The Black Phantom

hite

ther or not he had been selected for the perilous task of slaying the mysterious visitor. The men stole out of their shelters just as the rays of the bri

d at the slightest touch. And he stood reverently gazing at the sacred object until Ch

from a terrible end," the sorcerer said gravely, "and

ch a holy undertaking?" Oomah asked incre

urself worthy or pay the penalty. Either you will slay the Black Phant

d it not been decided that Oomah was next to be leader of the tribe? As the coming headman, should not his life be guarded? Should not he be shiel

e. Wana, son of my sister, is a promising youth. And bes

t reason?" Y

ness? 'He who slays a tiger, possessed of an evil spirit though it be, shall l

it is

brother, wife nor child. Therefore the spirit of vengeance will be cheated for there is no o

nd wisely." Then turning, he muttered to himself, "But he is determined to be

lain; heed well my words, Oomah, and use no other. You will depart at nightfall. A lo

e of the whole tribe depended on him; and more than that. If he failed, the whole earth, as he knew it, would be laid waste; Tumwah would never stop his fiery onslaught until the Black Phantom had been slain. Had not Choflo, who knew all things, said so? Still, he could not but feel that the sorcerer h

cle under his brown skin. His black eyes, set at a slight angle somewhat like an Oriental's,

bout to depart enhanced the esteem in which he had been held. And while their eyes were filled with admiration, their hearts were fu

r fresh cassava bread. And the children, with tear-stained faces, gathered wood that had been stranded along the edge of t

slender stems in his hand. Looking neither to right nor to left, he entered his hut and drew a c

short thorn, fastened to the point with fine twine, formed a barb so that the arrow could not be withdrawn once it had entered the flesh. On each side of the base was a split eagle's feather attached with colored thread. The feathers were not fastened in a line parallel with the shaft, but curved slightly; this gave the arrow a rotary motion in flight like that imparted to the bullet by a rifl

contained in the stems of the creepers he had brought from the forest he had used the h

, after the feast had been eaten and all the mem

's dire predictions for themselves in the event that Oomah was unsuccessful in his quest. In their hearts they rebelled at the dictum

you have slain the Black Phantom. Bring back the ears, the claws and the tail so t

and a small bag of food, and without a word vanished into the night. The last thing t

oot, he went straight to a giant ceiba tree and took up his station between two of the buttressed roots to await the c

red by Choflo. Certain words whispered into his ear by old Yaro had had the effect of

holding the rodent in one hand he pricked the tender skin with the point of the arrow. The rat struggled and s

laced a forest partridge which he had shot on the way, to roast. While the meat sputtered on the spit he collected the slender stems of the same sp

tainer was placed over the fire; when it had boiled half an hour its contents had been reduced to a thick, black liquid which was ready for use. The point of th

be found. Either the Black Phantom had departed to some distant place or had vanished from the earth. At night he squatted wi

turned to the water; their eggs, buried in the hot sand, were now unfit to eat. However, there was still an occasional partridg

o start in his slumber, and to stop suddenly in his tracks to listen for sounds that never came. At first he could not understand the new feeling. And then the truth came

shadows apparently without concern for the greater part of an hour. Then he turned and retraced his steps. On the sandbar he found the confirming evidence. Huge feet had left their imprints besides those of his own. Some monstrou

ss. He had at last found his quarry and would lay a neat trap that th

l of trees he made a wide semi-circle in the sand and returned to the heavy growth. But now he did not continue his journey; instead, he hurried back, keeping just inside the fringe of trees until he rea

his right hand while in his left he held the bow, ready for instant use, and awaited the app

rous roar burst upon the still air from nearby. The hunter turned quickly in the direction from which the sound came and his eyes sought to penetrate the undergr

ing him. Would he charge next in an overwhelming rush too swift to be stopped by the arrow's venomous thrust? Or wait until the darkest hour of night for a silent stalk and lightning spring! The latter seemed more pro

ty of the elusive one. When the rumbling voice was hushed for any length of time Oomah knew that the Black Phantom was on the hunt for food, or was out to slay, and redoubled his vigilance. Like his brethren of the more earthy, spotted color, the black monster never roared while in quest of victim

ive whispers, that the combat between the Phantom and the God of Drought was a fabrication of Choflo's mind, simply another explanation of something the sorcerer did not understand added to the several he had already given. Still, he did not know whose words were to be heeded; and add

nable and the fatigue of the long tramps so undermined his strength that he fell an e

the sandy riverbank. On those rare occasions when he saw game his arms trembled so v

hings he was right. Oomah was destined to be robbed of his prize and the sorcerer had beheld the youth for the last time. But despite these facts, the designing purveyor of

hings, and there came a day when Oomah could go no further. He had already wandered far from the country so well known to him. Around him grew castanha trees with nuts in shells like cannon-balls that hung high over his head; palms with leaves so enormous that one could sh

to rise toward his flushed face and then smote h

s of fire. Dry wood was not hard to find in the crackling forest and a few deft twirls of the fire-sticks produced the spark needed to set a handful of dry leaves

canopy of foliage overhead. Even the goatsuckers, queer birds that looked like giant whi

g nothing, he nevertheless felt that hidden eyes were boring him through. Minutes dragged by; the suspense was frightful but his knowledge of the wilderness bade him feign sleep and he moved not a muscle. Then, with a suddenness that was appalling, the insane cackle of a woodrail shat

ft flew to its position in the string. There was the twang of the bow and the deadly missile whined through the air. A hoarse scr

