"He say--he say," began the mule driver and the words seemed to
stick in his throat--"he say there ARE giants--many miles to the
north. Terrible big men--very cruel--and they are fearful. Once they
came here and took some of his people away. He is afraid of them. We
are ALL afraid of them," and San Pedro looked around apprehensively,
as though he might see one of the giants stalking into the chief's
hut at any moment.
"Ask him how many miles north?" asked Tom, hardly able to conceal
his delight. The giants had no terrors for him.
"Two weeks journey," translated San Pedro.
"Good!" cried the young inventor. "Then we'll keep right on. Hurrah!
I'm on the right track at last, and I'll have a giant for the circus
and we may be able to rescue Mr. Poddington!"
"Is the senor in earnest?" asked San Pedro, looking at Tom
curiously. "Is he really going among these terrible giants?"
"Yes, but I don't believe they'll be so terrible. They may be very
gentle. I'm sure they'll be glad to come with me and join a circus--
some of them--and earn a hundred dollars a week. Of course we're
going on to giant land!"
"Very good," said San Pedro quietly, and then he followed Tom out of
the chief's hut.
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