CHAPTER XIII
THE DESERTION
"Say, look at those fellows pitch into one another!" gasped Ned.
"It's fighting at close range all right," commented Mr. Damon.
"If they had rifles they wouldn't be at it hand to hand," spoke Tom."Maybe it's just as well they haven't, for there won't be so manykilled. But say, we'd better be thinking of ourselves. They may makeup their quarrel and turn against us any minute."
"No--never--no danger of them being friends--they are rival tribes,"said San Pedro. "But either one may attack us--the one that is thevictor. It is better that we keep away."
"I guess you're right," agreed Tom. "Lead the way, San Pedro, andwe'll get out of sight."
But there was a fascination in watching the distant battle that washard to resist. It was like looking at a moving picture, for at thatdistance none of the horrors of war were visible. True, natives wentdown by scores, and it was not to be doubted but what they werekilled or injured, but it seemed more like a big football scrimmagethan a fight.
"This is great!" cried Tom. "I like to watch it, but I'm sorry forthe poor chaps that get hurt or killed. I hope they're only stunnedas we stunned the wild horses."
"I'm afraid it is more serious than that," spoke San Pedro. "Thesenatives are very bloodthirsty. It would not be well for us to incurtheir anger."
"We won't run any chances," decided Tom. "We'll just travel on. Comeon, Ned--Mr. Damon."
As he spoke there was a sudden victorious shout from the scene ofthe battle. One body of natives was seen to turn and flee, while theothers pursued them.
"Now's our time to make tracks!" called Tom. "We'll have to push onto the next village before we can ask where the gi--" he caughthimself just in time, for San Pedro was looking curiously at him.
"The senor wishes to find something?" asked the head mule driverwith an insinuating smile.
"Yes," broke in Eradicate. "We all is lookin' fo' some monstrousgiant orchards flowers."
"Ah, yes, orchids," spoke San Pedro. "Well, there may be some in thejungle ahead of us, but the senors have come the wrong trail forflowers," and he looked curiously at Tom, while, from afar, come thesound of the native battle though the combatants could no longer beseen.
"Never mind," said our hero quickly. "I guess I'll find what I want.Now come on."
They started off, skirting the burned village to get on the trailbeyond it. But hardly had they made a detour of the burned huts thanone of the native drivers, who was in the rear, came riding up witha shout.
"Now what's the matter?" cried Tom, looking back.
There was a voluble chattering in Spanish between the driver and SanPedro.
"He says the natives that lived in this village have driven theirenemies away, and are coming back--after us," translated the headmule driver.
"After us!" gasped Ned.
"Yes," replied San Pedro simply. "They are coming even now. Theywill fight too, for all their wild nature is aroused."
It needed but a moment's listening to prove this. From the rear camewild yells and the beating of drums and tom-toms.
"Bless my fountain pen!" cried Mr. Damon. "What are we going to do?"
"Stop them if we can," answered Tom coolly. "Ned, you and I and Mr.Damon will form a rear guard. San Pedro, take the mules and the men,and make as good time as you can in advance. We'll take three of thefastest mules, and hold these fellows back with the electric rifles,and when we've done that we'll ride on and catch up to you."
"Very good," said San Pedro, who seemed relieved to know that he didnot have to do any of the fighting.
Three of the lighter weight mules, who carried small burdens, werequickly relieved of them, and mounting these steeds in preference tothe ones they had been riding since they took the trail, Tom, Nedand Mr. Damon dropped back to try and hold off the enemy.
They had not far to ride nor long to wait. They could hear thefierce yells of the victorious tribesmen as they came back to theirruined village, and though there were doubtless sad hearts amongthem, they rejoiced that they had defeated their enemies. They knewthey could soon rebuild the simple grass huts.
"Small charges, just to stun them!" ordered Tom, and the electricrifles were so adjusted.
"Here's a good place to meet them," suggested Ned, as they came to anarrow turn in the trail. "They can't come against us but a few at atime, and we can pump them full of electricity from here."
"The very thing!" cried Tom, as he dismounted, an example followedby the others. Then, in another moment, they saw the blacks rushingtoward them. They were clad in nondescript garments, evidently oftheir own make, and they carried clubs, spears, bows and arrows andblow guns. There was not a firearm among them, as they passed onafter the party of our friends whom they had seen from the battle-hill.They gave wild yells as they saw the young inventor's friends.
"Let 'em have it!" called Tom in a low voice, and the electricrifles sent out their stunning charges. Several natives in the frontrank dropped, and there was a cry of fear and wonder from theothers. Then, after a moment's hesitation they pressed on again.
