Part 7 (1/2)
Then I'd know we had nothing to fear. But I guess--”
Tom did not finish his sentence for, at that moment, there came a peal at the door bell. Instinctively every one started, and Mr.
Damon exclaimed:
”Bless my burglar alarm! What's that?”
”Someone at the door, Tom,” replied Mr. Swift calmly. ”That's nothing unusual. It's early yet.”
But, in spite of his rea.s.suring words, there was a feeling of vague alarm.
”I'll see who it is,” volunteered Ned. ”If it's Andy Foger--”
Mrs. Baggert entered the room at that moment. She had hurried to the door, and, as she entered she announced:
”Mr. Preston!”
”Yes, it is I!” added the circus man following her quickly into the room. ”I came on to-night instead of waiting for the morning, Tom. I have bad news for you!”
”Bad news!” gasped the young inventor. ”Has Waydell got hold of your plans.”
”I'll wager it has something to do with Andy Foger!” exclaimed Ned.
”Neither one,” spoke the circus man. ”But I have just had a cable dispatch from one of my animal agents in Brazil, saying that war has broken out among the tribes in the central part of South America. A big native war is being waged all around giant land, as near as we can figure it out.”
”War among the native tribes!” exclaimed Mr. Swift.
”Yes, and one of the worst in years. Of course, Tom, after such alarming news as this I won't hold you to your promise to go. It's all off. I'm sorry, but you'd better wait. It won't be safe to go there now. Better unpack, Tom.”
For a moment there was a silence in the room. Then the young inventor leaped to his feet and faced the circus man.
”Unpack?” cried Tom in ringing tones. ”Never! I'm going to giant land, fight or no fight! Ned, come with me and we'll put in some of my electric rifles. I wasn't going to take them along, but I will now. Unpack? I guess not! I'm going to get a giant for you, Mr.
Preston, and save Jake Poddington if he's alive. Come on, Ned.”
CHAPTER VII
FIRE ON BOARD
”Your electric rifles!” exclaimed Ned Newton, as he followed his chum to the storeroom, where Tom kept a number of spare guns. ”It's a good thing you thought of them, Tom.”
”Yes, I didn't think we'd need them, for I believe peaceable means are the best to use on natives. But if there's a war, and we have to defend ourselves against the tribes, we'll take along something that will do more damage than an ordinary rifle, and yet I can regulate it so that it will only stun, and not kill.”
”That's the stuff, Tom. No use in being needlessly cruel. How many will you take?”
”Two or three. We may need 'em all.”
A little later the two lads returned to the library where Mr. Damon, Mr. Swift and the circus man were anxiously awaiting them. Mr.
Preston looked curiously at several objects which Tom and Ned carried. The objects looked like guns but were different from any the giant-seeker had seen.