“He’s no friend of ours.” declared Ned, as Tom was reading the newspaper account.  “Still, I don’t wish him any bad luck, and I do hope he doesn’t become the captive of the red pygmies.”

“So do I,” echoed the old hunter fervently.  There was no news of Andy in the papers the next day, though there were cable dispatches speculating on what might have happened to him and the airship.  In Shopton the dispatches created no little comment, and it was said that Mr. Foger was going to start for Africa at once to rescue his son.  This, however, could not he confirmed.

Meanwhile Tom and his friends were very busy over the Black Hawk.  Every hour saw the craft nearer completion, for the young inventor had had much experience in this sort of work now, and knew just how to proceed.

To Mr. Damon were intrusted certain things which he could well attend to, and though he frequently stopped to bless his necktie or his shoelaces, still he got along fairly well.

There would be no necessity of purchasing supplies in this country, for they could get all they needed in the African city of Majumba, on the western coast, where they planned to land.  There the airship would be put together, stocked with provisions and supplies, and they would begin their journey inland.  They planned to head for Buka Meala, crossing the Congo River, and then go into the very interior of the heart of the dark continent.

As we have described in detail, in the former books of this series, the construction of Tom Swift’s airship, the Red Cloud, and as the Black Hawk was made in a similar manner to that, we will devote but brief space to it now.  As the story proceeds, and the need arises for a description of certain features, we will give them to you, so that you will have a clear idea of what a wonderful craft it was.

Sufficient to say that there was a gas bag, made of a light but strong material, and capable of holding enough vapor, of a new and secret composition, to lift the airship with its load.  This was the dirigible-balloon feature of the craft, and with the two powerful propellers, fore and aft (in which particular the Black Hawk differed from the Red Cloud which had two forward propellers);—­with these two powerful wooden screws, as we have said, the new ship could travel swiftly without depending on the wing planes.

But as there is always a possibility of the gas bag being punctured, or the vapor suddenly escaping from one cause or another, Tom did not depend on this alone to keep his craft afloat.  It was a perfect aeroplane, and with the gas bag entirely empty could be sent scudding along at any height desired.  To enable it to rise by means of the wings, however, it was necessary to start it in motion along the ground, and for this purpose wheels were provided.

There was a large body or car to the craft, suspended from beneath the gas bag, and in this car were the cabins, the living, sleeping and eating apartments, the storerooms and the engine compartment.