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out to look at the wonderful craft。 But Tom and his companions took care
that no one got aboard； and they kept a strict lookout for Americans； or
Englishmen； thinking perhaps that Mr。 Eckert； or the spy； might try to get
the camera。 However； they did not see them； and a few days after the
receipt of the message from Mr。 Period； having stocked up； they rose high
into the air； and set out to cross the Mediterranean Sea for Africa。 Tom laid
a route over Tripoli； the Sahara Desert； the French Congo； and so into the
Congo Free State。 In his telegram； Mr。 Period had said that the expected
uprising was to take place near Stanley Falls； on the Congo River。
〃And supposing it does not happen？〃 asked Mr。 Damon。 〃What if the
natives don't fight； Tom？ You'll have your trip for nothing； and Will run a
lot of risk besides。〃
〃It's one of the chances I'm taking；〃 replied the young inventor； and
truly； as he thought of it； he realized that the perils of the moving picture
business were greater than he had imagined。 Tom hoped to get a quick trip
to the Congo； but； as they were sailing over the big desert； there was an
accident to the main motor； and the airship suddenly began shooting
toward the sands。 She was easily brought up； by means of the gas bags；
and allowed to settle gently to the ground； in the vicinity of a large oasis。
But； when Tom looked at the broken machinery； he said：
〃This means a week's delay。 It will take that； and longer； to fix it so we
can go on。〃
〃Too bad！〃 exclaimed Mr。 Nestor。 〃The war may be over when we get
there。 But it can't be helped。〃
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It took Tom and his friends even longer than he had thought to make
the repairs。 In the meanwhile they camped in the desert place； which was
far from being unpleasant。 Occasionally a caravan halted there； but； for the
most part； they were alone。
〃No danger of Eckert； or any of his spies coming here； I guess；〃 said
Tom grimly as he blew on a portable forge； to weld two pieces of iron
together。
In due time they were again on the wing； and without further incident
they were soon in the vicinity of Stanley Falls。 They managed to locate a
village where there were some American missionaries established。 They
were friends of Mr。 and Mrs。 Illington； the missionaries whom Tom had
saved from the red pygmies； as told in the 〃Electric Rifle〃 volume of this
series； and they made our hero and his friends welcome。
〃Is it true？〃 asked Tom； of the missionaries who lived not far from
Stanley Falls； 〃that there is to be a native battle？ Or are we too late for it？〃
〃I am sorry to say； I fear there will be fighting among the tribesmen；〃
replied Mr。 Janeway； one of the Christian workers。 〃It has not yet taken
place； though。〃
〃Then I'm not too late！〃 cried Tom； and there was exultation in his
voice。 〃I don't mean to be barbarous；〃 he went on； as he saw that the
missionaries looked shocked； 〃but as long as they are going to fight I want
to get the pictures。〃
〃Oh； they'll fight all right；〃 spoke Mrs。 Janeway。 〃The poor； ignorant
natives here are always ready to fight。 This time I think it is about some
cattle that one tribe took from another。〃
〃And where will the battle take place？〃 asked Tom。
〃Well； the rumors we have； seem to indicate that the fight will take
place about ten miles north of here。 We will have notice of it before it
starts； as some of the natives； whom we have succeeded in converting；
belong to the tribe that is to be attacked。 They will be summoned to the
defense of their town and then it will be time enough for you to go。 Oh；
war is a terrible thing！ I do not like to talk about it。 Tell me how you
rescued our friends from the red pygmies；〃 and Tom was obliged to relate
that story； which I have told in detail elsewhere。
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Several days passed； and Tom and his friends spent a pleasant time in
the African village with the missionaries。 The airship and camera were in
readiness for instant use； and during this period of idleness our hero got
several fine films of animal scenes； including a number of night…fights
among the beasts at the drinking pools。 One tiger battle was especially
good； from a photographic standpoint。
One afternoon； a number of native bearers came into the town。 They
preceded two white men； who were evidently sportsmen； or explorers； and
the latter had a well equipped caravan。 The strangers sought the advice of
the missionaries about where big game might be found； and Tom
happened to be at the cottage of Mr。 Janeway when the strangers arrived。
The young inventor looked at them critically； as he was introduced to
them。 Both men spoke with an English accent； one introducing himself as
Bruce Montgomery； and the other as Wade Kenneth。 Tom decided that
they were of the ordinary type of globe…trotting Britishers； until； on his
way to his airship； he passed the place where the native bearers had set
down the luggage of the Englishmen。
〃Whew！〃 whistled Tom； as he caught sight of a peculiarly shaped box。
〃See that； Ned？〃
〃Yes； what is it？ A new kind of magazine gun？〃
〃It's a moving picture camera； or I lose my guess！〃 whispered Tom。
〃One of the old fashioned kind。 Those men are no more tourists； or after
big game； than I am！ They're moving picture men； and they're here to get
views of that native battle！ Ned； we've got to be on our guard。 They may
be in the pay of that Turbot and Eckert firm； and they may try to do us
some harm！〃
〃That's so！〃 exclaimed Ned。 〃We'll keep watch of them； Tom。〃
As they neared their airship； there came； running down what served as
the main village street； an African who showed evidence of having come
from afar。 As he ran on； he called out something in a strange tongue。
Instantly from their huts the other natives swarmed。
〃What's up now？〃 cried Ned。
〃Something important； I'll wager；〃 replied Tom。 〃Ned； you go back to
the missionaries house； and find out what it is。 I'm going to stand guard
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