“Maybe it’s about the two giant brothers who have not come back,” suggested Mr. Poddington.  “They may imagine that we have them captive, and they want to rescue them.”

“That’s so,” admitted Tom.  “Well, if they had only postponed this reception for a few hours we’d have been out of their way, and they wouldn’t have had this trouble,” and he glanced at the aeroplane, that stood in the big hut, ready for instant flight.

“They’re coming back!” suddenly shouted Ned, and a look from the half-opened windows showed the giants again advancing.

“I’ve got the Roman candles!” called Mr. Poddington from a corner where he had been rummaging in that box of Tom’s which contained so many surprises.  “What shall I do with ’em?”

“Let ’em go right in their faces!” yelled Tom.  “They won’t do much damage, but they’ll throw a scare into the big fellows!  Get ready, Ned!”

“They’re dividing!” shouted his chum.  “They’re coming at us from two sides!”

“They’re only trying to confuse us,” decided Tom.  “Fire at the main body!” And with that he opened up with his electric rifle, an example followed by Mr. Damon and Ned.

With a whizz, and several sharp explosions, the circus man got the Roman candles into action.  The glaring fire of them lighted up the scene better than did the flaming torches of the giants, and truly it was a wonderful sight.  There, in that lonely hut, in the midst of a South American jungle, four intrepid white persons, and an aged but brave negro, stood against hundreds of giants—­mighty men, who, had they come to a personal contact, any one of which would have been more than a match for the combined strength of Tom and his party.  It was a weird picture that the young inventor looked out upon, but his heart did not quail.

Giant after giant went down under the fierce rain of the electric bullets, stunned, but not otherwise injured.  There was a shower of sparks, and a hail of burning balls from the Roman candles, but still the advance was kept up.  Eradicate was banging away with his shotgun.

“Dis suah am hot work!” cried the colored man, as his hand came in contact with the barrel.  “Wow!  It’s most red hot!” he added with a cry of pain.

“Use the other gun,” advised Tom, never turning his head from the window through which he was aiming.  “That one may get choked, and explode in here.”

“All right,” answered Eradicate.

“Duck!” yelled Ned with sudden energy.  “They’re going to fire!” A number of the giants could be seen fitting arrows to bow strings, while others raised to their lips the long hollow reeds, from which the blow guns were made.  It was the first time the enemy had fired and doubtless they had held back because they hoped to capture Tom and his friends alive.  But they did not count on such a stubborn resistance.

Every one moved away from the windows, and not an instant too soon, for, a moment later, a shower of arrows and darts came in, fortunately injuring no one.