Part 19 (1/2)
”Are you hurt?” asked Tom anxiously, as he ran to his friend. Mr.
Damon got up slowly. He felt all over himself, and then answered:
”No, Tom, I guess I'm not hurt, except in my dignity. Never again will I fire at a sleeping rhinoceros unless you are with me. I had a narrow escape,” and he shook Tom's hand heartily.
”Did you see any orchids?” asked the lad with a smile.
”No, those beasts didn't give me a chance! Bless my tape measure!
but they're big fellows!”
Indeed they were fine specimens, and there was the usual rejoicing among the natives when they brought in the great bodies, pulling them to the village with ropes made of vines.
After this Mr. Damon was careful not to go into the jungle alone, nor, in fact, did any of our friends so venture. Mr. Durban said it was not safe.
They remained a full week in the native village, and received no news. In fact, all but one of the hunters came back to report that there was no sign of the red pygmies in that neighborhood.
”Well, I guess we might as well move on, and see what we can do ourselves,” said Mr. Durban.
”Let's wait until the last hunter comes back,” suggested Tom. ”He may bring word.”
”Some of his friends think he'll never come back,” remarked Mr.
Anderson.
”Why not?” asked Ned.
”They think he has been killed by some wild beast.”
But this fear was ungrounded. It was on the second day after the killing of the rhinoceroses that, as Tom was tinkering away in the engine-room of the airs.h.i.+p, and thinking that perhaps they had better get under way, that a loud shouting was heard among the natives.
”I wonder what's up now?” mused the young inventor as he went outside. He saw Mr. Durban and Mr. Anderson running toward the s.h.i.+p.
Behind them was a throng of blacks, led by a weary man whom Tom recognized as the missing hunter. The lad's heart beat high with hope. Did the African bring news?
On came Mr. Durban, waving his hands to Tom.
”We've located 'em!” he shouted.
”Not the red pygmies?” asked Tom eagerly.
”Yes; this hunter has news of them. He has been to the border of their country, and narrowly escaped capture. Then he was attacked by a lion, and slightly wounded. But, Tom, now we can get on the trail!”
”Good!” cried the young inventor. ”That's fine news!” and he rejoiced that once more there would be activity, for he was tired of remaining in the African camp, and then, too, he wanted to proceed to the rescue. Already it might be too late to save the unfortunate missionaries.
CHAPTER XIX
AN APPEAL FOR HELP
The African hunter's story was soon told. He had gone on farther than had any of his companions, and, being a bold and brave man, had penetrated into the very fastness of the jungle where few would dare to venture.