As for the natives, they were like snakes, unseen but ever present, wriggling along on their hands and knees.  They were awaiting the slaughter, when there would be fresh meat in abundance.

At length the old elephant hunter decided that they were near enough to chance some shots.  As a matter of fact, Tom Swift, with his electric rifle, had been within range some time before, but as he did not want to spoil the sport for the others, by firing and killing, and so alarming the herd, he had held back.  Now they could all shoot together.

“Let her go!” suddenly cried Mr. Durban, and they took aim.

There was a fusillade of reports and several of the big brutes toppled over.

“Bless my toothbrush!” cried Mr. Damon, “that’s the time I got one!”

“Yes, and a fine specimen, too!” added Mr. Durban, who had only succeeded in downing a small bull, with an indifferent pair of tusks.  “A fine speciment, Mr. Damon, I congratulate you!”

As for Tom Swift, he had killed two of the largest elephants in the herd.

But now the hunters had their work cut out for them, since the beasts had taken fright and were charging away at what seemed an awkward gait, but which, nevertheless, took them rapidly over the ground.

“Come on!” cried Mr. Durban.  “We must get some more.  Some of the finest tusks I have ever seen are running away from us!”

He began to race after the retreating herd, but it is doubtful if he would have caught up to them had not a band of natives, who had crept up and surrounded the beasts, turned them by shouts and the beating of tom-toms.  Seeing an enemy in front of them, the elephants turned, and our friends were able to get in several more shots.  Tom Swift picked out only those with immense tusks, and soon had several to his credit.  Ned Newton also bagged some prizes.

But finally the elephants, driven to madness by the firing and the yells of the natives, broke through the line of black men, and charged off into the jungle, where it was not only useless but dangerous to follow them.

“Well, we have enough,” said Mr. Durban, and when the tusks had been collected it was found that indeed a magnificent and valuable supply had been gathered.

“But I have yet to get my prize ones,” said the old hunter with a sigh.  “Maybe we’ll find the elephant with them when we locate the red pygmies.”

“If we do, we’ll have our work cut out for us,” declared Tom.

As on the other occasion after the hunt, there was a great feast for the natives, who invited tribes from miles around, and for two days, while the tusks were being cut out and cleaned, there were barbeques on every side.

It was one afternoon, when they were seated in the shade of the airship, cleaning their guns, and discussing the plans they had best follow next, that our travellers suddenly heard a great commotion amongst the Africans, who had for the past hour been very quiet, most of them sleeping after the feasts.  They yelled and shouted, and began to beat their drums.