Part 91 (2/2)

”Into the hut while we were away--the bacon was on the shelf.”

”If It could jump up like that, it could jump the fence.”

”Of course; and it shows it was a cat-like creature, because it could take one thing without disturbing another. Dogs knock things down, cats don't.”

”No, panthers are a sort of big cat.”

”That's what gnawed the jack's head.”

”And why there was no mark on the ground--their pads are so soft, and don't cut holes like hoofs.”

”The kangaroos too, you remember: very often they wouldn't come out.

Something was about.”

”Of course. How could we have been so stupid as not to see this before!”

”Why, we never suspected.”

”But we ought to have suspected. You thought you saw something move in the sedges on Sunday.”

”So I did--it was this thing: it must have been.”

”Then it swims off and comes back.”

”Then if we hunt all over the island and don't find It--we're no safer, because it may come off to us any time.”

”Any time.”

”What _shall_ we do?”

”Can't go home,” said Bevis.

”Can't go home,” repeated Mark.

They could not desert their island: it would have been so like running away too, and they had so often talked of Africa and shooting big game.

Then to run away when in its presence would have lowered them in their own estimation.

”Can't,” said Bevis again.

”Can't,” again repeated Mark. They _could_ not go--they must face It, whatever it was.

”We shall have to look before every step,” said Bevis. ”Up in the trees--through the bushes--and the reeds.”

”We must not go in the reeds much: you can't tell there--”

”No, not much. We must watch at night. First one, and then the other.”

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