第46章

AT THE VOLCANO

"And you've got to snap-shot a volcano?" remarked Ned to his chum, after a moment of surprised silence."Any particular one? Is it Vesuvius? If it is we haven't far to go.But how does Mr.Period know that it's going to get into action when we want it to?""No, it isn't Vesuvius," replied Tom."We've got to take another long trip, and we'll have to go by steamer again.The message says that the Arequipa volcano, near the city of the same name, in Peru, has started to 'erupt,' and, according to rumor, it's acting as it did many years ago, just before a big upheaval.""Bless my Pumice stones!" cried Mr.Damon."And are you expected to get pictures of it shooting out flames and smoke, Tom?""Of course.An inactive volcano wouldn't make much of a moving picture.Well, if we go to Peru, we won't be far from the United States, and we can fly back home in the airship.But we've got to take the Flyer apart, and pack up again.""Will you have time?" asked Mr.Nestor."Maybe the volcano will get into action before you arrive, and the performance will be all over with.""I think not," spoke Tom, as he again read the cablegram."Mr.Period says he has advices from Peru to the effect that, on other occasions, it took about a month from the time smoke was first seen coming from the crater, before the fireworks started up.I guess we've got time enough, but we won't waste any.""And I guess Montgomery and Kenneth won't be there to make trouble for us," put in Ned."It will be some time before they get away from that African town, I think."They began work that day on taking the airship apart for transportation to the steamer that was to carry them across the ocean.Tom decided on going to Panama, to get a series of pictures on the work of digging that vast canal.On inquiry he learned that a steamer was soon to sail for Colon, so he took passage for his friends and himself on that, also arranging forthe carrying of the parts of his airship.

It was rather hard work to take the Flyer apart, but it was finally done, and, in about a week from the time of arriving in Paris, they left that beautiful city.The pictures already taken were forwarded to Mr.Period, with a letter of explanation of Tom's adventures thus far, and an account of how his rivals had acted.

Just before sailing, Tom received another message from his strange employer.The cablegram read:

"Understand our rivals are also going to try for volcano pictures.Can't find out who will represent Turbot and Eckert, but watch out.Be suspicious of strangers.""That's what I will!" cried Tom."If they get my camera away from me again, it will be my own fault."The voyage to Colon was not specially interesting.They ran into a terrific storm, about half way over, and Tom took some pictures from the steamer's bridge, the captain allowing him to do so, but warning him to be careful.

"I'll take Koku up there with me," said the young inventor, "and if a wave tries to wash me overboard he'll grab me."And it was a good thing that he took this precaution, for, while a wave did not get as high as the bridge, one big, green roller smashed over the bow of the vessel, staggering her so that Tom was tossed against the rail.He would have been seriously hurt, and his camera might have been broken, but for the quickness of the giant.

Koku caught his master, camera and all, in a mighty arm, and with the other clung to a stanchion, holding Tom in safety until the ship was on a level keel once more.