tom swift and his wizard camera(汤姆·史威夫特和他的女巫相机)-第25节
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made a fierce attack； overwhelming their enemies； and compelling them to
retreat。 Across the open plain the vanquished army fled； with the others
after them。 Tom； meanwhile； taking pictures as fast as he could。
〃This ends it！〃 he remarked to Ned； when the warriors were too far
away to make any more good views。 〃Now we can take a rest。〃
〃The Englishmen gave up some time ago；〃 said his chum； motioning
to the two men who were taking their machine off the tripod。
〃Guess their films gave out；〃 spoke Tom。 〃Well； you see it didn't do
any harm to come down； and I got some better views here。〃
〃Here they come back！〃 exclaimed Ned； as a horde of the black
fellows emerged f row the jungle； and came on over the plain。
〃Hear 'em sing！〃 commented Tom； as the sound of a rude chant came
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to their ears。 〃They must be the winners all right。〃
〃I guess so；〃 agreed Ned。 〃But what about staying here now？ Maybe
they won't be so friendly to us when they haven't any fighting to occupy
their minds。〃 〃Don't worry；〃 advised Tom。 〃They won't bother us。〃
And the blacks did not。 They were caring for their wounded； who had
not already been taken from the field； and they paid no attention to our
friends； save to look curiously at the airship。
〃Bless my newspaper！〃 cried Mr。 Damon； with an air of relief。 〃I'm
glad that's over； and we didn't have to use the electric rifles； after all。〃
〃Here come the Englishmen to pay us a visit；〃 spoke Ned a little later；
as they sat about the cabin of the Flyer。 The two rival picture men soon
climbed on deck。
〃Beg pardon；〃 said the taller of the two； addressing our hero； 〃but
could you lend us a roll of film？ Ours are all used up； and we want to get
some more pictures before going back to our main camp。〃
〃I'm sorry；〃 replied Tom； 〃but I use a special size； and it fits no camera
but my own。〃
〃Ah！ might we see your camera？〃 asked the other Englishman。 〃That
is； see how it works？〃
〃I don't like to be disobliging；〃 was Tom's answer； 〃but it is not yet
patented andwell〃 he hesitated。
〃Oh； I see！〃 sneered the taller visitor。 〃You're afraid we might steal
some of your ideas。 Hum！〃 Come on Montgomery；〃 and； swinging on his
heels； with a military air； he hurried away； followed by his companion。
〃They don't like that； but I can't help it；〃 remarked Tom to his friends a
little later。 〃I can't afford to take any chances。〃
〃No； you did just right；〃 said Mr。 Nestor。 〃Those men may be all right；
but from the fact that they are in the picture taking business I'd be
suspicious of them。〃
〃Well； what's next on the programme？〃 asked Ned as Tom put his
camera away。
〃Oh； I think we'll stay here over night；〃 was our hero's reply。 〃It's a
nice location； and the gas machine needs cleaning。 We can do it here； and
maybe I can get some more pictures。〃
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They were busy the rest of the day on the gas generator； but the main
body of natives did not come back； and the Englishmen seemed to have
disappeared。
Everyone slept soundly that night。 So soundly； in fact； that the sun was
very high when Koku was the first to awaken； His head felt strangely
dizzy； and he wondered at a queer smell in the room he had to himself。
〃Nobody up yet；〃 he exclaimed in surprise； as he staggered into the
main cabin。 There； too； was the strange； sweetish； sickly smell。 〃Mr。 Tom；
where you be？ Time to get up！〃 the giant called to his master； as he went
in； and gently shook the young inventor by the shoulder。
〃Eh？ What's that？ What's the matter？〃 began Tom； and then he
suddenly sat up。 〃Oh； my head！〃 he exclaimed； putting his hands to his
aching temples。
〃And that queer smell！〃 added Ned； who was also awake now。
〃Bless my talcum powder！〃 cried Mr。 Damon。 〃I have a splitting
