"
"But I CAN'T send her up!" cried Tom.
"You can't? Why not?"
"Because the gas machine won't work until I put in a new cylinder,
and that will take at least a half a day."
"Go up as an aeroplane then!" cried Mr. Damon. "Bless my monkey
wrench, Tom, you've often done it before."
For answer Tom waved his hand toward the thick jungle all about
them.
"We haven't room to get a running start of ten feet." he said, "and
without a start the airship can never rise as a mere aeroplane. The
only way we can get up from the jungle is like a balloon, and
without the gas--"
He paused significantly. The sound of the war drums became louder,
and to it was added a weird singing chant.
"The natives!" cried Mr. Anderson. "They're coming right this way!
We must fight them off if they attack us!"
"Where's the electric rifle?" asked Ned. "Get that out, Tom!"
"Wait!" suggested Mr. Durban. "This is serious! It looks as if they
were going to attack us, and they have us at a disadvantage. Our
only safety is in flight, but as Tom says we can't go up until the
gas machine is fixed, he will have to attend to that part of it
while we keep off the black men. Tom, we can't spare you to fight
this time! You repair the ship as soon as you can, and we'll guard
her from the natives.
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