“Guess you’re right.  But come on, Tom.  If we’re going to make the king a present that will open his eyes, and get him on our side instead of Delby’s, we’d better be getting at it.”

“I will.  This is what I’m going to give him,” and Tom brought out from a box a small toy circus, with many performing animals and acrobats, the whole being worked by a small steam engine that burned alcohol for fuel.  A little water put in the boiler of the toy engine, a lighting of the alcohol wick and there would be a toy that even a youngster of the United States might be proud to own.

“Mah land a massy!” exclaimed Eradicate as Tom got the apparatus ready to work.  “Dat shore will please him!”

“It ought to,” replied the young inventor.  “Come on, now I’m ready.”

Delby had not yet come from the king’s hut, and as Tom and his friends, bearing the new toy, were about to leave the structure that had been set aside for their use, they saw a crowd of the giant men approaching.  Each of the big men carried a club and a spear.

“Bless my eye glasses!” gasped Mr. Damon.  “Something is wrong.  What can it be?”

He had his answer a moment later.  With a firm but gentle motion the chief giant shoved our four friends back into the hut, and then pulled the grass mat over the opening.  Then, as Tom and the others could see by looking from a crack, he and several others took their position in front, while other giants went to the various windows, stationing themselves outside like sentries around a guard house.

“Bless my—­” began Mr. Damon, but words failed him.

“We’re prisoners!” gasped Ned.

“It looks like it,” admitted Tom grimly.  “Evidently Delby has carried out his threat and set the king against us.  We are to be held captives here, and he can do as he pleases.  Oh, why didn’t I think sooner.”

CHAPTER XVIII

TOM’S MYSTERIOUS BOX

The young inventor walked slowly back to the middle of the hut—­a prison now it was—­and sat down on a bench.  The others followed his example, and the elaborate toy, with which they had hoped to win the king’s favor, was laid aside.  For a moment there was silence in the structure—­a silence broken only by the pacing up and down of the giant guards outside.  Then Eradicate spoke.

“Massa Tom,” began the aged negro, “can’t we git away from heah?”

“It doesn’t seem so, Rad.”

“Can’t we shoot some of dem giants wif de ‘lectric guns, an’ carry a couple ob ’em off after we stun ’em like?”

“No, Rad; I’m afraid violent measures won’t do, though now that you speak of the guns I think that we had better get them ready.”

“You’re not going to shoot any of them, are you, Tom?” asked Mr. Damon quickly.

“No, but if they continue to turn against us as easily as they have, there is no telling what may happen.  If they attack us we will have to defend ourselves.  But I think they are too gentle for that, unless they are unduly aroused by what misstatements Hank Delby may make against us.”