第30章

"Well, it's about time we shot something, I think," remarked Ned, when they had been out about two hours."Let's try for some of these wild turkeys.They ought to go well roasted even if it isn't Thanksgiving.""I'm with you," agreed Tom."Let's see who has the best luck.But tone down the charge in your rifle and use a smaller projectile, or you'll have nothing but a bunch of feathers to show for your shot.The guns are loaded for deer."The change was made, and once more the two young men started off, a little ahead of Professor Bumper and Mr.Damon.Tom and Ned had not gone far, however, before they heard a strange cry from Mr.Damon.

"Tom! Ned!" shouted the eccentric man, "Here's a monster after me! Come quick!""A tiger!" ejaculated Tom, as he began once more to change the charge in his rifle to a larger one, running back, meanwhile, in the direction of the sound of the voice.

There were really no tigers in Honduras, the jaguar being called a tiger by the natives, while the cougar is called a lion.The presence of these animals, often dangerous to man, had been indicated around camp, and it was possible that one had been bold enough to attack Mr.Damon, not through hunger, but because of being cornered.

"Come on, Ned!" cried Tom."He's in some sort of trouble!"But when, a moment later, the young inventor burst through a fringe of bushes and saw Mr.Damon standing in a little clearing, with upraised club, Tom could not repress a laugh.

"Kill it, Tom! Kill it!" begged the eccentric man."Bless my insurance policy, but it's a terrible beast!"And so it was, at first glance.For it was a giant iguana, one of the most repulsive-looking of the lizards.Not unlike an alligator in shape, with spikes on its head and tail, with a warty, squatty ridge-encrusted body, a big pouch beneath its chin, and long-toed claws, it was enough to strike terror into the heart of almost any one.Even the smaller ones look dangerous, and this one, which was about five feet long, looked capable of attacking a man and injuring him.As a matter of fact the iguanas areharmless, their shape and coloring being designed to protect them.

"Don't be afraid, Mr.Damon," called Tom, still laughing."It won't hurt you!""I'm not so positive of that.It won't let me pass.""Just take your club and poke it out of the way," the young inventor advised."It's only waiting to be shoved.""Then you do it, Tom.Bless my looking glass, but I don't want to go near it! If my wife could see me now she'd say it served me just right."Mr.Damon was not a coward, but the giant iguana was not pleasant to look at.Tom, with the butt of his rifle, gave it a gentle shove, whereupon the creature scurried off through the brush as though glad to make its escape unscathed.

"I thought it was a new kind of alligator," said Mr.Damon with a sigh of relief.

"Where is it?" asked Professor Bumper, coming up at this juncture."A new species of alligator? Let me see it!""It's too horrible," said Mr.Damon."I never want to see one again.It was worse than a vampire bat!"Notwithstanding this, when he heard that it was one of the largest sized iguanas ever seen, the professor started through the jungle after it.

"We can't take it with us if we get it," Tom called after his friend.

"We might take the skin," answered the professor."I have a standing order for such things from one of the museums I represent.I'd like to get it.Then they are often eaten.We can have a change of diet.you see." "We'd better follow him," said Tom to Ned."We'll have to let theturkeys go for a while.He may get into trouble.Come on."Off they started through the jungle, trailing after the impetuous professor who was intent on capturing the iguana.The giant lizard's progress could be traced by the disturbance of the leaves and underbrush, and the professor was following as closely as possible.

So fast did he go that Ned, Tom and Mr.Damon, following, lost sight of him several times, and Tom finally called:

"Wait a minute.We'll all be lost if you keep this up.""I'll have him in another minute," answered the professor."I canalmost reach him now.Then---- Oh!"

His voice ended in a scream that seemed to be one of terror.So sudden was the change that Tom and Ned, who were together, ahead of Mr.Damon, looked at one another in fear.

"What has happened?" whispered Ned, pausing."Don't stop to ask--come on!" shouted Tom.

At that instant again came the voice of the savant."Tom! Ned!" he gasped, rather than cried.

"I'm caught in the coils! Quick--quick if you would save me!""In the coils!" repeated Ned."What does he mean? Can the giant iguana----"Tom Swift did not stop to answer.With his electric rifle in readiness, he leaped forward through the jungle.