Appleton, Victor – Tom Swift in the Land of Wonders

It was with rather heavy hearts that the party set off, but Tom’s spirits could not long stay clouded, and the scientist was so good-natured about the affair and seemed so eager to do the utmost to render Beecher’s trick void, that the others fell into a lighter mood, and went on more cheerfully, though the way was rough and the packs heavy.

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They stopped at noon under a bower they made of palms, and, spreading the nets over them, got a little rest after a lunch. Then, when the sun was less hot, they started off again.

“Forward is the word!” cried Ned cheerfully. “Forward!”’

They had not gone more than an hour on the second stage of their tramp when Tom, who was in the lead, following the direction laid out by the compass, suddenly stopped, and reached around for his electric rifle, which he was carrying at his back.

“What is it?” asked Ned in a whisper.

“I don’t know, but it’s some big animal there in the bushes,” was Tom’s low-voiced answer. “I’m ready for it.”

The rustling increased, and a form could be seen indistinctly. Tom aimed the deadly gun and stood ready to pull the trigger.

Ned, tho had a side view into the underbrush, gave a sudden cry.

“Don’t shoot, Tom!” he yelled. “It’s a man!”

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Chapter 14

CHAPTER XIV

A NEW GUIDE

IN spite of Ned Newton’s cry, Tom’s finger pressed the switch-trigger of the electric rifle, for previous experience had taught him that it was sometimes the best thing to awe the natives in out-of-the-way corners of the earth. But the young inventor quickly elevated the muzzle, and the deadly missile went hissing through the air over the head of a native Indian who, at that moment, stepped from the bush.