“I beg your pardon,” he said, “but is that a dynamite gun you are using?”

“No, it’s an electric rifle,” was the answer.

“Would you mind telling me something about it?” went on the elderly man, and as Tom’s weapon was now fully protected by patents, the young inventor cordially invited the stranger to come nearer and see how it worked.

“That’s the greatest thing I ever saw!” exclaimed the man enthusiastically when Tom had blown up another box, and had told of the illumination for night firing.  “The most wonderful weapon I ever heard of!  What a gun it would be in my business.”

“What is your trade?” asked Tom curiously, for he had noted that the man, while aged, was rugged and hearty, and his skin was tanned a leathery brown, showing that he was much in the open air.

“I’m a hunter,” was the reply, “a hunter of big game, principally elephants, hippos and rhinoceroses.  I’ve just finished a season in Africa, and I’m going back there again soon.  I came on to New York to get a new elephant gun.  I’ve got a sister living over in Waterford, and I’ve been visiting her.  I went out for a stroll to-day, and I came farther than I intended.  That’s how I happened to be passing here.”

“A sister in Waterford, eh?” mused Tom, wondering whether the elephant hunter had met Mr. Damon.  “And how soon are you going hack to Africa, Mr.—­er—­” and Tom hesitated.

“Durban is my name, Alexander Durban,” said the old man.  “Why, I am to start back in a few weeks.  I’ve got an order for a pair of big elephant tusks—­the largest I can get for a wealthy New York man,—­ and I’m anxious to fulfil the contract.  The game isn’t what it once was.  There’s more competition and the elephants are scarcer.  So I’ve got to hustle.”

“I got me a new gun. but my! it’s nothing to what yours is.  With that weapon I could do about as I pleased.  I could do night hunting, which is hard in the African jungle.  Then I wouldn’t have any trouble getting the big tusks I’m after.  I could get a pair of them, and live easy the rest of my life.  Yes, I wouldn’t ask anything better than a gun like yours.  But I s’pose they cost like the mischief?” He looked a question at Tom.

“This is the only one there is,” was the lad’s answer.  “But I am very glad to have met you, Mr. Durban.  Won’t you come into the house?  I’m sure my father will be glad to see you, and I have something I’d like to talk to you about,” and Tom, with many wild ideas in his head, led the old elephant hunter toward the house.

The dream of the young inventor might come true after all.

CHAPTER V

RUSH WORK

Mr. Swift made the African hunter warmly welcome, and listened with pride to the words of praise Mr. Durban bestowed on Tom regarding the rifle.

“Yes, my boy has certainly done wonders along the inventive line,” said Mr. Swift.