headache。〃
〃Hum！ Chloroform； if I'm any judge！〃 called Mr。 Nestor from his
berth。
〃Chloroform！〃 cried Tom； staggering to his feet。 〃I wonder〃 He did not
finish his sentence； but made his way to the room where his camera was
kept。 〃It's gone！〃 he cried。 〃We have been chloroformed in the night； and
some one has taken my Wizard Camera。〃
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CHAPTER XX
AFTER THE ENGLISHMEN
〃The camera gone！〃 gasped Ned。
〃Did they chloroform us？〃 exclaimed Mr。 Damon。 〃Bless my〃 but for
one of the few times in his life； he did not know what to bless。
〃Get all the fresh air you can；〃 hastily advised Mr。 Nestor。 〃Koku；
open all the doors and windows；〃 for； though it was hot during the day in
the jungle； the nights were cool； and the airship was generally closed up。
With the inrush of the fresh air every one soon felt better。
〃Is anything else gone？〃 asked Ned； as he followed Tom into the
camera room。
〃Yes； several rolls of unexposed films。 Oh； if only they haven't got too
much of a start！ I'll get it away from them！〃 declared Tom with energy。
〃From who？ Who took it？〃 asked Ned。
〃Those Englishmen； of course！ Who else？ I believe they are in the pay
of Turbot and Eckert。 Their taking pictures was only a bluff！ They got on
my trail and stuck to it。 The delays we had； gave them a chance to catch up
to us。 They came over to the airship； to pretend to borrow films； just to get
a look at the place； and size it up； so they could chloroform us； and get the
camera。〃
〃I believe you're right；〃 declared Mr。 Nestor。 〃We must get after those
scoundrels as quickly as possible！〃
〃Bless my shoulder braces！〃 cried Mr。 Damon。 〃How do you imagine
they worked that trick on us？〃
〃Easily enough；〃 was Mr。 Nestor's opinion。 〃We were all dead tired
last night； and slept like tops。 They watched their chance； sneaked up； and
got in。 After that it was no hard matter to chloroform each one of us in turn；
and they had the ship to themselves。 They looked around； found the
camera； and made off with it。〃
〃Well； I'm going to get right after them！〃 cried Tom。 〃Ned； start the
motor。 I'll steer for a while。〃
〃Hold on！ Wait a minute；〃 suggested Mr。 Nestor。 〃I wouldn't go off in
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the ship just yet；~ Tom。〃
〃Why not？〃
〃Because you don't know which way to go。 We must find out which
trail the Englishmen took。 They have African porters with them； and those
porters doubtless know some of the blacks around here。 We must inquire
of the natives which way the porters went； in carrying the goods of our
rivals； for those Englishmen would not abandon camp without taking their
baggage with them。〃
〃That's so；〃 admitted the young inventor。 〃That will be the best plan。
Once I find which way they have gone I can easily overtake them in the
airship。 And when I find 'em〃 Tom paused significantly。
〃Me help you fix 'em！〃 cried Koku； clenching his big fist。
〃They will probably figure it out that you will take after them；〃 said
Mr。 Nestor； 〃but they may not count on you doing it in the Flyer； and so
they may not try to hide。 It isn't going to be an easy matter to pick a small
party out of the jungle though； Tom。〃
〃Well； I've done more difficult things in my airships；〃 spoke our hero。
〃I'll fly low； and use the glass。 I guess we can pick out their crowd of
porters； though they won't have many。 Oh； my camera！ I hope they won't
damage it。〃
〃They won't；〃 was Ned's opinion。 〃It's too valuable。 They want it to
take pictures with； themselves。〃
〃Maybe。 I hope they don't open it； and see how it's made。 And I'm glad
I thought to hide the picture films I've taken so far。 They didn't get those
away from us； only some of the blank。 ones；〃 and Tom looked again in a
secret closet。 where he kept the battle…films； and the others； in the dark； to
prevent them from being light…stru
