It was decided that they had better proceed cautiously, and lower the airship, and anchor it, sometime before getting above the place where the pygmy village was.

“For they may see us, and, though they don’t know what our craft is, they may take the alarm and hide deeper in the jungle with the prisoners, where we can’t find them,” said Tom.

His plan was adopted, and, while it had taken the native hunter several days to reach the borders of the dwarfs’ land, those in the airship made the trip in one day.  That is, they came as far toward it as they thought would be safe, and one night, having located a landmark which Mr. Durban said was on the border, the nose of the Black Hawk was pointed downward, and soon they were encamped in a little clearing in the midst of the dense jungle which was all about them.

With his electric rifle, Tom noiselessly killed some birds, very much like chicken, of which an excellent meal was made and then, as it became dark very early, and as nothing could be done, they lighted a campfire, and retired inside their craft to pass the night.

It must have been about midnight that Tom, who was a light sleeper at times, was awakened by some noise outside the window near which his stateroom was.  He sat up and listened, putting out his hand to where his rifle stood in the corner near his bunk.  The lad heard stealthy footsteps pattering about on the deck of the airship.  There was a soft, shuffling sound, such as a lion or a tiger makes, when walking on bare boards.  In spite of himself, Tom felt the hair on his head beginning to creep, and a shiver ran down his back.

“There’s something out there!” he whispered.  “I wonder if I’d better awaken the others?  No, if it’s a sneaking lion, I can manage to kill him, but—­”

He paused as another suggestion came to him.

The red pygmies!  They went barefoot!  Perhaps they were swarming about the ship which they might have discovered in the darkness.

Tom Swift’s heart beat rapidly.  He got softly out of his bunk, and, with his rifle in hand made his way to the door opening on deck.  On his way he gently awakened Ned and Mr. Durban, and whispered to them his fear.

“If the red pygmies are out there we’ll need all our force,” said the old elephant hunter.  “Call Mr. Damon and Mr. Anderson, Ned, and tell them to bring their guns.”

Soon they were all ready, fully armed.  They listened intently.  The airship was all in darkness, for lights drew a horde of insects.  The campfire had died down.  The soft footsteps could still be heard moving about the deck.

“That sounds like only one person or animal,” whispered Ned.

“It does,” agreed Tom.  “Wait a minute, I’ll fire an illuminating charge, and we can see what it is.”

The others posted themselves at windows that gave a view of the deck.  Tom poked his electric rifle out of a crack of the door, and shot forth into the darkness one of the blue illuminations.  The deck of the craft was instantly lighted up brilliantly, and in the glare, crouched on the deck, could be seen a powerful black man, nearly naked, gazing at the hunters.