Page:Tom Swift and His Electric Rifle.djvu/100

90 "But we won't cross a bridge until we hear it coming, as Eradicate would say. Hello, that looks like some sort of native village."

He pointed ahead to a little clearing in the forest, where a number of mud and grass huts were scattered about. As they came nearer they could see the black savages, naked save for a loin cloth, running about in great excitement, and pointing upward.

"Yes, that's one of the numerous small native villages we'll see from now on," said Mr. Durban. "Many a night have I spent in those same grass huts after a day's hunting. Sometimes I've been comfortable, and again not. I guess we've given those fellows a scare."

It did seem so, for by this time the whole population, including women and children, were running about like mad. Suddenly, from below, there sounded a deep booming noise, which came plainly to the ears of the elephant hunters through the opened windows of the airship cabin.

"Hark! What's that?" cried Tom, raising his hand for silence.

"Bless my umbrella! it sounds like thunder," said Mr. Damon.

"No, it's one of their war drums," explained Mr. Durban. "The natives make large ones out of hollow trees, with animal skins stretched over