Part 17 (2/2)
Twice they heard distant sounds of native battles and the weird noise of the wooden drums and the tom-toms. Once, as they climbed up a big hill, they looked down into a valley and saw a great conflict in which there must have been several thousand natives on either side. It was a fierce battle, seen even from afar, and Tom and the others shuddered as they slipped down over the other side of the rise, and out of sight.
”We'd better steer clear of them,” was Tom's opinion; and the others agreed with him.
For another week they kept on, the way becoming more and more difficult, and the country more and more wild. They had fairly to cut their way through the jungle at times, and the only paths were animal trails, but they were better than nothing. For the last five days they had not seen a human being, and the loneliness was telling on them.
”I'd be glad to see even a two-headed giant,” remarked Tom whimsically one night as they made their camp.
”Yes, and I'd be glad to hear someone talk, even in the sign language,” added Ned, with a grin.
They slept well, for they were very tired, and Tom, who shared his tent with Ned, was awakened rather early the next morning by hearing someone moving outside the canvas shelter.
”Is that you, Mr. Damon?” he asked, the odd gentleman having a tent adjoining that of the boys.
There was no answer.
”Rad, are you getting breakfast?” asked the young inventor. ”What time is it?”
Still no answer.
”What's the matter?” asked Ned, who had been awakened by Tom's inquiries.
Before our hero had a chance to reply the flap of his tent was pulled back, and a head was thrust in. But such a head! It was enormous! A head covered with a thick growth of tawny hair, and a face almost hidden in a big tawny, bushy beard. Then an arm was thrust in--an arm that terminated in a brawny fist that clasped a great club. There was no mistaking the object that gazed in on the two youths. It was a gigantic man--a man almost twice the size of any Tom had ever seen. And then our hero knew that he had reached the end of his quest.
”A giant!” gasped Tom. ”Ned! Ned, we're in the big men's country, and we didn't know it!”
”I--I guess you're right, Tom!”
The giant started at the sounds of their voices, and then his face breaking into a broad grin, that showed a great mouth filled with white teeth, he called to them in an unknown tongue and in a voice that seemed to fairly shake the frail tent.
CHAPTER XV
IN THE ”PALACE” OF THE KING
For a few moments after their first e.j.a.c.u.l.a.t.i.o.ns neither Tom nor Ned knew what to do. The giant continued to gaze at them, with the same good-natured grin on his face. Possibly he was amused at the small size of the persons in the tent. Then Tom spoke.
”He doesn't look as if he would bite, Ned.”
”No, he seems harmless enough. Let's get up, and see what happens. I wonder if there are any more of them? They must have come out on an early hunt, and stumbled upon our camp.”
At this moment there arose a cry from Mr. Damon's tent.
”Bless my burglar alarm!” shouted the odd gentleman. ”Tom--Ned--am I dreaming? There's a man here as big as a mountain. Tom! Ned!”
”It's all right, Mr. Damon!” called Tom. ”We're among the giants all right. They won't hurt you.”
”Fo' de good land ob ma.s.sy!” screamed Eradicate, a second later, and then they knew that he, too, had seen one of the big men. ”Fo' de lub ob pork chops! Am dis de Angel Gabriel? Listen to de blowin' ob de trump! Oh, please good Ma.s.sa Angel Gabriel, I ain't nebber done nuffin! I's jest po' ol' Eradicate Sampson, an' I got a mule Boomerang, and' dat's all I got. Please good Mr. Angel--”
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