The old elephant hunter proved the correctness of his statement by beginning to eat, and soon all the travelers were partaking of the food left by the native women.  They placed it down on the ground at a discreet distance from the airship, and hurriedly withdrew.  But if the women and men were afraid, the children were not, and they were soon swarming about the ship, timidly touching the sides with their little black fingers, but not venturing on board.

Tom, with Ned and Mr. Damon to help him, began work on the motor right after dinner.  He found the break to be worse than he had supposed, and knew that it would take at least four days to repair it.

Meanwhile the airship continued to be a source of wonder to the natives.  They were always about it, save at night, but their admiration was a respectful one.  The king was anxious for the rain-making incantations to begin, but Mr. Durban put him off.

“I don’t want to deceive these simple natives,” he said, “and for our own safety we can’t pretend to make rain, and fail.  As soon as we have a chance we’ll slip away from here.”

But an unexpected happening made a change in their plans.  It was on, the afternoon of their third day in the native village, and Tom and his assistants were working hard at the motor.  Suddenly there seemed to be great excitement in the vicinity of the king’s hut.  A native had rushed into the village from the jungle, evidently with some news, for presently the whole place was in a turmoil.

Once more the king and his attendants filed out toward the airship.  Once more the interpreter talked to Mr. Durban, who listened eagerly.

“By Jove! here’s our chance!” he cried to Tom, when the little man had finished.

“What is it?” asked the young inventor.

“A runner has just come in with news that a large herd of wild elephants is headed this way.  The king is afraid the big beasts will trample down all their crops, as often occurs, and he begs us to go out and drive the animals away.  It’s just what we want.  Come on, Tom, and all of you.  The airship will be safe here, for the natives think that to meddle with it would mean death or enchantment for then.  We’ll get on our first elephant trail!”

The old hunter went into the cabin for his big game gun, while Tom hastened to get out his electric rifle.  Now he would have a chance to try it on the powerful beasts which he had come to Africa to hunt.

Amid the excited and joyous shouts of the natives, the hunters filed out of the village, led by the dusky messenger who had brought the news of the elephants.  And, as Tom and the others advanced, they could hear a distant trumpeting, and a crashing in the jungle that told of the near presence of the great animals.

CHAPTER XIV

A STAMPEDE

“Look to your guns, everybody!” cautioned Mr. Durban.  “It’s no joke to be caught in an elephant herd with an unloaded rifle.  Have you plenty of ammunition, Mr. Damon?”