The Black Phantom

ggle for

strange world it was, stretching on mile after mil

ss. Far from it. He was but one of the hordes of creatures struggling for existence and the sooner he learned that caution and stealth led to succ

or even between members of different species. It was a fight to overcome obstacles; a battle against circumstances. There was food enough for all with sufficient to spare to supply the w

o him, especially when the voice in his stomach insistently demanded food that he was all but incapable of procuring. As a last resort, at such times, there were always the grasshoppers to fall back on even if he had lost his earlier liking for these insects.

d on. The cub was reduced to sore straits. The "crumbs" remaining from the feasts of foxes and wolves, heretofore passed

as large as Suma, his mother. The strange creature had a long, slender nose and a flat, bushy tail while its feet were armed with dagger-like claws six inches long. As it lumbered heavily over the

not necessary for him to attempt a surprise attack for the big, black bulk was waddling and swaying right towards him. He had only to stand his ground and this he did. The realization that the stranger was indifferent to his presence added rage and a desire for revenge to

pped on all fours, leisurely ambled to the nearest tree and, scraping his back on the low branches soon brushed the cub off when he started unconcernedly away. No sooner did Warruk regain his feet than he again sprang at his quarry, only to be again dislodged as before. A third time the performance was repeated but now the ant-eater lost his temper. When his tormentor struck the ground he charged him savagely, striking with wicked design and galloping back and forth after his nimble assailant until at last the cub was forced to take refuge in the

hope of finding some remnant of the other's meal. But, if he thrust his head into the opening hurriedly he withdrew it in still greater haste. He had indeed found remnants of the feast, just as he had hoped. A carpet of ants covered his nose and face, clinging with a vise-like grip, their poisonous mandibles buried deep

ee was a mass of sticks several feet across, and numbers of small, green parrots were clambering nervously over its rough exterior while others flutter

ng a shower of sticks and rubbish rattling to the ground. Inside the structure were little hollows, each containing three or four round, white

parrots which were climbing and fluttering around the destroyer of their abode with frantic shrieks. He dashed up the trunk wildly bent on securing both food and revenge at the same time. Suddenly he stopped. A fiery sting pierced his back; another bored into his side; a thir

ad at last learned that, at least for the present, he was no match for the ant-eater. He possessed cunning, stealth, agility and intelligence. The other creature could boast of none of these things; but in their stead

them; he should do likewise. Then, eventually, the day would come when he could assume his proper role, schooled by bitter experience to hold the all important position of master. But, that time was still some distance off. Until then he must tread with discretion; must use that stealth and caution that was his by heritage. Of what value were the instincts accumulated by his k

t as surely as had Suma, his mother, one short year before while sunning herself on the rock in the river. The urge cam

ar to return to the forested region skirting the foothills. This was fortunate, for

s; and, during the brief intervals between the deluges the thunder of the flooded r

ull in the tempest, as if the elements had hushed their ragings so that the cowerin

on, and then-far on the horizon the cloud curtains were thrust aside for one brief moment. The sun, like a splash of blood, hovered waveringly over the rim of the black abyss and with a sudden plunge passed into oblivion. But, that short glimpse was enough. Siluk, t

e low country and by dint of hard travel managed to keep ahead of th

d of Suma and of plenty. And as the early mental pictures crowded into his brain he whined joyously and turned unerringly in the direction of the windfall. It wa

sed and the lower layers of the debris succumbed to the influences of decomposition, the mass settled, making the barrier more impassable than ever. The

e stopped; almost directly overhead was the monkey-bridge where Myla, the monkey mother had crossed from and back to the hill country and at the far

ay; the monkey was to blame for that. But before long his nose caught the scent of Suma and following it

l he detected motion; then it dissolved itself into sections that moved independently of one another. Finally he could make out individual specks that whirled and danced with f

wind. It was Suma, the Jaguar, but she acknowledged no relationship between herself and Warruk, her cub of last year. In him sh

ction whence he had come but straight over the top of the windfall. Ignorant of the pitfalls concealed by the mantel of creepers he hurried on h

the wood was decayed; it was so soft and spongy it would not support his weight. As fast as his claws dug into the sides of the stub flakes broke off so that he could not draw his body off the ground. He tried again and again; but a

ilently regarding him from a crevice between two great roots. The eyes were sinister eyes, set too closely together to belong to an animal of any size unless--. With a shudder of terror the cu

all of rotten wood as far as possible. The snake stopped and from its mouth came a hiss that sounded like a jet of escaping steam and lasted fully half a minute. Still the eyes came no nearer but motion was discernible in the darkened corner from which the reptile

of the great serpent before it could turn to follow his movements. The strategy had been successful. Writhe and shake itself as it would, the reptile could not dislodge the jaguar; nor was it possible to entwine him with the coil

