“Well, I guess they won’t try that right away again,” remarked Tom, as he saw the stunned giants slowly arouse themselves and crawl away.  “We’ve taught them a lesson.”

They felt better after that, and then, when they had eaten and drank, they began to consider ways and means of escape.  But Tom would not hear of going until he could get at least one giant for the circus.

“But you can’t!” insisted Mr. Poddington.

“Well, it’s too soon to give up yet,” declared Tom.  “I’d like to take the king’s two brothers with me.”

“By Jove!” exclaimed Mr. Poddington, “I never thought of that.  There is just a bare chance.  Did you know that the two brothers, who are twins, dislike the king, for he is younger than they, and he practically took the throne away from them.  They should rule jointly by rights.  If we could enlist Tola and Koku on our side we might win out yet.”

“Then we’ll try!” exclaimed Tom.

Jake Poddington, who had been a captive in the giant city long enough to know something of its history, and had learned to talk the language, explained how Kosk had ursurped the throne.  His brothers were subject to him, he said, but several times they had tried in vain to start a revolution.  To punish them for their rebellious efforts the king made them his personal servants, and this explained why he sent them to see the tricks Tom performed.

“If we could only get into communication with the big twins,” went on the circus man, “we could offer to take them with us to a country where they would be bigger kings than their brother is here.  It’s a royal conspiracy worth trying.”

“Then we’ll try it!” cried Tom enthusiastically.

CHAPTER XXII

THE TWIN GIANTS

Daring indeed was the scheme decided on by the captives, and yet its very boldness might make it possible for them to carry it out.  The king would never suspect them of plotting to carry off his two royal brothers, and this made it all the easier to lay their plans.  In this they were much helped by Poddington, who knew the language and who had made a few friends among the more humble people of the village, though none dared assist him openly.

“The first thing to do,” said the circus man, “is to get into communication with the twins.”

That proved harder than they expected, for a week passed, and they did not have a glimpse of Tola and Koku.  Meanwhile the giant guard was still maintained about the hut night and day.  No more food was given the prisoners, and they would have starved had not Tom possessed a good supply of his own provisions.  It was evidently the intention of the king to starve his captives into submission.

“Suppose you do get those big brothers to accompany you, Tom?” asked Ned one day.  “How are you going to manage to get away, and take them with you?”

“My aeroplane!” answered Tom quickly.  “I’ve got it all planned out.  You and I with Mr. Damon, Mr. Poddington and Eradicate will skip away in the aeroplane.  We can put it together in here, and I’ve got enough gasolene to run it a couple of hundred miles if necessary.”