Sioux County pioneer. (Fort Yates, Sioux County, N.D.) 1914-1929, 1921-09-22
tcHAPTER vi-continu.d).

1t was fortunate that Cookie knew
nothing Of the solitary grave some
where on the island, with Its stone
marked with B. H. and cross-bones,
nor that the inhabitant thereof was
supposed to walk. If he had, 1 think
the strange spectacle Of lone negro
in a small boat rowing Justify for, the
American continent might soon have
been witnessed on the Pacific by any
eyes that were there to see. And we
could Ill have spared either boat or
cook.
Yet even though unvexed by. this
grews0me knowledge. after two or
three days noticed that Cookie was
Ill at ease. As the, leisure member Of
the party, ! enjoyed more of Cookies
society than the rest. On this occa-
sion while the morning was still in it's
freshness he was permitting me to
make fudge. But his usual joviallty
was gone. l saw that he glanced over
his shoulder at intervals, muttering
darkly to himself. Also that a rabbits
foot was slung conspicuously about
his neck.
Having made my fudge and set the
pan on a stone in the stream to cool.
/ was about to retire with view to
conducting limited exploring expedi-
ton OF my own. The assurances Of
Mr.. Shaw-not personally directed to
me. Of course; the armed truce UNI
der which we lived did not permit Of
that-had convinced me that I had
not to dread anything more feroclous
than the pigs, and the widest of them
would retire before stick or stone.
Besides, I boosted a little automatic,
which I carried strapped to my waist
in q businesslike manner. Mr.. yane
had almost got me to the point where
i could shoot It of without shutting
my eyes.
Thus equipped, was about to set
of into the woods. I had turned my
hack on Cookie and the camp, when
" l was arrested by an exclamation:
Miss Jinny!"
I turned to find Cookie gazing after
me with an expression which, in the
familiar phrase Of fiction, / could not
interpret, though among its ingredi-
ents were doubt and anguish. Cookie,
too, looked pale. don't in the least
know how he managed 1t, but that
was the impression he conveyed,
dusky as he was.
Miss jimmy, it mos look LAX yo'
'bout to go perambulatin' in desc yere
woods?" i. 5;H 80 .
II am. Cookie" admitted.
The whites Of Cookies eyes became
alarmingly conspicuous. Drawing
near In a stealthy manner he whis-
pered: 81, =5 5:5 &, Fl
"Yo' bettah not, Miss jimmy ~
"Oh, nonsense. Cookie u said i'm.
patiently. There's not a thing on the
island but the pigs" sz; BE-.
.Miss jimmy" he solemnly replied.
'dey's pigs and pigs"
Yes. but pigs is pigs. you know"
answered. laughing.
''Dey's pigs and pigs. chile live
ones and---dead ones"
Dead ones7 OF course haven't we.
been eating themT'
.Yo' won't nevah eat dis we're kind
o dead pig, Miss jimmy. lists a
ha'nt!"
The murder was ont. Cookie leaned
against a cocoa-palm and wiped his,
ebOn brow.
Persistently questioned. lie told at
last how, today and yesterday, arts
Ing In the dim dawn TO build Ills. fire
before the camp was stirring, he had
& seen lurking at the edge of the clear
Ing a. white four footed shape. It was
a pig. yet not a pig; its ghostly hue
Its noiseless movements. divided It
from all proper mundane pOrkers by
the dreadful gulf which divides the
living from the dead. The first. morn
Ing Cookie, doubtful Of his senses
had flung a stone and the spectral
Thing had vanished like a. shaiow.s
I On its second appearance, having lad