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