American Falls press. [volume] (American Falls, Idaho) 1907-1937, 1921-10-14

its wild creatures after all7 But
neither lynx nor panther nor any 9TH
er beast of prey is white, except a
polar bear, and 1t would be unusual to
meet one on a tropical island.
i decided that Cookies pig was af-
ter all a pig, though still in the flesh.
l thought | remembered having seen
quite fair pigs, which would pass for
white with a frightened negro In the
dim light of dawn. | consOled Cookie
as best | could by promising TO cross
my fingers If | heard or saw anything
suspicious, and struck out into the
woods.
For all my brave words to Cookie,
| had no intention of going very far
afeld. From the shore of the cove
l had observed that the ground be-
hind the clearing rose to the summit
of a low ridge, perhaps four hundred
feet in height, which jutted from the
base of the peak. From this ridge I
thought / might see something more
pof the island than the limited envi-
ronment of Lantern bay.
As the woods shut out the last
glimpse Of the white tents in the
clearing, as even the familiar sound
of the surf died down to a faint, half
imagined whisper mlngling with the
rustling Of the palms overhead, | ex-
perienced a certain discomfort, which
persons given to hard and unqualified
terms might have called fear. 1t
seemed to me as If a very strong cord
at the rear of my belt were jerking me
back toward the inglorious safety OF
the camp. l fingered my automatic
and marched on up the hill, trying
not to GASP when a leaf rustled or a
coconut dropped in the woods.
| gained the summit of the ridge,
and stood upon a bare rock platform,
scantily sheltered by a few trees,
large shrubs, rather, with a smooth,
waxy leaf Of vivid green. On the
left rose the great mass of the peak.
From far above among Its crags a
beautiful foamy waterfall came hur-
ting down.
had not dreamed of getting a view
so glorious from the little eminence Of
the ridge. Here was an item Of news
20 take back to camp. Having with
great originality christened the place
Lookout, | turned to go. And as |
turned | saw a shape vanish into the
woods.
II was an animal, not q human
shape. And 1t was white. II had, in
deed, every distinguishing trait Of
Cookies phantom pig, Only 1t was
not a pig. My brief shadowy glimpse
of 1t had told me that. | knew what
it was not, but what 1t was / could
not, as ! stood there rooted, ever
guess.
Would 1t attack me, or should | only
die of frightf | wondered If my heart
were weak, and hoped it was. so that
l should not live to feel the teeth of
the unknown Thing sink in my flesh.
| thought of my revolver and after mn
lnfnity Of time managed TO draw IL
from the case. My fingers seemed al
once nervelessly limp and %wOodenly
rigid. This was not at all the daunt-
less front with which ! had dreamed OF
meeting danger. | had fancied myself
With my automatic making a rather
pretty picture as a young Amazon
hut had now a dreadful fear that
my revolver might spasmodically &c
OF and wound the Thing, and then
even if II had meditated letting me 20
I Il would certainly attack me. Never
: L,I,Ss | chung to my revolver as "a
.ny last hope.
: | began to edge away crab-w!se into
! tie wood. Like a metronOme said
10 myself over and over mOnOtonOus-
~, Don't run, don't run :"
/ did not run. Instead, | stepped
on a smooth surface Of rock and slid
%.dOwnhill like a human tObOggan until
/ fetched up against a dead log after
a confused interval during which
vaguely believed myself to have been
swallowed by an alligator. While the
alligator Illusion endured | must have
5 lain comatose and immoyable. Indeed
when my senses began to come back
| was still quite inert. | experienced
that curious tranquility which Is said
4 to visit those who are actually with
: in the jaws Of death. There / las
prone, absolutely AT the mercy Of the
mysterious white prOwler Of the foresl
r and | did moi care. The whole pet
+ ty business OF living seemed a Ions
way behind me now.
I Languidly at last ! opened my eyes
q Within three yards Of me. 10 the opeI
s rock-paved glade where | had fallen
q stood the Thing. Yes. there II was
b only now 1t had put an ear back and
was shifting at me with a mingiing 0
Interest and apprehension.
The strange beast 81 the Jungle we