“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 him if he ever heard of them.”

San Pedro hesitated.  He looked at Tom, and the young inventor fancied that there was a tinge of white on the swarthy face of the chief mule driver.  But San Pedro translated the question.

Its effect on the chief was strange.  He half leaped from his seat, and stared at Tom.  Then he uttered a cry—­a cry of fear—­and spoke rapidly.

“What does he say?” asked Tom of San Pedro eagerly, when the chief had ceased speaking.

“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.

“It’s all right, Ned old sport, we’ll get to giant land after all!” cried Tom to his chum as they reached the hut where they were quartered.

The next morning when Tom got up, and looked for San Pedro and his men, to give orders about the march that day, the mule drivers were nowhere to be seen.  Nor were the mules in the places where they had been tethered.  Their packs lay in a well ordered heap, but the animals and their drivers were gone.

“This is queer,” said Tom, rubbing his eyes to make sure that he saw aright.  “I wonder where they are?  Rad, look around for them.”

The colored man did so, and came back soon, to report that San Pedro and his men had gone in the night.  Some of the native villagers told him so by signs, Eradicate said.  They had stolen away.

“Gone!” gasped Tom.  “Gone where?”

“Bless my railroad ticket!” cried Mr. Damon.

“We’re deserted,” exclaimed Ned.  “They’ve taken the mules, and left us.”

“I guess that’s it,” admitted Tom ruefully, after a minute’s thought.  “San Pedro couldn’t stand for the giants.  He’s had a frightful flunk.  Well, we’re all alone, but we’ll go on to giant land anyhow!  We can get more mules.  A little thing like this can’t phase me.  Are you with me, Ned—­Mr. Damon—­Eradicate?”