第 16 节
作者:千顷寒      更新:2021-02-20 15:27      字数:9288
  the closely packed body of elephants; so Tom could get good pictures; for
  the herd   had divided;   and   a small   number   had gone   off   with   one   of   the
  other bulls。
  〃Yes; I'll get some great pictures;〃 agreed Tom; as he looked in through
  a red covered opening in the camera; to see how much film was left。
  The   airship   was   now   so   low   down   that   Tom;   and   the   others;   could
  easily make out the faces of the hunters; and the native helpers。 One of the
  hunters; evidently the chief; shaking his fist at our hero; cried:
  〃Can't   you   take   your   blooming   ship   out   of   the   way;   my   man?   It's
  scaring   the   beasts;   and   we've   been   a   couple   of   weeks   on   this   drive。  We
  don't want to lose all our work。 Take your bloody ship away!〃
  〃I   guess   he   must   be   an   Englishman;〃   remarked   Mr。   Nestor;   with   a
  laugh。
  〃Bless my dictionary; I should say so;〃 agreed Mr。 Damon。 〃Bloody;
  blooming ship! The idea!〃
  〃Well; I suppose we have scared the beasts;〃 said Tom。 〃We ought to
  get out of the way。 Put her up; Ned; and we'll come down some distance in
  advance。〃
  〃Why; aren't you going to take any more views of the elephants?〃
  〃Yes; but I've got enough of a view from above。 Besides; I've got to
  put in a fresh reel of film; and I might as well get out of their sight to do it。
  Maybe that will quiet them; and the hunters can turn them back toward the
  stockade。 If they do; I have another plan。〃
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  TOM SWIFT AND HIS WIZARD CAMERA
  〃What is it?〃 his chum wanted to know。
  〃I'm going to make a landing; set up my camera at the entrance to the
  stockade; and get a series of pictures as the animals come in。 I think that
  will be a novelty。
  〃That   certainly   will;〃   agreed   Mr。   Nestor。   〃I   am   sure   Mr。   Period   will
  appreciate that。 But won't it be dangerous; Tom?〃
  〃I suppose so; but I'm getting used to danger;〃 replied our hero; with a
  laugh。
  Ned put the ship high into the air; as Tom shut off the power from the
  camera。 Then   the Flyer   was   sent well on in   advance of the stampede of
  elephants; so they could no longer see it; or hear the throb of the powerful
  engines。 Tom hoped that this would serve to quiet the immense creatures。
  As   the   travelers   flew   on;   over   the   jungle;   they   could   still   hear   the
  racket made   by  the   hunters   and beaters; and   the shrill trumpeting   of   the
  elephants; as they crashed through the forest。
  Tom at once began changing the film in the camera; and Ned altered
  the course of the airship; to send it back toward the stockade; which they
  had passed just before coming upon the herd of elephants。
  I presume most of my readers know what an elephant drive is like。 A
  stockade; consisting of heavy trees; is made in the jungle。 It is like the old
  fashioned   forts   our   forefathers   used   to   make;   for   a   defense   against   the
  Indians。 There is a broad entrance to it; and; when all is in readiness; the
  beaters   go   out   into   the   jungle;   with   the   white   hunters;   to   round   up   the
  elephants。 A number of tame pachyderms are taken along to persuade the
  wild ones to follow。         Gradually the elephants are gathered together in a
  large body; and gently driven toward the stockade。 The tame elephants go
  in   first;   and   the   others   follow。   Then   the   entrance   is   closed;   and   all   that
  remains to be done is to tame the wild beasts; a not very easy task。
  〃Are   you   all   ready?〃   asked   Ned;   after   a   bit;   as   he   saw   Tom   come
  forward with the camera。
  〃Yes; I'm loaded for some more excitement。 You can put me right over
  the   stockade   now;   Ned;   and   when   we   see   the   herd   coming   back   I'll   go
  down; and take some views from the ground。〃
  〃I think they've got 'em turned;〃 said Mr。 Damon。 〃It sounds as if they
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  were coming back this way。〃
  A moment later they had a glimpse of the herd down below。 It was true
  that the hunters had succeeded in stopping the stampede; and once more
  the huge beasts were going in the right direction。
