第 18 节
作者:千顷寒      更新:2021-02-20 15:27      字数:9322
  again; and more pictures of them would be taken。
  〃I guess the small one is going to win!〃 said Tom; after the two lions
  had   fought   for   ten   minutes;   and   the   bigger   one   had   been   down   several
  times。
  〃He's   younger;〃   agreed   Ned;   〃and   I   guess   the   other   one   has   had   his
  share of fights。 Maybe this is a battle to see which one is to rule this part
  of the jungle。〃
  〃I guess so;〃 spoke the young inventor; as he pressed the button to stop
  the camera; as the lions rolled out of focus。 〃Oh; look!〃 he cried a moment
  later; as the animals again rolled into view。 Tom started the camera once
  more。 〃This is near the end;〃 he said。
  The small lion had; by a sudden spring; landed on the back of his rival。
  There was a terrific struggle; and the older beast went down; the younger
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  one   clawing   him   terribly。   Then;   so   quickly   did   it   happen   that   the   boys
  could not take in all the details; the older lion rolled over and over; and rid
  himself of his antagonist。 Quickly he got to his feet; while the smaller lion
  did   the   same。   They   stood   for   a   moment   eyeing   each   other;   their   tails
  twitching; the hair on their backs bristling; and all the while they uttered
  frightful; roars。
  An instant later the larger beast sprang toward his rival。 One terrible
  paw was upraised。 The small lion tried to dodge; but was not quick enough。
  Down came the paw with terrific force; and the boys could hear the back
  bone   snap。 Then;   clawing   his   antagonist   terribly;   as   he   lay  disabled;   the
  older lion; with a roar of triumph; lapped up water; and sprang off through
  the jungle; leaving his dying rival beside the spring。
  〃That's   the   end;〃   cried   Tom;   as   the   small   lion   died;   and   the   young
  inventor pressed the button stopping his camera。 There was a rustle in the
  leaves back of Tom and Ned; and they sprang up in alarm; but they need
  not   have   feared;   for   it   was   only   Koku;   the   giant;   who;   with   a   portable
  electrical torch; had come to see how they had fared。
  〃Mr。 Tom all right?〃 asked the big man; anxiously。
  〃Yes; and I got some fine pictures。 You can carry the camera back now;
  Koku。 I think that roll of film is pretty well filled。〃
  The   three   of   them   looked   at   the   body   of   the   dead   lion;   before   they
  went     back    to  the   airship。   I  have    called    him   〃small;〃     but;  in   reality;
  the    ;beast   was    small    only   in  comparison       with    his  rival;   who    was    a
  tremendous lion in size。 I might add that of all the pictures Tom took; few
  were more highly prized than that reel of the lion fight。
  〃Bless   my   bear   cage!〃   cried   Mr。   Damon;   as   Tom   came   back;   〃you
  certainly have nerve; my boy。〃
  〃You have to; in this business;〃 agreed Tom with a laugh。 〃I never did
  this before; and I don't know that I would want it for a steady position; but
  it's exciting for a change。〃
  They remained near the 〃lion spring〃 as they called it all night; and in
  the   morning;   after   Koku   had   served   a   tasty   breakfast;   Tom   headed   the
  airship   for   a   district   where   it   was   said   there   were   many   antelope;   and
  buffaloes; also zebus。
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  〃I don't want to get all exciting pictures;〃 our hero said to Mr。 Nestor。
  〃I think that films showing wild animals at play; or quietly feeding; will be
  good。〃
  〃I'm sure they will;〃 said Mary's father。 〃Get some peaceful scenes; by
  all means。〃
  They sailed on for several days; taking a number of pictures from the
  airship; when they passed over a part of the country where the view was
  magnificent; and finally; stopping at a good sized village they learned that;
  about ten miles out; was a district where antelope abounded。
  〃We'll go there;〃 decided Tom; 〃and I'll take the camera around with
  me on a sort of walking trip。 In that way I'll get a variety of views; and I
  can make a good film。〃
