tom swift and his wizard camera(汤姆·史威夫特和他的女巫相机)-第24节
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getting ready to depart to help their friends or relatives in the impending
battle。
As dusk was falling； the big airship arose； and soon her powerful
propellers were sending her across the jungle； toward Stanley Falls in the
vicinity of which the battle was expected to take place。
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TOM SWIFT AND HIS WIZARD CAMERA
CHAPTER XVIII
THE NATIVE BATTLE
〃By Jove； Tom； here they come！〃
〃From over by that drinking pool？〃
〃Yes； just as the spies said they would。 Wow； what a crowd of the
black beggars there are！ And some of 'em have regular guns； too。 But most
of 'em have clubs； bows and arrows； blow guns； or spears。〃
Tom and Ned were standing on the forward part of the airship； which
was moving slowly along； over an open plateau； in the jungle where the
native battle was about to take place。 Our friends had left the town where
the missionaries lived； and had hovered over the jungle； until they saw
signs of the coming struggle。 They had seen nothing of their English rivals
since coming away； but had no doubt but that the Britishers were
somewhere in the neighborhood。
The two forces of black men； who had gone to war over a dispute
about some cattle； approached each other。 There was the beating of tom…
toms； and skin drums； and many weird shouts。 From their vantage point in
the air； Tom and his companions had an excellent view。 The Wizard
Camera was loaded with a long reel of film； and ready for action。
〃Bless my handkerchief！〃 cried Mr。 Damon； as he looked down on the
forces that were about to clash。 〃I never saw anything like this before！〃
〃I either；〃 admitted Tom。 〃But； if things go right； I'm going to get some
dandy films！〃
Nearer and nearer the rival forces advanced。 At first they had stared；
and shouted in wonder at the sight of the airship； hovering above them； but
their anger soon drew their attention to the fighting at hand； and； after
useless gestures toward the craft of the air； and after some of them had
vainly fired their guns or arrows at it； they paid no more attention； but
rushed on with their shouts and cries and amid the beating of their rude
drums。
〃I think I'll begin to take pictures now；〃 said Tom； as Ned； in charge of
the ship； sent it about in a circle； giving a general view of the rival forces。
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TOM SWIFT AND HIS WIZARD CAMERA
〃I'll show a scene of the two crowds getting ready for business； and； later
on； when they're actually giving each other cats and dogs； I'll get all the
pictures possible。〃
The camera was started while； safe in the a those on the Flyer watched
what went on below them。
Suddenly the forward squads of the two small armies of blacks met。
With wild； weird yells they rushed at each other。 The air was filled with
flying arrows and spears。 The sound of the old… fashioned muzzle…loading
guns could he heard； and clouds of smoke arose。 Tilting his camera； and
arranging the newly attached reflecting mirrors so as to give the effect as if
a spectator was looking at the battle from in front； instead of from above；
Tom Swift took picture after picture。
The fight was now on。 With yells of rage and defiance the Africans
came together； giving blow for blow。 It was a wild melee； and those on the
airship looked on fascinated； though greatly wishing that such horrors
could be stopped。
〃How about it； Tom？〃 cried Ned。
〃Everything going good！ I don't like this business； but now I'm in it
I'm going to stick。 Put me down a little lower；〃 answered the young
inventor。
〃All right。 I say Tom； look over there。〃
〃Where？〃
〃By that lightning…struck gum tree。 See those two men； and some sort
of a machine they've got stuck up on stilts？ See it？〃
〃Sure。 Those are the two Englishmenmy rivals！ They're taking
pictures； too！〃
And then； with a crash and roar； with wild shouts and yells； with
volley after volley of firearms； clouds of smoke and flights of arrows and
spears； the native battle was in full swing； while the young inventor；
sailing above it in his airship； reeled off view after view of the strange
sight。
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TOM SWIFT AND HIS WIZARD CAMERA
CHAPTER XIX
A HEAVY LOSS
〃Bless my battle axe； but this is awful！〃 cried Mr。 Damon。
〃War is always a fearful thing；〃 spoke Mr。 Nestor。 〃But this is not as
bad as if the natives fought with modern weapons。 See！ most of them are
fighting with clubs； and their fists。 They don't seem to hurt each other very
much。〃
〃That's so；〃 agreed Mr。 Damon。 The two gentlemen were in the main
cabin； looking down on the fight below them； while Tom； with Ned to help
him change the reels of films； as they became filled with pictures； attended
to the camera。 Koku was steering the craft； as he had readily learned how
to manage it。
〃Are those Englishmen taking pictures yet？〃 asked Tom； too busy to
turn his head； and look for himself。
〃Yes； they're still at；〃 replied Ned。 〃But they seem to be having trouble
with their machine；〃 he added as he saw one of the men leave the
apparatus； and run hurriedly back to where they had made a temporary
camp。
〃I guess it's an old…fashioned kind；〃 commented Tom。 〃Say； this is
getting fierce！〃 he cried； as the natives got in closer contact with each
other。 It was now a hand…to…hand battle。
〃I should say so！〃 yelled Ned。 〃It's a wonder those Englishmen aren't
afraid to be down on the same level with the black fighters。〃
〃Oh； a white person is considered almost sacred by the natives here； so
the missionaries told me；〃 said Tom。 〃A black man would never think of
raising his hand to one； and the Englishmen probably know this。 They're
safe enough。 In fact I'm thinking of soon going down myself； and getting
some views from the ground。〃
〃Bless my gizzard； Tom！〃 cried Mr。 Damon。 〃Don't do it！〃
〃Yes； I think I will。 Why； it's safe enough。 Besides； if they attack us we
have the electric rifles。 Ned； you tell Koku to get the guns out； to have in
readiness； and then you put the ship down。 I'll take a chance。〃
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〃Jove！ You've been doing nothing but take chances since we came on
this trip！〃 exclaimed Ned； admiringly。 〃All right！ Here we go；〃 and he
went to relieve Koku at the wheel； while the giant； grinning cheerfully at
the prospect of taking part in the fight himself； got out the rifles； including
his own。
Meanwhile the native battle went on fiercely。 Many on both sides fell；
and not a few ran away； when they got the chance； their companions
yelling at them； evidently trying to shame them into coming back。
As the airship landed； Mr。 Damon； Mr。 Nestor； Ned and Koku stood
ready with the deadly electric rifles； in case an attack should be made on
them。 But the fighting natives paid no more attention to our friends than
they did to the two Englishmen。 The latter moved their clumsy camera
from place to place； in order to get various views of the fighting。
〃This is the best yet！〃 cried Tom； as； after a lull in the fight； when the
two opposing armies had drawn a little apart； they came together again
more desperately than before。 〃I hope the pictures are being recorded all
right。 I have to go at this thing pretty much in the dark。 Say； look at the
beggars fight！〃 he finished。
But a battle； even between uncivilized blacks； cannot go on for very
long at a time。 Many had fallen； some being quite severely injured it
seemed； being carried off by their friends。 Then； with a sudden rush； the
side which； as our friends learned later； had been robbed of their cattle；
made a fierce attack； overwhelming their enemies； and compelling them to
retreat。 Across the open plain the vanquished
