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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
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TOM SWIFT AND HIS WIZARD CAMERA
rage。
〃Safe！〃 gasped Tom； as he looked at his camera to see if it had been
damaged。 It seemed all right。
〃Bless my latch key！〃 cried Mr。 Damon。 〃This moving picture
business isn't the most peaceful one in the world。〃
〃No； it has plenty of perils；〃 agreed Mr。 Nestor。
〃Come on； let's get out of here while we have the chance；〃 suggested
Tom。 〃There may be another herd upon us before we know it。〃
The airship was soon ascending； and Tom and his companions could
look down and see the tame elephants in the stockade trying to calm the
wild ones。 Then the scene faded from sight。
〃Well； if these pictures come out all right I'll have some fine ones；〃
exclaimed Tom as he carried his camera to the room where he kept the
films。 〃I fancy an elephant drive and stampede are novelties in this line。〃
〃Indeed they are；〃 agreed Mr。 Nestor。 〃Mr。 Period made no mistake
when he picked you out； Tom； for this work。 What are you going to try for
next？〃
〃I'd like to get some lion and tiger pictures；〃 said the young inventor。
〃I understand this is a good district for that。 As soon as those elephants get
quieted down； I'm going back to the stockade and have a talk with the
hunters。〃
This he did； circling about in the airship until nearly evening。 When
they again approached the stockade all was quiet； and they came to earth。
A native showed them where the white hunters had their headquarters； in
some bungalows； and Tom and his party were made welcome。 They
apologized for frightening the big beasts； and the hunters accepted their
excuses。
〃As long as we got 'em； it's all right；〃 said the head man； 〃though for
awhile； I didn't like your bloomin' machine。〃 Tom entertained the hunters
aboard his craft； at which they marvelled much； and they gave him all the
information they had about the lions and tigers in the vicinity。
〃You won't find lions and tigers in herds； like。 elephants though；〃 said
the head hunter。 〃And you may have to photograph 'em at night； as then is
when they come out to hunt； and drink。〃
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〃Well； I can take pictures at night；〃 said Tom； as he showed his camera
apparatus。
The next day； in the airship； they left for another district； where； so the
natives reported； several lions had been seen of late。 They had done much
damage； too； carrying off the native cattle； and killing several Indians。
For nearly a week Tom circled about in his airship； keeping a sharp
lookout down below fo