OR
AN AERIAL IVORY TRAIL
By Captain Wilbur Lawton
CONTENTS
I A REUNION
II THE STOLEN IVORY
III THE DARK CONTINENT
IV THE WITCH-DOCTOR
V THE POOL OF DEATH
VI A SNAP-SHOT FIEND IN TROUBLE
VII A TRAITOR IN CAMP
VIII A BATTLE IN THE AIR
IX THE VOICE OF THE MOUNTAIN
X THE ARAB'S CACHE
XI THE AGE OF SIKASO
XII IN THE HANDS OF SLAVE-TRADERS
XIII GORILLAS—AND AN AERIAL TOW-LINE
XIV AN ESCAPE—AND WHAT CAME OF IT
XV THE FLYING MEN
XVI FOOLING AN ARAB CHIEF
XVII THE "ROGUE" ELEPHANT
XVIII A LINK FROM THE PAST
XIX FRIENDS IN NEED
XX THE SMOKE READER
XXI THE CHUMS RESCUED BY AEROPLANE
XXII LUTHER BARR'S TRICK
XXIII ABOARD "THE BRIGAND"
XXIV THE BOY AVIATORS HOLD A WINNING HAND
"Here, Harry, catch hold."
"Ouch—I dropped that cartridge box on my pet corn."
"Say, you fellows, are we going to Africa or are we on a ConeyIsland picnic?"
"Be serious now, Billy Barnes, you may be all right as a reporter,but as a shipping clerk you're no more good than a cold storageegg."
"Well, I'm doing the best I can," was the indignant reply,"here—I've got it all down: Box 10— One waterproof tent, onerubber-blanket, tent-pegs, ropes, more ropes.—Say, Frank, what inthe name of the 'London Times' and jumping horn-toads do you want somuch rope for?"
"To tie up a certain young reporter named William Barnes when hegets too fresh," was the laughing reply.
The three boys sat about a heaped, confused collection of ammunition,cooking-utensils, rifles, and camp "duffle" in general, one eveninglate in May. The eldest of the group, a sunny-faced, clear eyed ladof about sixteen, held in his hand a notebook from which he called outthe inventory of the articles piled about him as his brother, a youthof fourteen, sorted them out. The third member of the trio was ashort, stocky chap of possibly seventeen, with sharp, blue eyes thatgleamed behind a pair of huge spectacles. He was examining a camerawith care; from time to time turning his attention to an open notebookthat lay beside him in which he was supposed to be entering the listas the other called it off.
The place where the boys were busying themselves was the upper floorof a large garage in the rear of the Chester residence, on MadisonAvenue, New York City, which had been turned into a workshop for thetwo young C