tom swift and his wizard camera(汤姆·史威夫特和他的女巫相机)-第15节
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suddenly； and spread rapidly。 Kind persons aboard the Belchar looked
after the unfortunates。 Luckily there was not a large passenger list on the
tramp。 And the crew was comparatively small； so it was not hard work to
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make room for them； or take care of them； aboard the Belchar。
Tom developed his pictures； and produced then in one of the large
saloons； on a machine he borrowed from the man of whom Ned had
spoken。 A dollar admission was charged； and the crowd was so large that
Tom had to give two performances。 The films； showing the burning
steamer and the rescue； were excellent； and enough money was realized to
aid； most substantially； the unfortunate passengers and crew。
A few days later a New York bound steamer was spoken； and on it
Tom sent the roll of developed films to Mr。 Period； with a letter of
explanation。
I will not give all the details of the rest of the voyage。 Sufficient to say
that no accidents marred it； nor did Tom discover any suspicious
characters aboard。 In due time our friends arrived at Calcutta； and were
met by an agent of Mr。 Period； for he had men in all quarters of the world；
making films for him。
This agent took Tom and his party to a hotel； and arranged to have the
airship parts sent to a large open shed； not far away； where it could be
put together。 The wonderful scenes in the Indian city interested Tom and
his companions for a time； but they had observed so many strange sights
from time to time that they did not marvel greatly。 Koku； however； was
much delighted。 He was like a child。
〃What are you going to do first？〃 asked Ned； when they had recovered
from the fatigue of the ocean voyage and had settled themselves in the
hotel。
〃Put the airship together；〃 replied our hero； 〃and then； after getting
some Durbar pictures； we'll head for the jungle。 I want to get some
elephant pictures； showing the big beasts being captured。〃
Mr。 Period's agent was a great help to them in this。 He secured native
helpers； who aided Tom in assembling the airship； and in a week or two it
was ready for a flight。 The wonderful camera； too； was looked over； and
the picture agent said he had never seen a better one。
〃It can take the kind of pictures I never could；〃 he said。 〃I get Calcutta
street scenes for Mr。 Period； and occasionally I strike a good one。 But I
wish I had your chance。〃
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Tom invited him to come along in the airship； but the agent； who only
looked after Mr。 Period's interests as a side issue； could not leave his work。
The airship was ready for a flight； stores and provisions had been put
on board； there was enough gasoline for the motor； and gas for the balloon
bag； to carry the Flyer thousands of miles。 The moving picture camera had
been tested after the sea voyage； and had been found to work perfectly。
Many rolls of films were taken along。 Tom got some fine views of the
Durbar of India； and his airship created a great sensation。
〃Now I guess we're all ready for the elephants；〃 said Tom one day as
he came back from an inspection of the airship as it rested in the big shed。
〃We'll start to…morrow morning； and head for the jungle。〃
Amid the cries from a throng of wondering and awed natives； and with
the farewells of Mr。 Period's agent ringing in their ears； Tom and his party
made an early start。 The Flyer rose like a bird； and shot across the city；
while on the house tops many people watches the strange sight。 Tom did
not start his camera working； as Mr。 Period's agent said he had made many
pictures of the Indian city； and even one taken from an airship； would not
be much of a novelty。
Tom had made inquiries； and learned that by a day's travel in his
airship （though it would have been much longer ordinarily） he could reach
a jungle where elephants might be found。 Of course there was nothing
certain about it； as the big animals roamed all over； being in one district
one day； and on the next； many miles off。
Gradually the city was left behind； and some time later the airship was
sailing along over the jungle。 After the start； when Ned and Tom； with Mr。
Damon helping occasionally； had gotten the machinery into proper
adjustment； the Flyer almost ran herself。 Then Tom took his station
forward； with his camera in readiness； and a powerful spyglass at hand； so
that he might see the elephants from a distance。
He had been told that； somewhere in the district for which he was
headed； an elephant drive was contemplated。 He hoped to be on hand to
get pictures of it； and so sent his airship ahead at top speed。
On and on they rode； being as much at ease in the air as they would
have been if traveling in a parlor car。 They did not fly high； as it was
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necessary to be fairly close to the earth to get good pictures。
〃Well； I guess we won't have any luck to…day；〃 remarked Ned； as night
approached； and they had had no sight of the elephants。 They had gone
over mile after mile of jungle； but had seen few wild beasts in sufficient
numbers to make it worth while to focus the camera on them。
〃We'll float along to…night；〃 decided Tom； 〃and try again in the
morning。〃
It was about ten o'clock the next day； when Ned； who had relieved
Tom on watch； uttered a cry：
〃What is it？〃 asked his chum； as he rushed forward。 〃Has anything
happened？〃
〃Lots！〃 cried Ned。 〃Look！〃 He pointed down below。 Tom saw；
crashing through the jungle； a big herd of elephants。 Behind them； almost
surrounding them； in fact； was a crowd of natives in charge of white
hunters； who were driving the herd toward a stockade。
〃There's a chance for a grand picture！〃 exclaimed Tom； as he got the
camera ready。 〃Take charge of the ship； Ned。 Keep her right over the big
animals； and I'll work the camera。〃
Quickly he focused the lens on the strange scene below him。 There
was a riot of trumpeting from the elephants。 The beaters and hunters
shouted and yelled。 Then they saw the airship and waved their hands to
Tom and his friends； but whether to welcome them； or warn them away；
could not be told。
The elephants were slowly advancing toward the stockade。 Tom was
taking picture after picture of them； when suddenly as the airship came
lower； in response to a signal to Ned from the young inventor； one of the
huge pachyderms looked up； and saw the strange sight。 He might have
taken it for an immense bird。 At any rate he gave a trumpet of alarm； and
the next minute； with screams of rage and fear； the elephants turned； and
charged in a wild stampede on those who were driving them toward the
stockade。
〃Look！〃 cried Ned。 〃Those hunters and natives will be killed！〃
〃I'm afraid so！〃 shouted Tom； as he continued to focus his camera on
the wonderful sight。
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CHAPTER XII
THE LION FIGHT
Crashing through the jungle the huge beasts turned against those who
had； been driving them on toward the stockade。 With wild shouts and yells；
the hunters and their native helpers tried to turn back the elephant tide； but
it was useless。 The animals had been frightened by the airship； and were
following their leader； a big bull； that went crashing against great trees；
snapping them off as if they were pipe stems。
〃Say； this is something like！〃 cried Ned； as he guided the airship over
the closely packed body of elephants； so Tom could get good pictures； for
the herd had divided；