y end for him; his claws dug deeper through the tough hide and his jaws drew together with the slow, irresistible force of a vise. At last it came, a dull, fa

f the prison. The cub was crouched as far away as possible from the mound of shimmering flesh and not for an instan

ll of his confining cell. The dead serpent did not trouble him n

hat the cub should stop to sniff enquiringly at a thin stream of fresh air that gushed from somewhere near the floor and rushed up the chimney-like stub. T

ng the storm that razed the windfall through the jungle and piled up the wreckage to form the ridge, was located at last. I

to permit the passage of his bulky head and body. His sharp claws caught in the edges of the break; the decayed wood crumbled away. Encouraged, he began to claw at t

hen he attempted to draw the remainder of his body through, the hole seemed too narrow, holding him fast. After one or two tugs forward he tried to back out but going in that direction too w

ad been rummaging among the tangle of decaying wood, feasting on the superabundant grubs and larv?. But no sooner did they notice the prisoner than all thought of food vanish

churrs or louder agonized wails. The cub was nonplussed and stared at the birds, at first blankly, then angrily

the gloomy interior and, while its brethren were busy outside found an undisputed field for activity in

had come to life again and was attacking him from the rear. With a might

was not until long, long after that their lives again intertwined when Suma unwittingly assumed the role of avenger and thus fulfilled an old belief of the wild men of the forest. So far Warruk kne

d by the great abundance he grew in size and fearlessness even as the vegeta

st the prospect of the pampas flooded with golden sunlight, of reedy marshes where the birds twittered and animals worthy of his prowess moved shado

f the peccary herd. There were several hundreds of the ferocious little beasts scattered ov

ndividuals ate quietly and moved stealthily. There was but an occasional low, moaning grunt given as a sig

ame it had ample time to voice its terror in shrill screams that penetrated through the forest with an appalling clearness. Instantly the place was in an upr

ed in the deluge of cloven hoofs and flashing tusks and torn to shreds. There was only one thing t

and vainly trying to climb in pursuit of its assailant. At the same time the

nt manifestations of the peccary herd; that is, he felt no misgivings so long as daylight lasted for the sun shone brightly and it was warm. But with darkness came a brisk wind that lashed the treetops into a madly wav

b was rapidly growing numb and it was not long before that fact made itself felt. Should his strength fail him he would be

limb; he clambered up the trunk to it but the moment one paw touched the new footing it gave way, struck other branches in its downward course and fell to the ground a good fifty feet from the base of the tree. When it landed with a crash, stunning several of the peccaries and injuring others which

ional loosening of the decayed branch. He slid quickly down the side

ry beginning? When an individual of any species lost its life there were others left to carry on the purpose of the kind and the survivors took no note of the fact that one of their number had vanished. There was no trace of dread or tragedy in the demeanor of any creature. Each unconsciously took his chance in the game of life just as civilized man takes his in multitudinous ways. If a bird narrowly escaped the talons of a hawk, even losing a fluff of feathers in the encounter, it did not r

with the vastness of his world and with the possibilities that arose each day. There were adventures

maller ones dried up completely. Those of larger size shrank to narrow proportions

fish. Ducks and other waterfowl swarmed to them. Jacanas, birds with wide-spreading toes, ran nimbly over the lily pads on the su

ng pools to quench their thirst. Some of them came only at lengthy intervals. Others came not at all, for apparently they could subsi

parrots screamed as usual; blackbirds trilled, frogs croaked and bellowed, and the turtles laid their eggs in the hot sand. In other words, the proces

s elapsed between gorges. But, the feast completed, he was always seized with a bur

y by some inhabitant of the denser growth where the advantage lay with the other creature. In the open country there was no need f

the nearest water-hole, a full two miles away, to drink. And later, to quench his own thirst, he leisurely

f tapirs, peccaries and other animals. Below, the water eddied lazi

w back with a start; the action, sudden and violent, mired his forefeet deeply in the soft mud. Before he could recover his balance the long snout of a crocodile wa

first they encountered nothing but the unresisting water; and then one hindfoot grazed the crocodile's back, but the tough hide turned the sharp claws aside. The fact that there was a footing somewhere within reach changed despair to hope. If he could but obtain a firm hold to brace his body there might be the possibility

t. There was no need for it for his claws had rent int

ombat, first by the struggle that they sensed from a distance and now by the blood that flowed freely from the lacerated throat of the crocodile. They were no other than the piranhas or cannibal fish. In legion they came until

eat saurian soon understood that it was doomed unless it immediately sought refuge on the land where the fis

the merciless tearing and slashing of keen-edged teeth attacking from all sides and in unbroken files. It was over in an incredibly sho

and succeeded in swimming to the land with scarcely enough strength remaining to draw himself up. Luckily the fish did not attack him; they centered all their energy on the crocodile because the

kness fell did he arouse himself sufficiently to rise unsteadily t