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〃What's the matter？〃 cried Professor Bumper。
〃The vampires！〃 came the answering voice of Jacinto。 〃One of the
Indians has been attacked by a big vampire bat！ Look out； every one！ It
may be a raid by the dangerous creatures！ Be careful！〃
Notwithstanding this warning Ned stuck his head out of the tent。 The
same instant he was aware of a dark enfolding shadow passing over him；
and； with a shudder of fear； he jumped back。
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TOM SWIFT IN THE LAND OF WONDERS
CHAPTER XII
A FALSE FRIEND
〃What is it？ What's the matter？〃 cried Tom springing from his cot
and hastening to the side of his chum in the tent。 〃What has happened；
Ned？〃
〃I don't know； but Jacinto is yelling something about vampires！〃
〃Vampires？〃
〃Yes。 Big bats。 And he's warning us to be careful。 I stuck my
head out just now and I felt that same sort of shadow I felt this evening
when we were down near the river。〃
〃Nonsense！〃
〃I tell you I did！〃
At that instant Tom flashed a pocket electric lamp he had taken from
beneath his pillow and in the gleam of it he and Ned saw fluttering about
the tent some dark； shadow…like form； at the sight of which Tom's chum
cried：
〃There it is！ That's the shadow！ Look out！〃 and he held up his hands
instinctively to shield his face。
〃Shadow！〃 yelled Tom； unconsciously adding to the din that seemed to
pervade every part of the camp。 〃That isn't a shadow。 It's substance。
It's a monster bat； and here goes for a strike at it！〃
He caught up his camera tripod which was near his cot； and made a
swing with it at the creature that had flown into the tent through an
opening it had made for itself。
〃Look out！〃 yelled Ned。 〃If it's a vampire it'll〃
〃It won't do anything to me！〃 shouted Tom； as he struck the creature；
knocking it into the corner of the tent with a thud that told it must be
completely stunned； if not killed。 〃But what's it all about； anyhow？〃 Tom
asked。 〃What's the row？〃
From without the tent came the Indian cries of：
〃Oshtoo！ Oshtoo！〃
Mingled with them were calls of Jacinto； partly in Spanish； partly in
the Indian tongue and partly in English。
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〃It is a raid by vampire bats！〃 was all Tom and Ned could distinguish。
〃We shall have to light fires to keep them away； if we can suc… ceed。
Every one grab up a club and strike hard！〃
〃Come on！〃 cried Tom； getting on some clothes by the light of his
gleaming electric light which he had set on his cot。
〃You're not going out there； are you？〃 asked Ned。
〃I certainly am！ If there's a fight I want to be in it； bats or anything else。
Here； you have a light like mine。 Flash it on； and hang it somewhere on
yourself。 Then get a club and come on。 The lights will blind the bats；
and we can see to hit 'em！〃
Tom's plan seemed to be a good one。 His lamp and Ned's had small
hooks on them； so they could be carried in the upper coat pocket； showing
a gleam of light and leaving the hands free for use。
Out of the tents rushed the young men to find Professor Bumper and
Mr。 Damon before them。 The two men had clubs and were striking about
in the half darkness； for now the Indians had set several fires aglow。 And
in the gleams； constantly growing brighter as more fuel was piled on； the
young inventor and his chum saw a weird sight。
Circling and wheeling about in the camp clearing were many of the
black shadowy forms that had caused Ned such alarm。 Great bats they
were； and a dangerous species； if Jacinto was to be believed。
The uncanny creatures flew in and out among the trees and tents； now
swooping low near the Indians or the travelers。 At such times clubs
would be used； often with the effect of killing or stunning the flying pests。
For a time it seemed as if the bats would fairly overwhelm the camp； so
many of them were there。 But the increasing lights； and the attacks made
by the Indians and the white travelers turned the tide of battle； and； with
silent flappings of their soft； velvety wings； the bats flew back to the
jungle whence they had emerged。
〃We are safefor the present！〃 exclaimed Jacinto with a sigh of relief。
〃Do you think they will come back？〃 asked Tom。
〃They maythere is no telling。〃
〃Bless my speedometer！〃 cried Mr。 Damon； 〃If those beasts or birds
whatever they are come back I'll go and hide in the river and take my
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chances with the alligators！〃
〃The alligators aren't much worse；〃 asserted Jacinto with a visible
shiver。 〃These vampire bats sometimes depopulate a whole village。〃
〃Bless my shoe laces！〃 cried Mr。 Damon。 〃You don't mean to say
that the creatures can eat up a whole village？〃
〃Not quite。 Though they might if they got the chance；〃 was the
answer of the Spanish guide。 〃These vampire bats fly from place to
place in great swarms； and they are so large and blood…thirsty that a few of
them can kill a horse or an ox in a short time by sucking its blood。 So
when the villagers find they are visited by a colony of these vampires they
get out； taking their live stock with them； and stay in caves or in densely
wooded places until the bats fly on。 Then the villagers come back。
〃It was only a small colony that visited us to… night or we would have
had more trouble。 I do not think this lot will come back。 We have
killed too many of them；〃 and he looked about on the ground where many
of the uncanny creatures were still twitching in the death struggle。
〃Come back again！〃 cried Mr。 Damon。 〃Bless my skin！ I hope not！
I've had enough of bats and mosquitoes；〃 he added； as he slapped at his
face and neck。
Indeed the party of whites were set upon by the night insects to such
an extent that it was necessary to hurry back to the protection of the nets。
Tom and Ned kicked outside the bat the former had killed in their tent；
and then both went back to their cots。 But it was some little time before
they fell asleep。 And they did not have much time to rest； for an early
start must be made to avoid the terrible heat of the middle of the day。
〃Whew！〃 whistled Ned； as he and Tom arose in the gray dawn of the
morning when Jacinto announced the breakfast which the Indian cook had
prepared。 〃That was some night！ If this is a sample of the wilds of
Honduras； give me the tameness of Shopton。〃
〃Oh； we've gone through with worse than this；〃 laughed Tom。 〃It's
all in the day's work。 We've only got started。 I guess we're a bit soft； Ned；
though we had hard enough work in that tunnel…digging。〃
After breakfast； while the Indians were making ready the canoes；
Professor Bumper； who； in a previous visit to Central America； had
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become interested in the subject； made a brief examination of some of the
dead bats。 They were exceptionally large； some almost as big as hawks。
and were of the sub…family _Desmodidae_； the scientist said。
〃This is a true blood…sucking bat；〃 went on the professor。 〃This；〃 and
he pointed to the nose…leaves； 〃is the sucking apparatus。 The bat makes
an opening in the skin with its sharp teeth and proceeds to extract the
blood。 I can well believe two or three of them； attacking a steer or mule
at once； could soon weaken it so the animal would die。〃
〃And a man； too？〃 asked Ned。
〃Well a man has hands with which to use weapons； but a helpless
quadruped has not。 Though if a sufficient number of these bats attacked a
man at the same time； he would have small chance to escape alive。 Their
bites； too； may be poisonous for all I know。〃
The India