Tom Swift in Captivity, Or, A Daring Escape By Airship

of a shining revolver in the hip pocket of one of the mule drivers, and knowing that the simple na

r?" asked the h

was not as black as the other drivers--not an honest, dark-skinned black but more of a sickly yellow, like a treachero

d he say he is a good driver. And so he is, I test him before I e

he carry a

or? Santa Maria,

y. "Here," he called to the offending one

cringing servility of a b

ung inventor. "I gave orders that non

senor? I ha

did so with a promptness that the other could not frustra

r?" asked Tom,

a hopeless shrug of his sh

shoulders the man accepted the revolver, and walked slowly off. Another driver was not hard to engage,

Ned," remarked Tom, when they

it as his coat flapped up. What

ought he could lord it over the other drivers when we got out in the jungle, and

Mr. Damon. "You don't think h

at makes yo

vous, I guess," r

io resort, with the yellow stain washed from his face, the nervousness of the eccentric gentlema

any way I wished, after I had found what I'm looking for. But I had to go and carry that gun! I never thought they'd spot it. Well, it's all up now,

ing such signs of civilization as were represented by small native towns and villages, and coming nearer

at, and yet it was quite warm. In fact the weather was not at all unple

ere the Salado joins it. Then he decided that they would do better to cross the Parana and strike i

nk the giants will be found." said Tom, as he talked it over with N

iants there any more than

that was where he was heading for, and that's where Zacatas, his native helper, said he lost track of his

ans!" exc

paratively bleak and cold country. What would prevent some of that big tribe centuries ago, from having migrated

od theory, at any rate, Tom. Though whet

" agreed the young i

e they would be able to get fresh meat, poultry and other things that varied their bill of fare. Again there would be long, lonely stretches of forest

inter mah mouf, Massa Tom," complained Eradicate one

m when we get a little farther into the interior. Fir

' Mass

rel

e simians, the next day they did come upon a dro

are!" cried Ned, as the chatterin

e! Heah's where I g

ew it at a monkey. The chattering increased, and almost instantly a show

on!" cried Tom. "Som

ut down on the skull

ter! Someone's hurt

t a hard head, Ah has, mighty hard head, an' de cocoanut ain't growed dat kin bust it. Thanks, Mistah Monkey, thanks!"

alf-ripe nut, and showed how to chop off the top with a big knife a

nk their fill, for there were many cocoanuts,

ard the equator, for it must be remembered that they had landed sout

Tom hoped to find the giants. As yet none of their escort dreamed of the object of the expedition, and though Tom h

r high table land, they started across a fertile p

ground here,"

dro. "Plenty much ho

e their herds of hor

ed Pedro. "Plenty much, sometimes

y could come to a good watering place, when Ned, who had ridden slight

"There's a stampede of 'em, an

headed this way?" cried

Thousands of 'em

there could be heard a dull, roaring, thund

cried San Pedro. "Get ready, senors! Have your weapons

Mr. Damon! We've got to stop them, or t

across the grassy plain, all saw a large troop of wild horse