“Well, now for home,” said Tom, when the airship had been taken apart for shipment.  “I guess you’ll be glad to get back to the United States, won’t you, friends?”

“That’s what,” agreed Andy Foger.  “I think I’m done with airships.  Ugh!  When I think of those red dwarfs I can’t sleep nights!”

“Yah, dot iss so!” agreed the German.

“Well, I’m going to settle down for a time,” declared Tom.  “I’ve had enough adventures for a while, but those in elephant land—­”

“They certainly put it all over the things that happen to some people!” interrupted Ned with a laugh.

“Bless my fish-line, that’s so!” agreed Mr. Damon.

But Tom Swift was not done with adventures, and what farther happened to him may be learned by reading the next volume of this series, which will be entitled, “Tom Swift in the City of Gold; or, Marvelous Adventures Underground.”

They all made a safe and pleasant voyage home, and as news of the rescue of the missionaries had been cabled to America, Tom and his friends were met, as they left the steamer, by a crowd of newspaper reporters, who got a good story of the battle with the red pygmies, though Tom was inclined to make light of his part in the affair.

“Now for Shopton, home, Dad, Eradicate Sampson and his mule!” exclaimed Tom, as they boarded a train in New York.

“And somebody else, too, I guess; eh?” asked Ned of his chum, with a laugh.

“That’s none of your affair!” declared Tom, as he blushed, and then he, too, joined in the merriment.

And now, for a time, we will say good-by to the young inventor and his friends.