第 17 节
作者:千顷寒      更新:2021-02-20 15:27      字数:9322
  still for a moment; and then plunged off into the jungle; trumpeting with
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  TOM SWIFT AND HIS WIZARD CAMERA
  rage。
  〃Safe!〃 gasped Tom; as he looked at his camera to see if it had been
  damaged。 It seemed all right。
  〃Bless     my    latch   key!〃   cried   Mr。    Damon。     〃This    moving     picture
  business isn't the most peaceful one in the world。〃
  〃No; it has plenty of perils;〃 agreed Mr。 Nestor。
  〃Come on; let's get out of here while we have the chance;〃 suggested
  Tom。 〃There may be another herd upon us before we know it。〃
  The airship was soon ascending; and Tom and his companions could
  look down and see the tame elephants in the stockade trying to calm the
  wild ones。 Then the scene faded from sight。
  〃Well;   if   these   pictures   come   out   all   right   I'll   have   some   fine   ones;〃
  exclaimed Tom  as   he   carried   his   camera   to   the   room  where   he   kept   the
  films。 〃I fancy an elephant drive and stampede are novelties in this line。〃
  〃Indeed   they   are;〃   agreed   Mr。   Nestor。   〃Mr。   Period   made   no   mistake
  when he picked you out; Tom; for this work。 What are you going to try for
  next?〃
  〃I'd like to get some lion and tiger pictures;〃 said the young inventor。
  〃I understand this is a good district for that。 As soon as those elephants get
  quieted   down;   I'm   going   back   to   the   stockade   and   have   a   talk   with   the
  hunters。〃
  This he did;  circling about in   the airship until nearly evening。 When
  they again approached the stockade all was quiet; and they came to earth。
  A native showed them where the white hunters had their headquarters; in
  some     bungalows;      and   Tom    and   his  party   were    made    welcome。      They
  apologized   for   frightening   the   big   beasts;   and   the   hunters   accepted   their
  excuses。
  〃As long as we got 'em; it's all right;〃 said the head man; 〃though for
  awhile; I didn't like your bloomin' machine。〃 Tom entertained the hunters
  aboard his craft; at which they marvelled much; and they gave him all the
  information they had about the lions and tigers in the vicinity。
  〃You won't find lions and tigers in herds; like。 elephants though;〃 said
  the head hunter。 〃And you may have to photograph 'em at night; as then is
  when they come out to hunt; and drink。〃
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  〃Well; I can take pictures at night;〃 said Tom; as he showed his camera
  apparatus。
  The next day; in the airship; they left for another district; where; so the
  natives reported; several lions had been seen of late。 They had done much
  damage; too; carrying off the native cattle; and killing several Indians。
  For   nearly  a   week Tom  circled   about   in   his   airship;   keeping   a   sharp
  lookout   down   below   for   a   sign   of   lions   that   he   might   photograph   them。
  But he saw none; though he did get some pictures of a herd of Indian deer
  that were well worth his trouble。
  〃I think I'll have to try for a night photograph;〃 decided Tom at last。
  〃I'll locate a spring where wild beasts are in the habit of coming; set the
  camera with the light going; and leave it there。〃
  〃But will the lions come up if they see the light?〃 asked Ned。
  〃I   think   so;〃   replied   his   chum。   〃I'll   take   a   chance;   anyhow。   If   that
  doesn't work then I'll hide near by; and see what happens。〃
  〃Bless my cartridge belt!〃 cried Mr。 Damon。 〃You don't mean that; do
  you Tom?〃
  〃Of course。 Come to think of it; I'm not going to leave my camera out
  there for a lion to jump on; and break。 As soon as I get a series of pictures
  I'll bring it back to the ship; I think。〃
  By   inquiry   among   the   natives   they   learned   the   location   of   a   spring
  where; it was said; lions were in the habit of coming nightly to drink。
  〃That's the place I want!〃 cried Tom。
  Accordingly   the   airship   was   headed   for   it;   and   one   evening   it   came
  gently to earth in a little clearing on the edge of the jungle; while Koku; as
  was his habit; got supper。
  After the meal Tom and Ned set the camera; and then; picking out a
