On the advice
of San Pedro, they avoided the next two villages as they realized
that they were in the war zone, and then they headed for a large
town where Tom was sure he would hear some news of the giants.
They had to camp twice at night before reaching this town, and when
they did get to it they were warmly welcomed, for white explorers
had been there years before, and had treated the natives well. Tom
distributed many trinkets among the head men and won their good will
so that the party was given comfortable huts in which to sleep, and
a plentiful supply of provisions.
"Can you arrange for a talk with the chief?" asked Tom of San Pedro
that night. "I want to ask him about certain things."
"About where you can find giant flowers?" asked the mule driver with
a quick look.
"Yes--er--and other giant things," replied Tom. "I fix," answered
San Pedro shortly, but there was a queer look on his face.
A few hours later Tom was summoned to the hut of the chief of the
town, and thither he went with Ned, Mr. Damon and San Pedro as
interpreter, for the natives spoke a jargon of their own that Tom
could not understand.
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