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almost reach him now。 Then Oh！〃
His voice ended in a scream that seemed to be one of terror。 So
sudden was the change that Tom and Ned； who were together； ahead of Mr。
Damon； looked at one another in fear。
〃What has happened？〃 whispered Ned； pausing。
〃Don't stop to askcome on！〃 shouted Tom。
At that instant again came the voice of the savant。
〃Tom！ Ned！〃 he gasped； rather than cried。
〃I'm caught in the coils！ Quickquick if you would save me！〃
〃In the coils！〃 repeated Ned。 〃What does he mean？ Can the giant
iguana〃
Tom Swift did not stop to answer。 With his electric rifle in readiness；
he leaped forward through the jungle。
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CHAPTER XVI
A MEETING IN THE JUNGLE
Before Tom and Ned reached the place whence Professor Bumper
had called； they heard strange noises； other than the imploring voice of
their friend。 It seemed as though some great body was threshing about in
the jungle； lashing the trees； bushes and leaves about； and when the two
young men； followed by Mr。 Damon； reached the scene they saw that； in a
measure； this really accounted for what they heard。
Something like a great whip was beating about close to two trees that
grew near together。 And then； when the storm of twigs； leaves and dirt；
caused by the leaping； threshing thing ceased for a moment； the onlookers
saw something that filled them with terror。
Between the two trees； and seemingly bound to them by a great coiled
rope； spotted and banded； was the body of Professor Bumper。 His arms
were pinioned to his sides and there was horror and terror on his face； that
looked imploringly at the youths from above the topmost coil of those
encircling him。
〃What is it？〃 cried Mr。 Damon； as he ran pantingly up。 〃What has
caught him？ Is it the giant iguana？〃
〃It's a snakea great boa！〃 gasped Tom。 〃It has him in its coils。 But
it is wound around the trees； too。 That alone prevents it from crushing
the professor to death。
〃Ned； be ready with your rifle。 Put in the heaviest charge； and watch
your chance to fire！〃
The great； ugly head of the boa reared itself up from the coils which it
had； with the quickness of thought； thrown about the man between the two
trees。 This species of snake is not poisonous； and kills its prey by
crushing it to death； making it into a pulpy mass； with scarcely a bone left
unbroken； after which it swallows its meal。 The crushing power of one
of these boas； some of which reach a length of thirty feet； with a body as
large around as that of a full…grown man； is enormous。
〃I'm going to fire！〃 suddenly cried Tom。 He had seen his chance and
he took it。 There was the faint reportthe crack of the electric rifle and
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the folds of the serpent seemed to relax。
〃I see a good chance now；〃 added Ned； who had taken the small charge
from his weapon； replacing it with a heavier one。
His rifle was also discharged in the direction of the snake； and Tom
saw that the hit was a good one； right through the ugly head of the reptile。
〃One other will be enough to make him loosen his coils！〃 cried Tom；
as he fired again； and such was the killing power of the electric bullets that
the snake； though an immense one； and one that short of decapitation
could have received many injuries without losing power； seemed to shrivel
up。
Its folds relaxed； and the coils of the great body fell in a heap at the
roots of the two trees； between which the scientist had been standing。
Professor Bumper seemed to fall backward as the grip of the serpent
relaxed； but Tom； dropping his rifle； and calling to Ned to keep an eye on
the snake； leaped forward and caught his friend。
〃Are you hurt？〃 asked Tom； carrying the limp form over to a grassy
place。 There was no answer； the savant's eyes were closed and he
breathed but faintly。
Ned Newton fired two more electric bullets into the still writhing body
of the boa。
〃I guess he's all in；〃 he called to Tom。
〃Bless my horseradish！ And so our friend seems to be；〃 commented
Mr。 Damon。 〃Have you anything with which to revive him； Tom？〃
〃Yes。 Some ammonia。 See if you can find a little water。〃
〃I have some in my flask。〃
Tom mixed a dose of the spirits which he carried with him； and this；
forced between the pallid lips of the scientist； revived him。
〃What happened？〃 he asked faintly as he opened his eyes。 〃Oh； yes；
I remember；〃 he added slowly。 〃The boa〃
〃Don't try to talk；〃 urged Tom。 〃You're all right。 The snake is dead；
or dying。 Are you much hurt？〃
Professor Bumper appeared to be considering。 He moved first one
limb； then another。 He seemed to have the power over all his muscles。
〃I see how it happened；〃 he said； as he sat up； after taking a little more
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of the ammonia。 〃I was following the iguana； and when the big lizard
came to a stop； in a little hollow place in the ground； at the foot of those
two trees； I leaned over to slip a noose of rope about its neck。 Then I felt
myself caught； as if in the hands of a giant； and bound fast between the
two trees。〃
〃It was the big boa that whipped itself around you； as you leaned
over；〃 explained Tom； as Ned came up to announce that the snake was no
longer dangerous。 〃But when it coiled around you it also coiled around
the two trees； you； fortunately slipping between them。 Had it not been
that their trunks took off some of the pressure of the coils you wouldn't
have lasted a minute。〃
〃Well； I was pretty badly squeezed as it was；〃 remarked the professor。
〃I hardly had breath enough left to call to you。 I tried to fight off the
serpent； but it was of no use。〃
〃I should say not！〃 cried Mr。 Damon。 〃Bless my circus ring！ one
might as well try to combat an elephant！ But； my dear professor； are you
all right now？〃
〃I think soyes。 Though I shall be lame and stiff for a few days； I
fear。 I can hardly walk。〃
Professor Bumper was indeed unable to go about much for a few days
after his encounter with the great serpent。 He stretched out in a
hammock under trees in the camp clearing； and with his friends waited for
the possible return of Tolpec and the porters。
Ned and Tom made one or two short hunting trips； and on these
occasions they kept a lookout in the direction the Indian had taken when
he went away。
〃For he's sure to come back that wayif he comes at all；〃 declared Ned；
〃which I am beginning to doubt。〃
〃Well； he may not come；〃 agreed Tom； who was beginning to lose
some of his first hope。 〃But he won't necessarily come from the same
direction he took。 He may have had to go in an entirely different way to
get help。 We'll hope for the best。〃
A week passed。 Professor Bumper was able to be about； and Tom
and Ned noticed that there was an anxious look on his face。 Was he； too；
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beginning to despair？
〃Well； this isn't hunting for golden idols very fast；〃 said Mr。 Damon；
the morning of the eighth day after their desertion by the faithless Jacinto。
〃What do you say； Professor Bumper； ought we not to start off on our own
account？〃
〃We had better if Tolpec does not return today；〃 was the answer。
They had eaten breakfast； had put their camp in order； and were about
to have a consultation on what was best to do； when Tom suddenly called
to Ned； who was whistling：
〃Hark！〃
Through the jungle came a faint sound o