tom swift and his wizard camera(汤姆·史威夫特和他的女巫相机)-第26节
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secret closet。 where he kept the battle…films； and the others； in the dark； to
prevent them from being light…struck； by any possible chance。
〃Well； if we're going to make some inquiries； let's do it；〃 suggested Mr。
Nestor。 〃I think I see some of the Africans over there。 They have made a
temporary camp； it seems； to attend to some of their wounded。〃
〃Do you think we can make them understand what we want？〃 asked
Ned。 〃I don't believe they speak English。〃
〃Oh these blacks have been trading with white men；〃 said Tom； 〃for
they have 'trader's' guns； built to look at； and not to shoot very well。 I
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fancy we can make ourselves understood。 If not； we can use signs。〃
Leaving Koku and Mr。 Damon to guard the airship； Tom； Ned and Mr。
Nestor went to the African camp。 There was a large party of men there；
and they seemed friendly enough。 Probably winning the battle the day
before had put them in good humor； even though many of them were hurt。
To Tom's delight he found one native who could speak a little English；
and of him they made inquiries as to what direction the Englishmen had
taken。 The black talked for a while among his fellows； and then reported to
our friends that； late in the night； one of the porters； hired by Montgomery
and Kenneth； had come to camp to bid a brother good…bye。 This porter had
said that his masters were in a hurry to get away； and had started west。
〃That's it！〃 cried Mr。 Nestor。 〃They're going to get somewhere so they
can make their way to the coast。 They want to get out of Africa as fast as
they can。〃
〃And I'm going to get after 'em as fast as I can！〃 cried Tom grimly。
〃Come on！〃
They hurried back to the airship； finding Koku and Mr。 Damon
peacefully engaged in talk； no one having disturbed them。
〃Start the motor； Ned！〃 called his chum。 〃We'll see what luck we
have！〃
Up into the air went the Flyer； her great propellers revolving rapidly。
Over the jungle she shot； and then； when he found that everything was
working well； and that the cleaned gas generator was operating as good as
when it was new； the young inventor slowed up； and brought the craft
down to a lower level。
〃For we don't want to run past these fellows； or shoot over their heads
in our hurry；〃 Tom explained。 〃Ned； get out the binoculars。 They're easier
to handle than the telescope。 Then go up forward； and keep a sharp
lookout。 There is something like a jungle trail below us； and it looks to be
the only one around here。 They probably took that。〃 Soon after leaving the
place where they had camped after the battle； Tom had seen a rude path
through the forest； and had followed that lead。
On sped the Flyer； after the two Englishmen； while Tom thought
regretfully of his stolen camera。
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CHAPTER XXI
THE JUNGLE FIRE
〃Well； Tom； I don't seem to see anything of them；〃 remarked Ned that
afternoon； as he sat in the bow of the air craft； gazing from time to time
through the powerful glasses。
〃No； and I can't understand it； either；〃 responded the young inventor；
who had come for…ward to relieve his chum。 〃They didn't have much the
start of us； and they'll have to travel very slowly。 It isn't as if they could
hop on a train； and； even if they did； I could overtake them in a short time。
But they have to travel on foot through the jungle； and can't have gone
far。〃
〃'Maybe they have bullock carts；〃 suggested Mr。 Damon。
'~The trail isn't wide enough for that；〃 declared Tom。 〃We've come
quite a distance now； even if we have been running at low speed； and we
haven't seen even a black man on the trail；〃 and he motioned to the rude
path below them。
〃They may have taken a boat and slipped down that river we crossed a
little while ago；〃 suggested Ned。
〃That's so！〃 cried Tom。 〃Why didn't I think of it？ Say！ I'm going to
turn back。〃
〃Turn back？〃
〃Yes； and go up and down the stream a way。 We have time； for we can
easily run at top speed on the return trip。 Then； if we don't see anything of
them on the water； we'll pick up the trail again。 Put her around； Ned； and
I'll take the glasses for a while。〃
The Flyer was soon shooting back over the same trail our friends had
covered； and； as Ned set the propellers going at top speed； they were
quickly hovering over a broad but shallow river； which cut through the
jungle。
〃Try it down stream first；〃 suggested Tom； who was peering through
the binoculars。 〃They'd be most likely to go down； as it would be easier。〃
Along over the stream swept the airship； covering several miles。
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〃There's a boat！〃 suddenly exclaimed Mr。 Nestor； pointing to a native
canoe below them。
〃Bless my paddle wheel！ So it is！〃 cried Mr。 Damon。 〃I believe it's
them； Tom！〃
〃No； there are only natives in that craft；〃 answered the young inventor
a moment later； as he brought the binoculars into focus。 〃I wish it was
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
