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.
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