Part 16 (1/2)

”I had the HONOR,” answered Tom, with a grim smile.

Then they pressed on, but there was no more danger. That night they camped in a peaceful valley and were not disturbed, and the following day they put a good many miles behind them. On the advice of San Pedro, they avoided the next two villages as they realized that they were in the war zone, and then they headed for a large town where Tom was sure he would hear some news of the giants.

They had to camp twice at night before reaching this town, and when they did get to it they were warmly welcomed, for white explorers had been there years before, and had treated the natives well. Tom distributed many trinkets among the head men and won their good will so that the party was given comfortable huts in which to sleep, and a plentiful supply of provisions.

”Can you arrange for a talk with the chief?” asked Tom of San Pedro that night. ”I want to ask him about certain things.”

”About where you can find giant flowers?” asked the mule driver with a quick look.

”Yes--er--and other giant things,” replied Tom. ”I fix,” answered San Pedro shortly, but there was a queer look on his face.

A few hours later Tom was summoned to the hut of the chief of the town, and thither he went with Ned, Mr. Damon and San Pedro as interpreter, for the natives spoke a jargon of their own that Tom could not understand.

There were some simple ceremonies to observe, and then Tom found himself facing the chief, with San Pedro by his side. After the greetings, and an exchange of presents, Tom giving him a cheap phonograph with which the chief was wildly delighted, there came the time to talk.

”Ask him where the giant men live?” our hero directed San Pedro, believing that the time had now come to disclose the object of his expedition.

”Giant men, Senor Swift? I thought it was giant plants--orchids--you were after,” exclaimed San Pedro.

”Well, I'll take a few giant men if I can find them. Tell him I understand there is a tribe of giants in this country. Ask him if he ever heard of them.”

San Pedro hesitated. He looked at Tom, and the young inventor fancied that there was a tinge of white on the swarthy face of the chief mule driver. But San Pedro translated the question.

Its effect on the chief was strange. He half leaped from his seat, and stared at Tom. Then he uttered a cry--a cry of fear--and spoke rapidly.

”What does he say?” asked Tom of San Pedro eagerly, when the chief had ceased speaking.

”He say--he say,” began the mule driver and the words seemed to stick in his throat--”he say there ARE giants--many miles to the north. Terrible big men--very cruel--and they are fearful. Once they came here and took some of his people away. He is afraid of them. We are ALL afraid of them,” and San Pedro looked around apprehensively, as though he might see one of the giants stalking into the chief's hut at any moment.

”Ask him how many miles north?” asked Tom, hardly able to conceal his delight. The giants had no terrors for him.

”Two weeks journey,” translated San Pedro.

”Good!” cried the young inventor. ”Then we'll keep right on. Hurrah!

I'm on the right track at last, and I'll have a giant for the circus and we may be able to rescue Mr. Poddington!”

”Is the senor in earnest?” asked San Pedro, looking at Tom curiously. ”Is he really going among these terrible giants?”

”Yes, but I don't believe they'll be so terrible. They may be very gentle. I'm sure they'll be glad to come with me and join a circus--some of them--and earn a hundred dollars a week. Of course we're going on to giant land!”

”Very good,” said San Pedro quietly, and then he followed Tom out of the chief's hut.

”It's all right, Ned old sport, we'll get to giant land after all!”

cried Tom to his chum as they reached the hut where they were quartered.

The next morning when Tom got up, and looked for San Pedro and his men, to give orders about the march that day, the mule drivers were nowhere to be seen. Nor were the mules in the places where they had been tethered. Their packs lay in a well ordered heap, but the animals and their drivers were gone.

”This is queer,” said Tom, rubbing his eyes to make sure that he saw aright. ”I wonder where they are? Rad, look around for them.”