“More likely they are in hiding because they have as captives two white persons,” said Mr. Anderson.  “They are fierce and fearless, but, nevertheless, they have, in times past, felt the vengeance of the white man, and perhaps they dread that now.”

They made a descent, and spent several days making inquiries from the friendly blacks about the race of little men.  But scarcely anything was learned.  Some of the negro tribes admitted having heard of the red pygmies, and others, with superstitious incantations and imprecations, said they had never heard of them.

One tribe of very large negroes had heard a rumor to the effect that the band of the pygmies was several days’ journey from their village, across the mountains, and when Tom sent his airship there, the searchers only found an impenetrable jungle, filled with lions and other wild beasts, but not a sign of the pygmies, and with no elephants to reward their search.

“But we’re not going to give up,” declared Tom, and the others agreed with him.  Forward went the Black Hawk in the search for the imprisoned ones, but, as the days passed, and no news was had, it seemed to grow more and more hopeless.

“I’m afraid if we do find them now,” remarked Mr. Anderson at length, “that we’ll only recover the bodies of the missionaries.”

“Then we’ll avenge them,” said Tom quietly.

They had stopped at another native village to make inquiries, but without result, and were about to start off again that night when a runner came in to announce that a herd of big elephants was feeding not many miles away.

“Well, we’ll stay over a day or so, and get some more ivory,” decided Mr. Durban and that night they got ready for what was to prove a big hunt.

CHAPTER XVII

SHOTS FROM ABOVE

“There they are!”

“My, what a lot of big ones!”

“Jove!  Mr. Anderson, see those tusks!”

“Yes, you ought to get what you want this time, Mr. Durban.”

“Bless my hatband!  There must be two hundred of them!” exclaimed Mr. Damon.

“I’m glad I recharged my rifle last night!” exclaimed Tom Swift.  “It’s fully loaded now.”

Then followed exulting cries and shouts of the natives, who were following our friends, the elephant hunters, who had given voice to the remarks we have just quoted.

It was early in the morning, and the hunt was about to start, for the news brought in by the runner the night before had been closely followed by the brutes themselves, and at dawn our friends were astir, for scouts brought in word that the elephants, including many big ones, were passing along only a few miles from the African village.

Cautiously approaching, with the wind blowing from the elephants to them, the white hunters made their way along.  Mr. Durban was in the lead, and when he saw a favorable opportunity he motioned for the others to advance.  Then, when he noticed the big bull sentinels of the herd look about as if to detect the presence of enemies, he gave another signal and the hunters sank out of sight in the tall grass.