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For nearly a week Tom circled about in his airship； keeping a sharp
lookout down below for a sign of lions that he might photograph them。
But he saw none； though he did get some pictures of a herd of Indian deer
that were well worth his trouble。
〃I think I'll have to try for a night photograph；〃 decided Tom at last。
〃I'll locate a spring where wild beasts are in the habit of coming； set the
camera with the light going； and leave it there。〃
〃But will the lions come up if they see the light？〃 asked Ned。
〃I think so；〃 replied his chum。 〃I'll take a chance； anyhow。 If that
doesn't work then I'll hide near by； and see what happens。〃
〃Bless my cartridge belt！〃 cried Mr。 Damon。 〃You don't mean that； do
you Tom？〃
〃Of course。 Come to think of it； I'm not going to leave my camera out
there for a lion to jump on； and break。 As soon as I get a series of pictures
I'll bring it back to the ship； I think。〃
By inquiry among the natives they learned the location of a spring
where； it was said； lions were in the habit of coming nightly to drink。
〃That's the place I want！〃 cried Tom。
Accordingly the airship was headed for it； and one evening it came
gently to earth in a little clearing on the edge of the jungle； while Koku； as
was his habit； got supper。
After the meal Tom and Ned set the camera； and then； picking out a
good spot nearby； they hid themselves to wait for what might happen。 The
lens was focused on the spring； and the powerful electric light set going。 It
glowed brightly； and our hero thought it might have the effect of keeping
the beasts away； but Tom figured that； after they had looked at it for a
while； and seen that it did not harm them； they would lose their suspicions；
and come within range of his machine。
〃The camera will do the rest；〃 he said。 In order not to waste films
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uselessly Tom arranged a long electric wire； running it from the camera to
where he and Ned were hid。 By pressing a button he could start or stop the
camera any time he wished； and； as he had a view of the spring from his
vantage point； he could have the apparatus begin taking pictures as soon as
there was some animal within focus。
〃Well； I'm getting stiff；〃 said Ned； after an hour or so had passed in
silent darkness； the only light being the distant one on the camera。
〃So am I；〃 said Tom。
〃I don't believe anything will come to…night；〃 went on his chum。 〃Let's
go back and〃
He stopped suddenly； for there was a crackling in the underbrush； and
the next moment the jungle vibrated to the mighty roar of a lion。
〃He's coming！〃 hoarsely whispered Tom。
Both lads glanced through the trees toward the camera； and； in the
light； they saw a magnificent； tawny beast standing on the edge of the
spring。 Once more he roared； as if in defiance； and then； as if deciding that
the light was not harmful； he stooped to lap up the water
Hardly had he done so than there was another roar； and a moment later
a second lion leaped from the dense jungle into the clearing about the
spring。 The two monarchs of the forest stood there in the glare of the light；
and Tom excitedly pressed the button that started the shutter to working；
and the film to moving back of the lens。
There was a slight clicking sound in the camera； and the lions turned
startedly。 Then both growled again； and the next instant they sprang at
each other； roaring mightily。
〃A fight！〃 cried Tom。 〃A lion fight； and right in front of my camera！ It
couldn't be better。 This is great！ This will be a film。〃
〃Quiet！〃 begged Ned。 〃They'll hear you； and come for us。 I don't want
to be chewed up！〃
〃No danger of them hearing me！〃 cried Tom。 and he had to shout to be
heard above the roaring of the two tawny beasts； as they bit and clawed
each other； while the camera took picture after picture of them。
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CHAPTER XIII
A SHOT IN TIME
〃Tom； did you ever see anything like it in your life？〃
〃I never did； Ned！ It's wonderful！ fearful！ And to think that we are here
watching it； and that thousands of people will see the same thing thrown
on a screen。 Oh； look at the big one。 The small lion has him down！〃
The two lads； much thrilled； crouched down behind a screen of bushes；
watching the midnight fight between the lions。 On the airship； not far
distant； there was no little alarm； for those left behind heard the terrific
roars； and feared Tom and Ned might be in some danger。 But the lions
were too much occupied with their battle； to pay any attention to anything
else； and no other wild beasts were likely to come to the spring while the
two 〃kings〃 were at each other。
It was a magnificent； but terrible battle。 The big cats bit and tore at
each other； using their terrific claws and their powerful paws； one stroke
of which is said to be sufficient to break a bullock's back。 Sometimes they
would roll out of the focus of the camera； and； at such times； Tom wished
he was at the machine to swing the lens around； but he knew it would be
dangerous to move。 Then the beasts would roll back into the rays of light
again； and more pictures of them would be taken。
〃I guess the small one is going to win！〃 said Tom； after the two lions
had fought for ten minutes； and the bigger one had been down several
times。
〃He's younger；〃 agreed Ned； 〃and I guess the other one has had his
share of fights。 Maybe this is a battle to see which one is to rule this part
of the jungle。〃
〃I guess so；〃 spoke the young inventor； as he pressed the button to stop
the camera； as the lions rolled out of focus。 〃Oh； look！〃 he cried a moment
later； as the animals again rolled into view。 Tom started the camera once
more。 〃This is near the end；〃 he said。
The small lion had； by a sudden spring； landed on the back of his rival。
There was a terrific struggle； and the older beast went down； the younger
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one clawing him terribly。 Then； so quickly did it happen that the boys
could n