Tom Swift and his Electric Rifle

Table of

the ship careen as the whale struck it a powerful blow,

ut them, under the impression that the ship had struck a rock and was going down. They had not be

ied one timid woman. "What has

ht in a little whil

want to know. Have

. As he reached it the whale came on once more, and struck the ship another terrific blow. Then the monster

Mr. Damon. "Bless my machine oil! Wh

e commander cried

f a dozen of the sailors to get out the rifles, and see if they can't kill the

much, and the captain rang for full speed ahead. But the Soudalar was slow in getting under way aga

" cried the captain. "Fir

Damon, who had caught sight of Tom Swif

commander. "Why, has the

s still coming on, but Tom Swift will fix him.

ommander as the young inventor took his plac

lf speed, Tom aimed his electric rifle at the oncoming leviathan. He looked at the automatic gage, noted the di

a flash of flame, they were disappointed. There was absolutely

ure which Tom on one occasion fired at with his rifle and as had the big packing-cases. The whale appeared to dissolve, as does a lump of sugar in a

the captain in bewildermen

amon. "Bless my powder horn, T

the commander, as he came down off the bridge and shook hands with Tom.

y instead of bullets. I'm sorry I can't let you have it, as it's the only one I have. But I guess no more whales will

ger to shake his hand, and to hear about the

lar was a stanch craft, with many water-tight compartments, still no captain likes to be a week from land with a bad leak, especially if a storm comes up. Then, too

"and I'll see that the owners hear of what you did. Well, I guess we can g

r, who had gone below, came up to report that there was

le, and explain its workings. Then, too, the story of his expedition became known, and also the object of Mr. Anderson's quest, and

. Durban one morning, when they were within a day's steaming of their port. "I'm afra

see what it would do. It was the first time I'd tried it on anything alive. I can so regu

it done," remarke

the ugly fish followed the steamer for the sake of the food scraps thrown overboard. Tom took his position in the

the water, and from that he toned down the current until he could kill some of the monsters so easily and quickly that

phants for their tusks," said Tom, "and the heavy o

n he would have to put

uperintending the unloading of the parts of his airship. But it was safely taken ashore, and

aloft. It was given a try-out, much to the astonishment of the natives, and worked perfectly. Then Tom a

d that they were good if they went far enough into the jungle and f

naries, but were unsuccessful nor could they learn what had b

," said Mr. Anderson. "Wait until we ge

e too late," said

ect working order, it was well stocked with food, arms, articles and trinkets with which to trade among the natives,

pon and Mr. Durban and the others took plenty of am

st careful look to his airship, tested the motor and dynamos, took a hasty survey of

tionalities had gathered. Tom pulled the starting lever. The Black Hawk shot across a special

d several superstitious blacks, who saw the a

n on the city over which he was flying. Then he pointed the p

e murmured. "I wonder if

with the dangers and terrors of elephant land, and