  〃There's a good place to make a landing;〃 suggested Tom; as he saw a
  comparatively clear place in the jungle。 〃It's near the stockade; and; in case
  of danger; I can make a quick get…away。〃
  〃What kind of danger are you looking for?〃 asked Ned; as he shifted
  the deflecting rudder。
  〃Oh; one of the beasts might take a notion to chase me。〃
  The landing was made; and Tom; taking Ned and Mr。 Nestor with him;
  and leaving the others to manage the airship in case a quick flight would
  be   necessary;   made   his   way   along   a   jungle   trail   to   the   entrance   to   the
  stockade。 He carried his camera with him; for it was not heavy。
  On    came    the  elephants;    frightened    by   the  shouts    and   cries  of  the
  beaters; and the firing of guns。 The young inventor took his place near the
  stockade     entrance;    and;   as  the  elephants     advanced     through    the  forest;
  tearing up trees and bushes; Tom got some good pictures of them。
  Suddenly the advance of the brutes was checked; and the foremost of
  them raised their trunks; trumpeted in anger; and were about to turn back
  again。
  〃Get away from that bloomin' gate!〃 shouted a hunter to Tom。 〃You're
  scaring them as bad as your airship did。〃
  〃Yes; they won't go in with you there!〃 added another man。
  Tom slipped around the corner of the stockade; out of sight; and from
  that vantage point he took scores of pictures; as the tame animals led the
  wild ones into the fenced enclosure。 Then began another wild scene as the
  gate was closed。
  The   terrified   animals   rushed   about;   trying   in   vain   to   find   a   way   of
  escape。   Tom   managed   to   climb        up   on   top   of  the   logs;   and   got  some
  splendid   pictures。   But   this   was   nearly   his   undoing。   For;   just   as   the   last
  elephant rushed in; a big bull charged against the stockade; and jarred Tom
  so   that   he   was   on   the   point   of   falling。   His   one   thought   was   about   his
  camera; and   he looked to   see if   he   could drop it on the   soft grass;   so it
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  would not be damaged。
  He saw Koku standing below him; the giant having slipped out of the
  airship; to see the beasts at closer range。
  〃Catch     this;  Koku!〃   cried  Tom;   tossing  the  big  man   his  precious
  camera; and the giant caught it safely。 But Tom's troubles were not over。 A
  moment later; as the huge elephant again rammed the fence; Tom fell off;
  but fortunately outside。 Then the large beast; seeing a small opening in the
  gate that was not yet entirely closed; made for it。 A moment later he was
  rushing straight at Tom; who was somewhat stunned by his fall; though it
  was not a severe one。
  〃Look out!〃 yelled Ned。
  〃Take a tree; Tom!〃 cried Mr。 Nestor。
  The elephant paid no attention to any one but Tom; whom he seemed
  to think had caused all his trouble。 The young inventor dashed to one side;
  and then started to run toward the airship; for which Ned and Mr。 Nestor
  were already making。 The elephant hunters at last succeeded in closing the
  gate; blocking the chance of any more animals to escape。
  〃Run; Tom! Run!〃 yelled Ned; and Tom ran as he had never run before。
  The elephant was close after him though; crashing through the jungle。 Tom
  could see the airship just ahead of him。
  Suddenly he felt something grasp him from behind。 He thought surely
  it was the elephant's trunk; but a quick glance over his shoulder showed
  him the friendly face of Koku; the giant。
  〃Me run for you;〃 said Koku; as he caught Tom up under one arm; and;
  carrying the   camera   under the other;  he set   off   at top   speed。  Now  Koku
  could run well at times; and this time he did。 He easily outdistanced the
  elephant; and; a little later; he set Tom down on the deck of the airship;
  with the camera beside him。 Then Ned and Mr。 Nestor came up panting;
  having run to one side。
  〃Quick!〃 cried Tom。 〃We   must get away before the elephant charges
  the Flyer。〃
  〃He has stopped;〃 shouted Mr。 Nestor; and it was indeed so。 The big
  beast; seeing again the strange craft that had frightened him before; stood
  still for a moment; and then plunged off into the jungle; trumpeting with