for the natives.
They could not battle against an unseen and silent enemy who mowed
them down like a field of grain. With wild yells they fled back
along the trail they had come.

"I guess that does it!" cried Tom. "We'd better join the others
now."

Mounting their mules, they galloped back to where San Pedro and his
natives were pressing forward.

"Did you have the honor of defeating them," the head mule driver
asked.

"I had the HONOR," answered Tom, with a grim smile.

Then they pressed on, but there was no more danger. That night they
camped in a peaceful valley and were not disturbed, and the
following day they put a good many miles behind them. 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.

There were some simple ceremonies to observe, and then Tom found
himself facing the chief, with San Pedro by his side. After the
greetings, and an exchange of presents, Tom giving him a cheap
phonograph with which the chief was wildly delighted, there came the
time to talk.

"Ask him where the giant men live?" our hero directed San Pedro,
believing that the time had now come to disclose the object of his
expedition.

"Giant men, Senor Swift? I thought it was giant plants--orchids--you
were after," exclaimed San Pedro.

"Well, I'll take a few giant men if I can find them. Tell him I
understand there is a tribe of giants in this country. Ask