He shuddered, swayed, and clapping his hands over his ey

ours high in the heavens and claimed him for her own by right of discovery. In other words, to the

e bow and the deadly miss

and also the laurels to which the victor was always entitled. In haste she knelt by his side and placed one hand over his heart; it was fluttering weakly

a start and his eyes met the

ot dead!" sh

er is not dead-

it is less than half a rest away. I will feed

at his discoverer,

"You are of the Patocos who

aten many of the Cantanas. When you are

red it if the girl should make good her

th threw him over her back. Accustomed as she was to carrying heavy burdens, the weight was not too great for her strength. A hal

e men rushed up with spears and clubs ready to deliver the deathbl

take him from me. I will feed him and give him chinca b

risoner might die and then we sh

not though

ows no signs of improvement by tomo

pened h

I may die like a hunter who has not given up the chase. With the white feathe

rrounded him hush

asked one of the older men w

me. It must be there for I ha

repared food which Oomah ate with ravenous appetite. Presently the runner retu

ikely to be respected, provided the bearer of it could prove his right to its possession. They stared in silence at the feverish youth as,

or my head was throbbing with fever; I do not know! I do not know!" he ended wearily and sadly. "Therefore I am an outcast among my people;

tocos turned to some

speaks the truth? If there was a phantom the magic arrow could not fail to strike it dead. And when you find it bring back the evidence of your

yearning eyes. A whole week passed before the hunting party returned. But their

shed for the injury she had inflicted on him. But the others; they had hurled flaming brand

he group on the sandbar, and he straightway began to follow and to watch his actions, being careful, however, always to remain in the dense cover where he cou

y the lone wanderer. After that he was more cautious than before. He followed the scent only when it was several hours old. But at night, when his pursuer was asleep, he stole up

fire died down. The opportunity had arri

s slumber, he heard a sharp twang and a fiery pain darted through his shoulder taking him so completely by surprise that he turned and fled with a scream of terror. Truly, this new e

ntense agony of his hurt, and the first signs of a coming numbness, he could not hope to give battle or even to escape further injury. No! At least not until he had had time to recover from the surprise and the confusion of the on

hannel between the sandy banks. In the center of the roaring flood was a rock, his rock, where many an hour ha

reased determination; and each effort carried him a few yards nearer the goal. Just as it seemed the coveted spot had been attained, the breakers so

emor passed over him, but they were not from the chill of the night nor from the drenching of the water. The pain had gone and a drowsiness had taken its place. Here, where he had rested before, he

, he welcomed its coming to relieve the heavy numbness that was penetrating to his very bones. It came, swiftly; the deadly poison prepared by Oomah was completing its

nt by the Cantanas to look for Oomah. The twigs snapped from the undergrowth by the hunter as he walked

rce enemies of the Cantanas. There would be a

of white feathers; but the emblem would be of no av

ibesman," he said, "her

and formed a circ

newcomer greeted the emaciated you

add to my suffering? I know that I

inished. Your reward will be great. Choflo's pl

blankly at

ot even know that the Black Phantom is dead. A

not be doubted has it been shown that the spectre that brought desolation to

w was sent on its flight into the darkn

d firebrands in the hands of those who would have rescued him. The monster had battled with men before, and knew their ways, for one ear was lacking, lost in a previous encounter.

but it was Suma who h

these tidings tr

oss the heavens and rain fell throughout the night. Tumwah had been appeased. We are s

od about in a s

?" one asked. "Our yuca fields are parched and the animals of

hey do not believe that the Black Phantom has been slain. Why, see," he exclaimed suddenly, pointing to the East "even now the sky is ove

ng of the hunters and before long the excited youth

Did you find evidence that the first captive spoke the truth? His companion too says strange things. Either the one is a gr

had just returned st

and the sandbars, but found nothing,"

hildren peeping out of the palm-leaf hovels stop

nd the rain

n ordered. "I suspected treac

aw the form of a vulture in the sky. We watched the evil bird and soon discovered other black specks circling above the gorge. It was there we found the proof, on a rock in the midst of the raging water; a black tiger of such great size that it could be none o

n made fresh cassava bread. And long into the night the sound of the celebration rang through the black fore

llowed by a drenching rain drove the rev

the fever. And send one of your hunters also to select a wife from among the Cantanas. It is my wish that there be blood relationship b

granting Oomah's request, and Tupi was selected to go back to the e

The three men, carrying only their bows and arrows, filed into the fore