The Black Phantom

the Sto

the creatures that lived in the treetops, in the air, on the floor of the forest and under the rubbish that litter

on extinction. They roamed the vast hinterland in bands, subsisting on the bounty of the land when food was

No sooner had the heavens ceased to drench the long-enduring earth with its tears

ezes, and of feasting beside the great rivers that were

r at least held in abeyance. Each tribe was too busily engaged in the enjoyment of life to sp

f roofs so that the earthen floors were converted into basins of mud; when game retreated to unknown or inaccessible places so that the procuring of food became an increasingly difficult

ise. The snap of a twig; the dropping of a fruit from some tall tree; each sudden sound was interpreted as the twang of

strife, the grim storm god ruled supreme, heartlessly sending new d

d served as their annual camping-ground. They revelled in the luxury of a care-free existence. Fish teemed in the water; turtles came in hordes to visit the sandbank; and birds in cou

times on the horizon came the first sign,

by some of its neighbors. Also, led by an aged man who relied more on charms

general favorite, praised by the men for his deeds of courag

n one occasion that he was to be their next leader. But, if he knew of it, he gave not the slightest evidence of the fact. He went about his affairs as stolidly as eve

come to a close. But the sun was shining still, the wi

built fires over which to roast the turtle meat for t

suddenly from

omes Oo

ah," another said. "See, he b

on the edge of the sandbank. Each wanted to be the first to reach h

y all came to a stop in front of the mighty hunter. "A g

he youth replied with a smile. "Now look

close observation of all things is part

short tail,

as a long tail

ed and twisted," added a third. "And t

and I will tell you why

legs and the group of eager urchins dr

trumpeter, which was like a turkey without a tail, for such it was, "was forever cackling and scolding and the chapla" pointing to the curassow, which resembled a turkey with a long tail, "resented this and answered in loud squawks. Then they began to fight. The chapla pushed the gura into the fire over which she was cooking and burned off her tail. In rage, the gura pushed her husband into the fire,

the cluster of eager listen

to tell about?" Oom

about the

a moment, as if lost in

ay and rush through the forest are always talking, always

a hurry," came the prompt r

away with you to the great sea where the land ends. We are small and cannot travel the distance alone; the hun

an awestruck tone, "are there still greate

" Oomah said wistfully. "It is so large that there is no other side. The fish in it are

e things Oomah," the

the reply,

see them? Who t

t the largest canoes and travelled to the river's end. They sa

make a great canoe. Then you will take us to see

me in countless numbers and settled along the borders of the Father of Waters.

e," the oldest of the youths replied. "

etfully. "The white men are numerous as the stars in the heavens. They fight with sticks that roar like thunder and throw

hey must be," one of the

he river to the border of the region where the white men live. We will travel at night and

say?" one of the mo

replied. "He says too many things and alw

hat Choflo is leader of the tribe. S

culated to uphold their respect for the one who was their leader an

ar more?" the

se in a chorus of eager voi

s in the forest-a huge black being, so powerful and so ferocious that every living thing shrinks from it in terror. Our sharpest arrows, shot from the most powerful bows

together. They were to

ought to punish us for our evil deeds. It takes the form of the tiger but of

t this time. A shadow flas

s feet. He pointed to a black bird, a vu

Siluk is coming; he i

he sand. Some of the bird's primary feathers we

fall in the mountains. Run, all of you, to the high banks and remain

And Oomah started on a run toward the clu

efore he reached their midst, and it requ

h a malicious gleam in his eyes.

saw it. Gather up what you

hands. "The flood will not

had uttered a dozen words there came a distant roar, dull

andoning everything, they rushed in a body toward the distant bank that me

wn the riverbed, engulfing everything in its path. Their weapons were lost; the turtles in the corrals were sw

they were grateful even though it meant days of suffering in the