Tom Swift and his Electric Rifle

Table of

nd, should be met with so unexpectedly, was quite a coincidence, but when it developed that he was bound to the same part of the African continent as were Tom and

u," said Mr. Anderson, as he noted the look o

in my new airship. Come down into our cabin, Mr. Ande

eeding, for it is now some time since the unfortunate missionaries were captured, b

at of his airship, and also get his friends to assist Mr. Anderson. They went below to a special cabin that had b

n Africa, and had done some hunting. That is not my calling, as it is that of your friend,

nd sent two missionaries, Mr. and Mrs. Jacob Illingway, to the heart of Africa. They built up a

they were kind to the missionaries. Mr. and Mrs. Illingway used frequently to write to members of our church, telling of their work. They also mentioned the

urban, shaking his head sole

latter had no great fear of their small enemies. However, it seems that they did not take proper precautions, for not long ago there was a great battle,

he missionaries?"

of in the papers. The church people were very anxious about the fate of Mr. and Mrs. Illingway, and were talking of se

escaped the general massacre, in which all his friends were killed. He made his way through the jungle to a white

ate," comment

d, from all the accounts we ca

hat!" exclaimed Mr. Damon. "Maybe

d a meeting, raised a fund, and decided to send me off to find Mr. and Mrs. Illingway, if alive, or give them decent bu

to think of meeting you, Tom Swift! And to hear that you are also going to Africa. I

romised to help Mr. Durban in getting ivory, and while I want to try my electric rifle on big game, still we can do both,

ece of luck I could have! Now tell me all about your plans." which Tom and t

how they could locate the particular tribe of little r

ween Mr. Anderson and myself we can get on the trail, somehow. I'm anxious to ge

ctric rifle, and began to put it together, for

Tom and the others, who were eager to get into activity again. Then came a storm, which, while it was not dangerous, yet gave them p

African coast, when, one afternoon, as Tom and the others were in their cabin, th

pened!" exclaimed

followed by Mr. Durban and the others. They saw a crow

ed Tom, of the second ma

as the reply. "The captain has ordered

he ocean. Great bodies seemed to be threshing about, beating the water to foam, and, with the foam could be

med one of the sailors. "I

one?" a

the sailor quickly explained how the smaller killer fish, by the peculiarit

of the big creatures could be seen, because of the smother of foam in which they rolled and threshed

s antagonist. Instantly realizing that he was free the great creature, which was about ninety feet

comotive, spouting at intervals, the vapor from the blo

ing this way," remar

ve before he gets here. He only wants to get away from th

is!" called Mr. Damon. "They'

distance after the whale, suddenly turned, hesitated for

through the water with powerful strokes. There wa

es the ship," sug

couldn't," sai

same," remarked a sailor near Tom, as he looked

glance at the oncoming leviathan, which was still headed directly for the ve

e so than the wha

st spoken of the possibility of the whale hitting

a cow, unless they get a

o their cabin, for they thought the excitement over, when, as the young inventor turned from the r

of bells in the engine room,

tter?" asked s

ly wounded in his fight with the killer, had risen not a hundred feet away

ust have hit the whale, or it hit us under

eature of the deep came on full tilt at the vessel, struck it a terrif

hed to and fro, the engine-room bells rang violentl

ied to the side of the ship. "The whale takes us for

plates and cause a leak that won't be stopped i

coming monster for a moment, and th

ing?" cried Mr. Damon,