  good spot nearby; they hid themselves to wait for what might happen。 The
  lens was focused on the spring; and the powerful electric light set going。 It
  glowed brightly; and our hero thought it might have the effect of keeping
  the   beasts   away;   but   Tom   figured   that;   after   they   had   looked   at   it   for   a
  while; and seen that it did not harm them; they would lose their suspicions;
  and come within range of his machine。
  〃The   camera   will   do   the   rest;〃   he   said。   In   order   not   to   waste   films
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  uselessly Tom arranged a long electric wire; running it from the camera to
  where he and Ned were hid。 By pressing a button he could start or stop the
  camera any time he wished; and; as he had a view of the spring from his
  vantage point; he could have the apparatus begin taking pictures as soon as
  there was some animal within focus。
  〃Well; I'm  getting   stiff;〃 said   Ned;  after an   hour  or so   had passed   in
  silent darkness; the only light being the distant one on the camera。
  〃So am I;〃 said Tom。
  〃I don't believe anything will come to…night;〃 went on his chum。 〃Let's
  go back and〃
  He stopped suddenly; for there was a crackling in the underbrush; and
  the next moment the jungle vibrated to the mighty roar of a lion。
  〃He's coming!〃 hoarsely whispered Tom。
  Both   lads   glanced   through   the   trees   toward   the   camera;   and;   in   the
  light;   they   saw   a   magnificent;   tawny   beast   standing   on   the   edge   of   the
  spring。 Once more he roared; as if in defiance; and then; as if deciding that
  the light was not harmful; he stooped to lap up the water
  Hardly had he done so than there was another roar; and a moment later
  a   second   lion   leaped   from   the   dense   jungle   into   the   clearing   about   the
  spring。 The two monarchs of the forest stood there in the glare of the light;
  and Tom excitedly pressed the button that started the shutter to working;
  and the film to moving back of the lens。
  There was a slight clicking sound in the camera; and the lions turned
  startedly。   Then   both   growled   again;   and   the   next   instant   they   sprang   at
  each other; roaring mightily。
  〃A fight!〃 cried Tom。 〃A lion fight; and right in front of my camera! It
  couldn't be better。 This is great! This will be a film。〃
  〃Quiet!〃 begged Ned。 〃They'll hear you; and come for us。 I don't want
  to be chewed up!〃
  〃No danger of them hearing me!〃 cried Tom。 and he had to shout to be
  heard above the roaring of the two tawny beasts; as they bit and clawed
  each other; while the camera took picture after picture of them。
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  TOM SWIFT AND HIS WIZARD CAMERA
  CHAPTER XIII
  A SHOT IN TIME
  〃Tom; did you ever see anything like it in your life?〃
  〃I never did; Ned! It's wonderful! fearful! And to think that we are here
  watching it; and that thousands of people will see the same thing thrown
  on a screen。 Oh; look at the big one。 The small lion has him down!〃
  The two lads; much thrilled; crouched down behind a screen of bushes;
  watching   the   midnight   fight   between   the   lions。   On   the   airship;   not   far
  distant;   there   was   no   little   alarm;   for   those  left   behind   heard   the   terrific
  roars;   and   feared   Tom   and   Ned   might   be   in   some   danger。   But   the   lions
  were too much occupied with their battle; to pay any attention to anything
  else; and no other wild beasts were likely to come to the spring while the
  two 〃kings〃 were at each other。
  It   was   a   magnificent;   but   terrible   battle。 The   big   cats   bit   and   tore   at
  each other; using their terrific claws and their powerful paws; one stroke
  of which is said to be sufficient to break a bullock's back。 Sometimes they
  would roll out of the focus of the camera; and; at such times; Tom wished
  he was at the machine to swing the lens around; but he knew it would be
  dangerous to move。 Then the beasts would roll back into the rays of light
  again; and more pictures of them would be taken。
  〃I guess the small one is going to win!〃 said Tom; after the two l