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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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over my camera。〃
〃It's come！〃 cried Ned a little later； as he hurried into the interior of the
airship； where Tom was busy working over a new attachment he intended
putting on his picture machine。
〃What has？〃
〃War！ That native； whom we saw running in； brought news that the
battle would take place day after to…morrow。 The enemies of his tribe are
on the march； so the African spies say； and he came to summon all the
warriors from this town。 We've got to get busy！〃
〃That's so。 What about those Englishmen？〃
〃They were talking to the missionaries when the runner came in。 They
pretended to have no interest in it； but I saw one wink to the other； and
then； very soon； they went out； and I saw them talking to their native
bearers； while they were busy over that box you said was a picture
machine。〃
〃I knew it； Ned！ I was sure of it！ Those fellows came here to trick us；
though how they ever followed our trail I don't know。 Probably they came
by a fast steamer to the West Coast； and struck inland； while we were
delayed on the desert。 I don't care if they are only straight out…and…out
rivalsand not chaps that are trying to take an unfair advantage。 I suppose
all the big picture concerns have a tip about this war； and they may have
representatives here。 I hope we get the best views。 Now come on； and give
me a hand。 We've got our work cut out for us； all right。〃
〃Bless my red cross bandage！〃 cried Mr。 Damon； when he heard the
news。 〃A native fight； eh？ That will be something I haven't seen in some
time。 Will there be any danger； Tom； do you think？〃
〃Not unless our airship tumbles down between the two African
forces；〃 replied our hero； 〃and I'll take care that it doesn't do that。 〃We'll be
well out of reach of any of their blow guns； or arrows。〃
〃But I understand that many of the tribes have powder weapons；〃 said
Mr。 Nestor。
〃They have；〃 admitted Tom； 〃but they are 'trader's' rifles； and don't
carry far。 We won't run any risk from such old…fashioned guns。〃
〃A big fight； eh？〃 asked Koku when they told him what was before
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them。 〃Me like to help。〃
〃Yes； and I guess both sides would give a premium for your services；〃
remarked Tom； as he gazed at his big servant。 〃But we'll need you with us；
Koku。〃
〃Oh； me stay with you； Mr。 Tom；〃 exclaimed the big man； with a grin。
Somewhat to Tom's surprise the two Englishmen showed no further
interest in him and his airship； after the introduction at the missionaries'
bungalow。
With the stolidity of their race the Britishers did not show any surprise；
as； some time afterward； they strolled down toward Tom's big craft； after
supper； and looked it over。 Soon they went back to their own camp； and a
little later； Koku； who walked toward it； brought word that the Englishmen
were packing up。
〃They're going to start for the seat of war the first thing in the
morning；〃 decided Tom。 〃Well； we'll get ahead of them。 Though we can
travel faster than they can； we'll start now； and be on the ground in good
season。 Besides； I don't like staying all night in the same neighborhood
with them。 Get ready for a start； Ned。〃
Tom did not stop to say good…bye to the Englishmen； though he bade
farewell to the missionaries； who had been so kind to him。 There was
much excitement in the native town； for many of the tribesmen were
getting ready to depart to help their friends or relatives in the impend