She seemed to
shiver, and bound upward a little.
"We've landed!" whispered Tom. "Now for it! Come on, Tomba!"
The big black glided after the lad like a shadow. With his two
weapons held in readiness our hero went out on deck. The others,
with cocked rifles, stood ready for the attack to open. It had been
decided that as soon as the first alarm was given by the dwarfs,
which would probably be when Tom broke into the hut, the firing
would begin.
"Open!" called Tom to Tomba, and the big black dashed his club
through the grass curtain over the doorway of the hut. He fairly
leaped inside, with a cry of battle on his lips.
"Mr. Illingway! Mrs. Illingway!" called Tom, "We've come to save
you. Hurry out. The airship is just outside!"
He fired one shot through the roof of the hut, so that the flash
would reveal to him whether or not the two missionaries were in the
place. He saw two forms rise up in front of him, and knew that they
were the white captives he had observed daring the former attack.
"Oh, what is it?" he heard the woman ask.
"A rescue! Thank the dear Lord!" answered her husband fervently.
"Oh, whoever you are, God bless you!"
"Come quickly!" cried Tom, "we haven't a moment to lose!"
He was speaking to absolute blackness now, for it was darker
immediately following the revolver flash than before.
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