“Suffin t’ shoot at?  Why Massa Tom!  Good land a’ massy!  Yo’-all ain’t gwine t’ hab no duel, am yo’?”

“No, Rad, but I want a life-size figure on which to try my new electric gun.  Here are some old clothes, and if you will stuff them with rags and straw and fix them so they’ll stand up, they’ll do first-rate.  Have it ready by night, and set it up at the far end of the shooting gallery.”

“All right, Massa Tom.  I’ll jest do dat, fo’ yo’,” and leaving the colored man to stuff the figure, after he had showed him how, Tom went back into the house to read the paper which he had purchased that morning.

He skimmed over the news, thinking perhaps he might see something of the going abroad of Andy Foger with the German aeroplane, but there was nothing.

“I almost wish I was going to Europe,” sighed Tom.  “I will certainly have to get busy at something, soon.  I haven’t had any adventure since I won the prize at the Eagle Park aviaton meet in my sky racer.  Jove!  That was some excitement!  I’d like to do that over again, only I shouldn’t want to have Dad so sick,” for just before the race, Tom had saved his father’s life by making a quick run in the aeroplane, to bring a celebrated surgeon to the invalid’s aid.

“I certainly wish I could have some new adventures,” mused Tom, as he turned the pages of the paper.  “I could afford to take a trip around the earth after them, too, with the way money is coming in now.  Yes, I do wish I could have some excitement.  Hello, what’s this!  A big elephant hunt in Africa.  Hundreds of the huge creatures captured in a trap—­driven in by tame beasts.  Some are shot for their tusks.  Others will be sent to museums.”

He was reading the headlines of the article that had attracted his attention, and, as he read, he became more and more absorbed in it.  He read the story through twice, and then, with sparkling eyes, he exclaimed: 

“That’s just what I want.  Elephant shooting in Africa!  My!  With my new electric rifle, and an airship, what couldn’t a fellow do over in the dark continent!  I’ve a good notion to go there!  I wonder if Ned would go with me?  Mr. Damon certainly would.  Elephant shooting in Africa!  In an airship!  I could finish my new sky craft in short order if I wanted to.  I’ve a good notion to do it!”

CHAPTER II

TRYING THE NEW GUN

While Tom Swift is thus absorbed in thinking about a chance to hunt elephants, we will take the opportunity to tell you a little more about him, and then go on with the story.

Many of you already know the young inventor, but those who do not may be interested it hearing that he is a young American lad, full of grit and ginger, who lives with his aged father in the town of Shopton, in New York State.  Our hero was first introduced to the public in the book, “Tom Swift and His Motorcycle.”