He hurried to the engine-room,
and turned on the power. The great propellers revolved, and sent the
Black Hawk scudding across the level plain. With yells of surprise
the red dwarfs scattered arid made way for it.
Up into the air it mounted on the broad wings. For the time being
our friends has been driven back, and the missionaries whom they had
come to rescue were still in the hands of the savages.
CHAPTER XXII
A NIGHT ATTACK
"Well, what's to be done?"
Tom Swift asked that question.
"Bless my percussion cap! They certainly are the very worst imps for
fighting that I ever heard of," commented Mr. Damon helplessly.
"Is the gas bag much punctured?" asked Ned Newton.
"Wait a minute," resumed the young inventor, as he pulled the speed
lever a trifle farther over, thereby sending the craft forward more
swiftly, "I think my question ought to be answered first. What's to
be done? Are we going to run away, and leave that man and woman to
their fate?"
"Of course not!" declared Mr. Durban stoutly, "but we couldn't stay
there, and have them destroy the airship."
"No, that's so," admitted Tom, "if we lost the airship it would be
all up with us and our chances of rescuing the missionaries.
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