The Boy Aviators in Africa; Or, an Aerial Ivory Trail

of a day of great bustle and activity for the boys. With the vitality of healthy youth Harry had completely recovered and was indeed surprised to find himself feeling so good a

ctation, "this red thatch of mine is a nuisance. At school I was always Brick-top or Red-Head and out here

his blazing red hair and in Africa the natives with their love for any gaudy color had already christened him Rwome Mogo or Red-Top. Of this,

shouting, laughing Kroomen how to load up the canoes. From the canopied steam launch that lay alongside the rickety wharf the

I ever did see," remarked Mr. Rastus Johnson

t as Billy said "like a hen with one chicken-and that a lame duck," over his tin cases and poisonous looking bottles, announced that he was ready to start. The twelve chattering Kroomen who were to go as far as the Bambara country with

out into the stream with a long blast of her whistle, a tall, black form came racing along the ba

er a bend in the river had hidden the waving Mr. Desplai

come. If I see in smoke I no com

light anyhow,"

many combats. Billy was about to run his thumb along its edge when with a gesture the mighty negro waved him as

ach side of his blade, sev

out of big ones like that," remarked Billy, picking up the two fragments

on he carried was his war axe with which he had killed uncounted enemies. A rival tribe, however, had killed his father and mother and driven him to the coast with the few survivors of his village. Here he had shipped on an American trading brig

th us?" asked Frank as the

" replied the veteran simply. "The ju-ju in

ly reason you h

ome day I find the chief who kill my father and my mother

e I find him-maybe not. But

d to Harry when the former recounted

ke to be that man wh

illage. As soon as the launch was moored to the bank the adventurers scrambled out-not sorry of a chance to stretch their legs-and looked about them wonderingly. They were really in equatorial Africa at last, and even as they looked

" said he

llage, Sikaso?" inqu

untable reason had taken a strange dislike to the professor. "Come," he

Frank?" asked Billy and L

ed Sikaso who

with round, glass fou

omise for him that he won't do any talki

"why at home my folks were thinking of having a doctor tr

ed had subsided-even old Sikaso giving a grim smile as he took in the purp

y were about to see a real African village-such as they had read about in Stanley's and Livingstone's books-and other less authent

enlarged to shelter human bees. All about them women and children were bustling; setting about getting the evening meal. Befo

dignity as his age and a much distended stomach would allow him. The younger men, however, advanced boldly toward the party. Some of them carried, spears, others held Birmingham matchlocks of the kind the British and French Governments have in vain

aid Sikaso gravely, a

r greetings. The boys stood grouped in the background-Billy Barnes and Lath

s of his club," remarked the irrepressible Billy as o

of these niggers when they get thr

ht a camera?" as

f their ugly mugs don't break the l

amera from his pocket as he sp

and for it? It might make tr

it make? I wish I knew bow to say 'Look pleasant, please

thrust into a red shirt-into the armholes that is, with the rest of the garment rolled round his waist-announced he was ready to give fresh provisions for calico, red and blue, and several sections of the brass rod that passes for currenc

, followed by the old chief and Sikaso, rushed from be

through it. He looked scared to death as well he might, for by his side was a stalwart young African, brandishing a he

rry out his determination to take some pictures. The first subject he selected was a serious-faced little baby, innocent of any clo

-convinced that Billy was putting Ju-ju medicine on the child-was upon him, armed with his big hunting spear and followed by half the village. Even Billy-scared as he was-d

era Sikaso with a single blow

y was indignantly beginning, when Frank grippe

don't want to m

caught Frank's eye. The young leader was really angr

turned to the tribesmen and addressing them in state

(This part of the oration Frank did not communicate to Billy.) "You see I have smashed it. Do I fear? Do I look now like a man in terro

me of their packmen to bring home the provisions, with light hearts. As for

on't do it again. Gee! talk about 'pre

they," laughed Frank, his