  This   plan   was   followed   out。   The   airship   came   to   rest   in   a   beautiful
  green valley; and Ned and Tom; with Mr。 Damon; who begged to be taken
  along; started off。
  〃You   can   follow   me   in   about   half   an   hour;   Koku;〃   said   Tom;   〃and
  carry the camera back。 I guess you can easily pick up our trail。〃
  〃Oh; sure;〃 replied the giant。 Indeed; to one who had lived in the forest;
  as he had all his life; before Tom found him; it was no difficult matter to
  follow a trail; such as the three friends would leave。
  Tom   found   signs   that   showed   him   where   the   antelopes   were   in   the
  habit   of   passing;   and;   with   Ned   and   Mr。   Damon;   stationed   himself   in   a
  secluded spot。
  He   had   not   long   to   wait   before   a   herd   of   deer   came   past。 Tom   took
  many  pictures of   the   graceful   creatures;   for   it   was   daylight now;   and   he
  needed no light。 Consequently there was nothing to alarm the herd。
  After   having   made   several   films   of   the   antelope;   Tom   and   his   two
  companions went farther on。 They were fortunate enough to find a place
  that seemed to be a regular playground of the deer。 There was a large herd
  there; and; getting as near as he dared; Tom focused his camera; and began
  taking pictures。
  〃It's as good as a play;〃 whispered Mr。 Damon; as he and Ned watched
  the creatures; for they had to speak quietly。 The camera made scarcely any
  noise。 〃I'm glad I came on this trip。〃
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  〃So am I;〃 said Ned。 〃Look; Tom; see the mother deer all together; and
  the fawns near them。 It's just as if it was a kindergarten meeting。〃
  〃I see;〃 whispered Tom。 〃I'm getting a picture of that。〃
  For   some   little   time   longer   Tom   photographed   the   deer;   and   then;
  suddenly; the timid creatures all at once lifted up their heads; and darted
  off。 Tom  and Ned;  wondering   what had startled   them; looked   across   the
  glade just in time to see a big tiger leap out of the tall grass。 The striped
  animal   had   been   stalking   the   antelope;   but   they   had   scented   him   just   in
  time。
  〃Get him; Tom;〃 urged Ned; and the young inventor did so; securing
  several fine views be。 fore the tiger bounded into the grass again; and took
  after his prey。
  〃Bless my china teacup! What's that!〃 suddenly cried Mr。 Damon。 As
  he spoke there was a crashing in the bushes and; an instant later as two…
  horned rhinoceros sprang into view; charging straight for the group。
  〃Look out!〃 yelled Ned。
  〃Bless my〃 began Mr。 Damon; but he did not finish; for; in starting to
  run his foot caught in the grass; and he went down heavily。
  Tom leaped to one side; holding his camera so as not to damage it。 But
  he stumbled over Mr。 Damon; and went down。
  With a 〃wuff〃 of rage the clumsy beast; came on; moving more rapidly
  than Tom had any idea he was capable of。 Hampered by his camera our
  hero   could   not   arise。   The   rhinoceros   was   almost   upon   him;   and   Ned;
  catching up a club; was just going to make a rush to the rescue; when the
  brute seemed suddenly to crumple up。 It fell down in a heap; not five feet
  from where Tom and Mr。 Damon lay。
  〃Good!〃 cried Ned。 〃He's dead。 Shot through the heart! Who did it?〃
  〃I did;〃 answered Koku quietly; stepping out of the bushes; with one of
  Tom's Swift's electric rifles in his hand。
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  CHAPTER XIV
  IN A GREAT GALE
  Tom Swift rose slowly to his feet; carefully setting his camera down;
  after making sure that it was not injured。 Then he looked at the huge beast
  which lay dead in front of him; and; going over to the giant he held out his
  hand to him。
  〃Koku;   you   saved   my   life;〃   spoke   Tom。   〃Probably   the   life   of   Mr。
  Damon also。 I can't begin to thank you。 It isn't the first time you've done it;
  either。 But   I want   to   say that   you   can have  anything   you want;  that I've
  got。〃
  〃Me like this gun pretty much;〃 said the giant simply。
  〃Then   it's   yours!〃   exclaimed Tom。   〃And   you're   the   only  one;   except
  myself; who has ever owned one。〃 Tom's wonderful elect