Part 8 (2/2)
”Not take Boomerang? Den I SUTTINLY ain't goin,” and Eradicate walked off, highly offended, to give some oats to his faithful if somewhat eccentric steed.
After the airs.h.i.+p had been sent off there yet remained much for Tom Swift to do. He had to send along a number of special tools and appliances with which to put the s.h.i.+p together again, and also some with which to repair the craft in case of accident. So that this time was pretty well occupied. But at length everything was in readiness, and with his electric rifle knocked down for transportation, and with his baggage, and that of the others, all packed, they set off one morning to take the train for New York, where they would get a steamer for Africa.
Numerous good-bys had been said, and Tom had made a farewell call on Mary Nestor, promising to bring her some trophy from elephant land, though he did not quite know what it would be.
Mr. Damon, as the train started, blessed everything he could think of. Mr. Swift waved his hand and wished his son and the others good luck, feeling a little lonesome that he could not make one of the party. Ned was eager with excitement, and antic.i.p.ation of what lay before him. Tom Swift was thinking of what he could accomplish with his electric rifle, and of the wonderful sights he would see, and, as for the old elephant hunter, he was very glad to be on the move again, after so many weeks of idleness, for he was a very active man.
Their journey to New York was uneventful, and they found that the parts of the airs.h.i.+p had safely arrived, and had been taken aboard the steamer. The little party went aboard themselves, after a day spent in sight-seeing, and that afternoon the Soudalar, which was the vessel's name, steamed away from the dock at high tide.
”Off for Africa!” exclaimed Tom to Ned, as they stood at the rail, watching the usual crowd wave farewells. ”Off for Africa, Ned.”
As Tom spoke, a gentleman who had been standing near him and his chum, vigorously waving his hand to some one on the pier, turned quickly. He looked sharply at the young inventor for a moment, and then exclaimed:
”Well, if it isn't Tom Swift! Did I hear you say you were going to Africa?”
Tom looked at the gentleman with rather a puzzled air for a moment.
The face was vaguely familiar, but Tom could not recall where he had seen it. Then it came to him in a flash.
”Mr. Floyd Anderson!” exclaimed our hero. ”Mr. Anderson of--”
”Earthquake Island!” exclaimed the gentleman quickly, as he extended his hand. ”I guess you remember that place, Tom Swift.”
”Indeed I do. And to think of meeting you again, and on this African steamer,” and Tom's mind went back to the perilous days when his wireless message had saved the castaways of Earthquake Island, among whom were Mr. Anderson and his wife.
”Did I hear you say you were going to Africa?” asked Mr. Anderson, when he had been introduced to Ned, and the others in Tom's party.
”That's where we're bound for,” answered the lad. ”We are going to elephant land. But where are you going, Mr. Anderson?”
”Also to Africa, but not on a trip for pleasure or profit like yourselves. I have been commissioned by a missionary society to rescue two of its workers from the heart of the dark continent.”
”Rescue two missionaries?” exclaimed Tom, wonderingly.
”Yes, a gentleman and his wife, who, it is reported, have fallen into the hands of a race known as the red pygmies, who hold them captives!”
CHAPTER IX
ATTACKED BY A WHALE
Surprise at Mr. Anderson's announcement held Tom silent for a moment. That the gentleman whom he had been the means of rescuing, among others, from Earthquake Island, should be met with so unexpectedly, was quite a coincidence, but when it developed that he was bound to the same part of the African continent as were Tom and his friends, and when he said he hoped to rescue some missionaries from the very red pygmies so feared by the old elephant hunter--this was enough to startle any one.
”I see that my announcement has astonished you,” said Mr. Anderson, as he noted the look of surprise on the face of the young inventor.
”It certainly has! Why, that's where we are bound for, in my new airs.h.i.+p. Come down into our cabin, Mr. Anderson, and tell us all about it. Is your wife with you?”
”No, it is too dangerous a journey on which to take her. I have little hope of succeeding, for it is now some time since the unfortunate missionaries were captured, but I am going to do my best, and organize a relief expedition when I get to Africa.”
Tom said nothing at that moment, but he made up his mind that if it was at all possible he would lend his aid, that of his airs.h.i.+p, and also get his friends to a.s.sist Mr. Anderson. They went below to a special cabin that had been reserved for Tom's party, and there, as the s.h.i.+p slowly pa.s.sed down New York Bay, Mr. Anderson told his story.
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