedthe newsboy a nickel. Then, after glancing at the front page, andnoting the headings, Tom started off his speedy car, in which, onone occasion, he had made a great run, against time. He was soon athome.
"Well, Dad, I've got the money safely put away," he remarked to anaged gentleman who sat in the library reading a book. "Now we won'thave to worry about thieves until we get some more cash in."
"Well, I'm glad it's coming in so plentifully," said Mr. Swift witha smile. "Since my illness I haven't been able to do much, Tom, andit all depends on you, now."
"Don't let that worry you, Dad. You'll soon be as busy as ever,"for, following a serious operation for an ailment of the heart, Mr.Swift, who was a veteran inventor, had not been able to do much. Butthe devices of his son, especially a speedy monoplane, which Tominvented, and sold to the United States Government, were nowbringing them in a large income. In fact with royalties from hisinventions and some gold and diamonds which he had secured on twoperilous trips, Tom Swift was quite wealthy.
"I'll never be as busy as I once was," went on Mr. Swift, a littleregretfully, "but I don't know that I care as long as you continueto turn out new machines, Tom. By the way, how is the electric riflecoming on? I haven't heard you speak of it lately."
"It's practically finished, Dad. It worked pretty well the time Itook it when we went on the trip to the caves of ice, but I'veimproved it very much since then. In fact I'm going to give it asevere test to-night. Ned Newton is coming over, and it may be thatthen we'll find out something about it that could be bettered. But Ithink not. It suits me as it is."
"So Ned is coming over to see it; eh? You ought to have Mr. Damonhere to bless it a few times."
"Yes, I wish I did. And he may come along at any moment, as it is.You never can tell when he is going to turn up. Mrs. Baggert saysyou were out walking while I was at the bank, Dad. Do you feelbetter after it?"
"Yes, I think I do, Tom. Oh, I'm growing stronger every day, but itwill take time. But now tell me something about the electric gun."
Thereupon the young inventor related to his father some facts aboutthe improvements he had recently made to the weapon. It was dinnertime when he had finished, and, after the meal Tom went out to theshed where he built his aeroplanes and his airships, and in whichbuilding he had fitted up a shooting gallery.
"I'll get ready for the trial to-night," he said "I want to see whatit will do to a dummy figure. Guess I'll make a sort of scarecrowand stuff it with straw. I'll get Eradicate to help me. Rad! I say,Rad! Where are you?"
"Heah I is, Massa Tom! Heah I is," called a colored man as he camearound the corner of a small stable where he kept his muleBoomerang. "Was yo'-all callin' me?"
"Yes, Rad, I want you to help make a scarecrow."
"A scarecrow, Massa Tom! Good land a' massy! What fo' yo' want ob ascarecrow? Yo'-all ain't raisin' no corn, am yo'?"
"No, but I want something to shoot at when Ned Newton comes overto-night."
"Suffin t' shoot at? Why Massa Tom! Good land a' massy! Yo'-allain't gwine t' hab no duel, am yo'?"
"No, Rad, but I want a life-size figure on which to try my newelectric gun. Here are some old clothes, and if you will stuff themwith rags and straw and fix them so they'll stand up, they'll dofirst-rate. Have it ready by night, and set it up at the far end ofthe shooting gallery."
"All right, Massa Tom. I'll jest do dat, fo' yo'," and leaving thecolored man to stuff the figure, after he had showed him how, Tomwent back into the house to read the paper which he had purchasedthat morning.
He skimmed over the news, thinking perhaps he might see something ofthe going abroad of Andy Foger with the German aeroplane, but therewas nothing.
"I almost wish I was going to Europe," sighed Tom. "I will certainlyhave to get busy at something, soon. I haven't had any adventuresince I won the prize at the Eagle Park aviation meet in my skyracer. Jove! That was some excitement! I'd like to do tha
t overagain, only I shouldn't want to have Dad so sick," for just beforethe race, Tom had saved his father's life by making a quick run inthe aeroplane, to bring a celebrated surgeon to the invalid's aid.
"I certainly wish I could have some new adventures," mused Tom, ashe turned the pages of the paper. "I could afford to take a triparound the earth after them, too, with the way money is coming innow. Yes, I do wish I could have some excitement. Hello, what'sthis! A big elephant hunt in Africa. Hundreds of the huge creaturescaptured in a trap--driven in by tame beasts. Some are shot fortheir tusks. Others will be sent to museums."
He was reading the headlines of the article that had attracted hisattention, and, as he read, he became more and more absorbed in it.He read the story through twice, and then, with sparkling eyes, heexclaimed:
"That's just what I want. Elephant shooting in Africa! My! With mynew electric rifle, and an airship, what couldn't a fellow do overin the dark continent! I've a good notion to go there! I wonder ifNed would go with me? Mr. Damon certainly would. Elephant shootingin Africa! In an airship! I could finish my new sky craft in shortorder if I wanted to. I've a good notion to do it!"