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formed grew much larger。
〃They're burning a lot of coal on that ship；〃 remarked Ned。 〃Must be
trying for a speed record。〃
A little later a sailor stationed himself in the crow's nest； and focused a
telescope on the smoke。 An officer； on deck； seemed to be waiting for a
report from the man aloft。
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TOM SWIFT AND HIS WIZARD CAMERA
〃That's rather odd；〃 remarked Ned。 〃I never knew them to take so
much interest in a passing steamer before； and we've gone by several of
late。〃
〃That's right；〃 agreed Tom。 〃I wonder〃
At that moment the officer； looking up； called out：
〃Main top！〃
〃Aye； aye； sir；〃 answered the sailor with the glass。 〃She's a small
steamer； sir； and she's on fire！〃
〃That's what I feared。 Come down。 I'll tell the captain。 We must crowd
on all steam； and go to the rescue。〃
〃Did you hear that？〃 cried Ned to Tom； as the officer hurried to the
bridge； where the captain awaited him。 〃A steamer on fire at sea； Tom！
why don't you〃
〃I'm going to！〃 interrupted the young inventor； as he started for his
cabin on the run。 〃I'm going to get some moving pictures of the rescue！
That will be a film worth having。〃
A moment later the Belchar； the vessel on which our friends had
embarked； increased her speed； while sudden excitement developed on
board。
As the Belchar approached the burning steamer； which had evidently
seen her； and was making all speed toward her； the cloud of smoke became
more dense； and a dull flame could be seen reflected in the water。
〃She's going fast！〃 cried Mr。 Nestor； as he joined Ned on deck。
〃Bless my insurance policy！〃 cried Mr。 Damon。 〃What a strange
happening！ Where's Tom Swift？〃
〃Gone for his camera；〃 answered his chum。 〃He's going to get some
pictures of the rescue。〃
〃All hands man the life boats！〃 cried an officer； and several sailors
sprang to the davits； ready to lower the boats； when the steamers should be
near enough together。
Up on deck came Tom； with his wonderful camera。
〃Here you go； Ned！〃 he called。 〃Give me a hand。 I'm going to start the
film now。〃
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TOM SWIFT AND HIS WIZARD CAMERA
CHAPTER XI
AN ELEPHANT STAMPEDE
〃Lower away！〃
〃Stand by the life boats！〃
〃Let go！ Pull hearty！〃
These and other commands marked the beginning of the rescue； as the
sailors manned the davit…falls； and put the boats into the water。 The
burning steamer had now come to a stop； not far away from the Belchar；
which was also lay…to。 There was scarcely any sea running； and no wind；
so that the work of rescuing was not difficult from an ordinary standpoint。
But there was grave danger； because the fire on the doomed vessel was
gaining rapidly。
〃That's oil burning；〃 remarked an officer； and it seemed so； from the
dense clouds of smoke that rolled upward。
〃Is she working； Tom？〃 asked Ned； as he helped his chum to hold the
wonderful camera steady on the rail； so that a good view of the burning
steamer could be had。
〃Yes； the film is running。 Say； I wonder if they'll get 'em all off？〃
〃Oh； I think so。 There aren't many passengers。 I guess it's a tramp
freighter。〃
They could look across the gap of water； and see the terrified
passengers and crew crowding to the rail； holding out their hands
appealingly to the brave sailors who were lustily and rapidly； pulling
toward them in life boats。
At times a swirl of smoke would hide those on the doomed vessel from
the sight of the passengers on the Belchar； and on such occasions the
frightened screams of women could be heard。 Once； as the smoke cleared
away； a woman； with a child in her arms； giving a backward glance toward
the flames that were now enveloping the stern of the vessel； attempted to
leap overboard。
Many hands caught her； however； and all this was registered on the
film of Tom's camera； which was working automatically。 As the two
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TOM SWIFT AND HIS WIZARD CAMERA
vessels drifted along； Tom and Ned shifted the lens so as to keep the
burning steamer； and the approaching lifeboats； in focus。
〃There's the first rescue！〃 cried Ned； as the woman who had attempted
to leap overboard； was； with her child； carefully lowered into a boat。 〃Did
you get that； Tom？〃
〃I certainly did。 This will make a good picture。 I think I'll send it back
to Mr。 Period as soon as we reach port。〃
〃Maybe you could develop it on board here； and show it。 I understand
there's a dark room； and the captain said one of his officers； who used to
be in the moving picture business； had a reproducing machine。〃
〃Then that's what I'll do！〃 cried Tom。 〃I'll have our captain charge all
the Belchar passengers admission； and we'll get up a fund for the fire
sufferers。 They'll probably lose all their baggage。〃
〃That will be great！〃 exclaimed Ned。
The rescue was now in full swing； and； in a short time all the
passengers and crew had been transferred to the life boats。 Tom got a good
picture of the captain of the burning steamer being the last to leave his
vessel。 Then the approaching life boats； with their loads of sailors； and
rescued ones； were caught on the films。
〃Are you all off？〃 cried the captain of the Belchar to the unfortunate
skipper of the doomed ship。
〃All off； yes； thank you。 It is a mercy you were at hand。 I have a cargo
of oil。 You had better stand off； for she'll explode in a few minutes。〃
〃I must get a picture of that！〃 declared Tom as the Belchar got under
way again。 〃That will cap the climax； and make a film that will be hard to
beat。〃
A few moments later there was a tremendous explosion on the tramp
oiler。 A column of wreckage and black smoke shot skyward； and Tom
secured a fine view of it。 Then the wreck disappeared beneath the waves；
while the rescuing steamer sailed on； with those who had been saved。
They had brought off only the things they wore； for the fire had occurred
suddenly； and spread rapid