Part 13 (2/2)

”I can speak a little of their language,” remarked Mr. Durban, ”but what in the world are the beggars up to, anyhow? I supposed they'd send a volley of arrows at us, first shot, but they don't seem to be going to do that.”

”No, they're dancing around us,” said Tom.

”That's it!” exclaimed Mr. Anderson. ”I have it! Why didn't I think of it before? The natives are welcoming us!”

”Welcoming us?” repeated Ned.

”Yes,” went on the missionary seeker. ”They are doing a dance in our honor, and they have even called out the witch-doctors to do us homage.”

”That's right,” agreed Mr. Durban, who was listening to the chanting of the natives dressed in animal skins. ”They take us for spirits from another land, and are making us welcome here. Listen, I'll see if I can make out what else they are saying.”

The character of the shouts and chants changed abruptly, and the dancing increased in fervor, even the children throwing themselves wildly about. The witch-doctors ran around like so many maniacs, and it looked as much like an American Indian war dance as anything else.

”I've got it!” shouted Mr. Durban, for he had to call loudly to be heard above the din. ”They are asking us to make it rain. It seems there has been a dry spell here, and their own rain-makers and witch-doctors haven't been able to get a drop out of the sky. Now, they take it that we have come to help them. They think we are going to bring rain.”

”And if we don't, what will happen?” asked Tom.

”Maybe they won't be quite so glad to see us,” was the answer.

”Well, if they don't mean war, we might as well put up our weapons,”

suggested Mr. Anderson. ”If they're going to be friendly, so much the better, and if it should happen to rain while we're here, they'd think we brought it, and we could have almost anything we wanted.

Perhaps they have a store of ivory hidden away, Mr. Durban. Some of these tribes do.”

”It's possible, but the chances for rain are very small. How long will we have to stay here, Tom Swift?” asked the elephant hunter anxiously.

”Well, perhaps I can get the motor mended in two or three days,”

answered the young inventor.

”Then we'll have to stay here in the meanwhile,” decided Mr. Durban.

”Well, we'll make the best of it. Ha, here comes the native king to do us honor,” and, as he spoke there came toward the airs.h.i.+p a veritable giant of a black man, wearing a leopard skin as a royal garment, while on his head was a much battered derby hat, probably purchased at a fabulous price from some trader. The king, if such he could be called, was accompanied by a number of attendants and witch-doctors. In front walked a small man, who, as it developed, was an interpreter. The little cavalcade advanced close to the airs.h.i.+p, and came to a halt. The king made a low bow, either to the craft or to the elephant hunters drawn up in front of it. His attendants followed his example, and then the interpreter began to speak.

Mr. Durban listened intently, made a brief answer to the little man, and then the elephant hunter's face lighted up.

”It's all right,” he said to Tom and the others. ”The king takes us for wonderful spirits from another land. He welcomes us, says we can have whatever we want, and he begs us to make it rain. I have said we will do our best, and I have asked that some food be sent us.

That's always the first thing to do. We'll be allowed to stay here in peace until Tom can mend the s.h.i.+p, and then we'll hit the air trail again.”

The talk between Mr. Durban and the interpreter continued for some little time longer. Then the king went back to his hut, refusing, as Mr. Durban said, an invitation to come aboard and see how a modern airs.h.i.+p was constructed. The natives, too, seemed anxious to give the craft a wide berth.

The excitement had quieted down now, and, in a short time a crowd of native women came toward the airs.h.i.+p, bearing, in baskets on their heads, food of various kinds. There were bananas, some wild fruits, yams, big gourds of goats' milk, some boiled and stewed flesh of young goats, nicely cooked, and other things, the nature of which could only be guessed at.

”Shall we eat this stuff, or stick to Mr. Damon's cooking?” asked Tom.

”Oh, you'll find this very good,” explained Mr. Durban. ”I've eaten native cookery before. Some of it is excellent and as this appears to be very good, Mr. Damon can have a vacation while we are here.”

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