CHAPTER XIII
A SHOT IN TIME
"Tom, did you ever see anything like it in your life?"
"I never did, Ned! It's wonderful! fearful! And to think that we arehere watching it, and that thousands of people will see the same thingthrown on a screen. Oh, look at the big one. The small lion has himdown!"
The two lads, much thrilled, crouched down behind a screen of bushes,watching the midnight fight between the lions. On the airship, not fardistant, there was no little alarm, for those left behind heard theterrific roars, and feared Tom and Ned might be in some danger. But thelions were too much occupied with their battle, to pay any attention toanything else, and no other wild beasts were likely to come to thespring while the two "kings" were at each other.
It was a magnificent, but terrible battle. The big cats bit and tore ateach other, using their terrific claws and their powerful paws, onestroke of which is said to be sufficient to break a bullock's back.Sometimes they would roll out of the focus of the camera, and, at suchtimes, Tom wished he was at the machine to swing the lens around, buthe knew it would be dangerous to move. Then the beasts would roll backinto the rays of light again, and more pictures of them would be taken.
"I guess the small one is going to win!" said Tom, after the two lionshad fought for ten minutes, and the bigger one had been down severaltimes.
"He's younger," agreed Ned, "and I guess the other one has had hisshare of fights. Maybe this is a battle to see which one is to rulethis part of the jungle."
"I guess so," spoke the young inventor, as he pressed the button tostop the camera, as the lions rolled out of focus. "Oh, look!" he crieda moment later, as the animals again rolled into view. Tom started thecamera once more. "This is near the end," he said.
The small lion had, by a sudden spring, landed on the back of hisrival. There was a terrific struggle, and the older beast went down,the younger one clawing him terribly. Then, so quickly did it happenthat the boys could not take in all the details, the older lion rolledover and over, and rid himself of his antagonist. Quickly he got to hisfeet, while the smaller lion did the same. They stood for a momenteyeing each other, their tails twitching, the hair on their backsbristling, and all the while they uttered frightful roars.
An instant later the larger beast sprang toward his rival. One terriblepaw was upraised. The small lion tried to dodge, but was not quickenough. Down came the paw with terrific force, and the boys could hearthe back bone snap. Then, clawing his antagonist terribly, as he laydisabled, the older lion, with a roar of triumph, lapped up water, andsprang off through the jungle, leaving his dying rival beside thespring.
"That's the end," cried Tom, as the small lion died, and the younginventor pressed the button stopping his camera. There was a rustle inthe leaves back of Tom and Ned, and they sprang up in alarm, but theyneed not have feared, for it was only Koku, the giant, who, with aportable 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 wentback to the airship. I have called him "small," but, in reality, thebeast was small only in comparison with his rival, who was a tremendouslion in size. I might add that of all the pictures Tom took, few weremore highly prized than that reel of the lion fight.
"Bless my bear cage!" cried Mr. Damon, as Tom came back, "you certainlyhave nerve, my boy."
"You have to, in this business," agreed Tom with a laugh. "I never didthis before, and I don't know that I would want it for a steadyposition, but it's exciting for a change."
They remained near the "lion spring" as they called it all night, andin the morning, after Koku had served a tasty breakfast, Tom headed theairship for a district where it was said there were many antelope, andbuffaloes, also zebus.
"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 quietlyfeeding, will be good."
"I'm sure they will," said Mary's father. "Get some peaceful scenes, byall means."
They sailed on for several days, taking a number of pictures from theairship, when they passed over a part of the country where the view wasmagnificent, and finally, stopping at a good sized village they learnedthat, about ten miles out, was a district where antelope abounded.
"We'll go there," decided Tom, "and I'll take the camera around with meon a sort of walking trip. In that way I'll get a variety of views, andI can make a good film."
This plan was followed out. The airship came to rest in a beautifulgreen valley, and Ned and Tom, with Mr. Damon, who begged to be takenalong, started off.
"You can follow me in about half an hour, Koku," said Tom, "and carrythe camera back. I guess you can easily pick up our trail."
"Oh, sure," replied the giant. Indeed, to one who had lived in theforest, as he had all his life, before Tom found him, it was nodifficult matter to follow a trail, such as the three friends wouldleave.
Tom found signs that showed him where the antelopes were in the habitof passing, and, with Ned and Mr. Damon, stationed himself in asecluded spot.
He had not long to wait before a herd of deer came past. Tom took manypictures of the graceful creatures, for it was daylight now, and heneeded no light. Consequently there was nothing to alarm the herd.
After having made several films of the antelope, Tom and his twocompanions went farther on. They were fortunate enough to find a placethat seemed to be a regular playground of the deer. There was a largeherd 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 watchedthe creatures, for they had to speak quietly. The camera made scarcelyany noise. "I'm glad I came on this trip."
"So am I," said Ned. "Look, Tom, see the mother deer all together, andthe 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, anddarted off. Tom and Ned, wondering what had startled them, lookedacross the glade just in time to see a big tiger leap out of the tallgrass. The striped animal had been stalking the antelope, but they hadscented him just in time.
"Get him, Tom," urged Ned, and the young inventor did so, securingseveral fine views before the tiger bounded into the grass again, andtook after his prey.
"Bless my china teacup! What's that!" suddenly cried Mr. Damon. As hespoke there was a crashing in the bushes and, an instant later astwo-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 startingto 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. Buthe stumbled over Mr. Damon, and went down.
With a "wuff" of rage the clumsy beast, came on, moving more rapidlythan Tom had any idea he was capable of. Hampered by his camera ourhero 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, whenthe brute seemed suddenly to crumple up. It fell down in a heap, notfive 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 ofTom's Swift's electric rifles in his hand.
Tom Swift and His Wizard Camera; Or, Thrilling Adventures While Taking Moving Pictures Page 13