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 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 rivals—­and 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 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.