第29章

IN A GREAT GALE

Tom Swift rose slowly to his feet, carefully setting his camera down, after making sure that it was not injured.Then he looked at the huge beast which lay dead in front of him, and, going over to the giant he held out his hand to him.

"Koku, you saved my life," spoke Tom."Probably the life of Mr.Damon also.I can't begin to thank you.It isn't the first time you've done it, either.But I want to say that you can have anything you want, that I've got.""Me like this gun pretty much," said the giant simply.

"Then it's yours!" exclaimed Tom."And you're the only one, except myself, who has ever owned one." Tom's wonderful electric rifle, of which I have told you in the book bearing that name, was one of his most cherished inventions.

He guarded jealously the secret of how it worked, and never sold or gave one away, for fear that unscrupulous men might learn how to make them, and to cause fearful havoc.For the rifle was a terrible weapon.Koku seemed to appreciate the honor done him, as he handled the gun, and looked from it to the dead rhinoceros.

"Bless my blank cartridge!" exclaimed Mr.Damon, as he also got up and came to examine the dead beast.It was the first thing he had said since the animal had rushed at him, and he had not moved after he fell down.He had seemingly been in a daze, but when the others heard him use one of his favorite expressions they knew that he was all right again."Bless my hat!" went on the odd man."What happened, Tom? Is that beast really dead? How did Koku come to arrive in time?""I guess he's dead all right," said Tom, giving the rhinoceros a kick."But I don't know how Koku happened to arrive in the nick of time, and with the gun, too.""I think maybe I see something to shoot when I come after you, like you tell me to do," spoke the giant."I follow your trail, but I see nothingto shoot until I come here.Then I see that animal run for you, and I shoot." "And a good thing you did, too," put in Ned."Well let's go back.Mynerves are on edge, and I want to sit quiet for a while.""Take the camera, Koku," ordered Tom, "and I'll carry the electric rifle--your rifle, now," he added, and the giant grinned in delight.They reached the airship without further incident, and, after a cup of tea, Tom took out the exposed films and put a fresh roll in his camera, ready for whatever new might happen.

"Where is your next stopping place, Tom?" asked Ned, as they sat in the main room of the airship that evening, talking over the events of the day.They had decided to stay all night anchored on the ground, and start off in the morning.

"I hardly know, answered the young inventor."I am going to set the camera to-night, near a small spring I saw, to get some pictures of deer coming to drink.I may get a picture of a lion or a tiger attacking them.If I could it would be another fine film.To-morrow I think we will start for Switzerland.But now I'm going to get the camera ready for a night exposure.