Evening star., 1941-07-27
Continued from poss sixteen


eyes and nose of a huge crocodile -
struck terror into him. This was foe
no Okapi, no animal, could tackle in
the water. Wildly he turned and
plunged back into the river.
1t was grim struggle now. for he
was tired. Panic rose in him. and then
subsidized. Not far beyond, the river
bent sharply to the right, and there
would be his chance He ceased his
struggling; then - seizlng the In
slant when the current broke at the
curve - he hurled himself through 1t
and swan frantically until he felt the
ground beneath his feet His heart was
bursting as he reached the bank, and
he was trembling. He took first great
sobbing gulp of air, and tried to plan
what he should do. He was nearer the
swamp now If he had left the little
men far enough behind. if he could
push on to his passage, he could es-
cape.
The whine of a thrown spear gal
vanized him. He SHE'D. felt the spear
Craze his shoulder, heard its impact
in the ground behind him. Leaves
moved lightly in the dense under
growth at his left. Before him was a
thicket, laced and buttressed by
lianas into a solid wall. Lowering his
head, he charged, forcing passage
through the splintering, cracking
mass.
Then luck favored him As he raced
on. a scent came to him. He stopped,
listened A herd of elephants was
approaching in his direction. At once
his craftiness returned to him. Swiftly
he cut in at the head of the procession,
AS long as he walked in front of them.
he would be safe; their heavy feet
would obliterate his tracks: their
stronger smell consume his own scent.
He walked at the slow pace OF the
elephants, outstanding his strength.
gathering his wits But he was shaken.
When the sudden, near smell OF
leopard stung his nostrils, it ratified
him. Ordinarily he would have met
the challenge aggressively. Instead.
impulsively he swung out - and so
lost his place of vantage. When he
realized it, it was already too late;
the column had marched past him.
He stood still to take his bearings.
He was near the swamp. now. Wear
lily, he hoped the men were still far
behind him. The breeze blew on his
back, and it brought him no scent of
man. He plodded on until he came to
the bank of the little stream border
ing the swamp. Then hope fiared in
him. He was just above the passage.
and if he could gain it he had a
chance.
Mockingly, startlingly close, and
directly ahead of him, the clack-clack
of dogs bell sounded. They sur
rounded him still - he was as trapped
now as he had been before he fought
the river. Recklessly he whirled and
galloped straight across the stream
into the swamp - there, at least, no
man would confront him!
liz SANK at once, shoulder deep into
the shiny viscous ooze he loathed.
He was already desperately tired.
vet a kind of dull endurance came to
his aid. and he thrust his big body for
| ward. His nose was full of mud, his
eyes were dulled. his exhausted
muscles moved slowly with painful
effort. But he pushed on doggedly.
His fumbling feet at last touched
solid ground, shocked him back to
some awareness. He stopped. painting
his head dropping, trying to clear his
senses.
And as he stood there, a human
voice smote his ears. "BWan0!" it cried
The Okapi jerked up his head. Be.
fore him. in the foliage at the top o.
little rise, he could just glimpse two
little men crouching, their spear'
| poised. Rage flooded him, poured new
unexpected strength into his bones