tom swift and his wizard camera(汤姆·史威夫特和他的女巫相机)-第15章
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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 electric rifle； of which
I have told you in the book bearing that name； was one of his most
cherished inventions。
He guarded jealously the secret of how it worked； and never sold or
gave one away； for fear that unscrupulous men might learn how to make
them； and to cause fearful havoc。 For the rifle was a terrible weapon。 Koku
seemed to appreciate the honor done him； as he handled the gun； and
looked from it to the dead rhinoceros。
〃Bless my blank cartridge！〃 exclaimed Mr。 Damon； as he also got up
and came to examine the dead beast。 It was the first thing he had said since
the animal had rushed at him； and he had not moved after he fell down。 He
had seemingly been in a daze； but when the others heard him use one of
his favorite expressions they knew that he was all right again。 〃Bless my
hat！〃 went on the odd man。 〃What happened； Tom？ Is that beast really
dead？ How did Koku come to arrive in time？〃
〃I guess he's dead all right；〃 said Tom； giving the rhinoceros a kick。
〃But I don't know how Koku happened to arrive in the nick of time； and
with the gun； too。〃
〃I think maybe I see something to shoot when I come after you； like
you tell me to do；〃 spoke the giant。 〃I follow your trail； but I see nothing
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to shoot until I come here。 Then I see that animal run for you； and I shoot。〃
〃And a good thing you did； too；〃 put in Ned。 〃Well let's go back。 My
nerves are on edge； and I want to sit quiet for a while。〃
〃Take the camera； Koku；〃 ordered Tom； 〃and I'll carry the electric
rifleyour rifle； now；〃 he added； and the giant grinned in delight。 They
reached the airship without further incident； and； after a cup of tea； Tom
took out the exposed films and put a fresh roll in his camera； ready for
whatever new might happen。
〃Where is your next stopping place； Tom？〃 asked Ned； as they sat in
the main room of the airship that evening； talking over the events of the
day。 They had decided to stay all night anchored on the ground； and start
off in the morning。
〃I hardly know； answered the young inventor。 〃I am going to set the
camera to…night； near a small spring I saw； to get some pictures of deer
coming to drink。 I may get a picture of a lion or a tiger attacking them。 If I
could it would be another fine film。 To…morrow I think we will start for
Switzerland。 But now I'm going to get the camera ready for a night
exposure。
〃Bless my check book！〃 cried Mr。 Damon。 〃You don't mean to say that
you are going to stay out at a spring again； Tom； and run the chance of a
tiger getting you。〃
〃No； I'm merely goin
