Page:Tom Swift in Captivity.djvu/123

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CHAPTER XIII


THE DESERTION


"Say, look at those fellows pitch into one another!" gasped Ned.

"It's fighting at close range all right," commented Mr. Damon.

"If they had rifles they wouldn't be at it hand to hand," spoke Tom. "Maybe it's just as well they haven't, for there won't be so many killed, But say, we'd better be thinking of ourselves. They may make up their quarrel and turn against us any minute.

"No—never—no danger of them being friends—they are rival tribes," said San Pedro. "But either one may attack us—the one that is the victor. It is better that we keep away."

"I guess you're right," agreed Tom. "Lead the way, San Pedro, and we'll get out of sight."

But there was a fascination in watching the distant battle that was hard to resist. It was like looking at a moving picture, for at that distance none of the horrors of war were visible. True,

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