"Once more!" cried Tom.
Again the electric rifles spoke, and half a score went downunconscious, but not seriously hurt. In a few hours they would be aswell as ever, such was the merciful charge that Tom Swift and theothers used in the rifles.
The third time they fired, and this was too much for the natives.They could not battle against an unseen and silent enemy who mowedthem down like a field of grain. With wild yells they fled backalong the trail they had come.
"I guess that does it!" cried Tom. "We'd better join the othersnow."
Mounting their mules, they galloped back to where San Pedro and hisnatives were pressing forward.
"Did you have the honor of defeating them," the head mule driverasked.
"I had the HONOR," answered Tom, with a grim smile.
Then they pressed on, but there was no more danger. That night theycamped in a peaceful valley and were not disturbed, and thefollowing day they put a good many miles behind them. On the adviceof San Pedro, they avoided the next two villages as they realizedthat they were in the war zone, and then they headed for a largetown where Tom was sure he would hear some news of the giants.
They had to camp twice at night before reaching this town, and whenthey did get to it they were warmly welcomed, for white explorershad been there years before, and had treated the natives well. Tomdistributed many trinkets among the head men and won their good willso that the party was given comfortable huts in which to sleep, anda plentiful supply of provisions.
"Can you arrange for a talk with the chief?" asked Tom of San Pedrothat night. "I want to ask him about certain things."
"About where you can find giant flowers?" asked the mule driver witha quick look.
"Yes--er--and other giant things," replied Tom. "I fix," answeredSan 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 thetown, and thither he went with Ned, Mr. Damon and San Pedro asinterpreter, for the natives spoke a jargon of their own that Tomcould not understand.
There were some simple ceremonies to observe, and then Tom foundhimself facing the chief, with San Pedro by his side. After thegreetings, and an exchange of presents, Tom giving him a cheapphonograph with which the chief was wildly delighted, there came thetime 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 hisexpedition.
"Giant men, Senor Swift? I thought it was giant plants--orchids--youwere after," exclaimed San Pedro.
"Well, I'll take a few giant men if I can find them. Tell him Iunderstand there is a tribe of giants in this country. Ask him if heever heard of them."
San Pedro hesitated. He looked at Tom, and the young inventorfancied that there was a tinge of white on the swarthy face of thechief 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 spokerapidly.
"What does he say?" asked Tom of San Pedro eagerly, when the chiefhad ceased speaking.
"He say--he say," began the mule driver and the words seemed tostick in his throat--"he say there ARE giants--many miles to thenorth. Terrible big men--very cruel--and they are fearful. Once theycame here and took some of his people away. He is afraid of them. Weare ALL afraid of them," and San Pedro looked around apprehensively,as though he might see one of the giants stalking into the chief'shut at any moment.
"Ask him how many miles north?" asked Tom, hardly able to concealhis 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 circusand we may be able to rescue Mr. Poddington!"
"Is the senor in earnest?" asked San Pedro, looking at Tomcuriously. "Is he really going among these terrible giants?"
"Yes, but I don't believe they'll be so terrible. They may be verygentle. I'm sure they'll be glad to come with me and join a circus--someof them--and earn a hundred dollars a week. Of course we're goingon to giant land!"
"Very good," said San Pedro quietly, and then he followed Tom out ofthe 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 werequartered.
The next morning when Tom got up, and looked for San Pedro and hismen, to give orders about the march that day, the mule drivers werenowhere to be seen. Nor were the mules in the places where they hadbeen tethered. Their packs lay in a well ordered heap, but theanimals and their drivers were gone.
"This is queer," said Tom, rubbing his eyes to make sure that he sawaright. "I wonder where they are? Rad, look around for them."
The colored man did so, and came back soon, to report that San Pedroand his men had gone in the night. Some of the native villagers toldhim so by signs, Eradicate said. They had stolen away.
"Gone!" gasped Tom. "Gone where?"
"Bless my railroad ticket!" cried Mr. Damon.
"We're deserted," exclaimed Ned. "They've taken the mules, and leftus."
"I guess that's it," admitted Tom ruefully, after a minute'sthought. "San Pedro couldn't stand for the giants. He's had afrightful flunk. Well, we're all alone, but we'll go on to giantland anyhow! We can get more mules. A little thing like this can'tphase me. Are you with me, Ned--Mr. Damon--Eradicate?"
"Of course we are!" they cried without a moment's hesitation.
"Then we'll go to giant land alone!" exclaimed Tom. "Come on, now,and we'll see if we can arrange for some pack animals."