E-text prepared by Roger Frank and the Project Gutenberg Online Distributed Proofreading Team (https://www.pgdp.net) Note: Project Gutenberg also has an HTML version of this file which includes the original illustrations. See 24522-h.htm or 24522-h.zip: (https://www.gutenberg.org/dirs/2/4/5/2/24522/24522-h/24522-h.htm) or (https://www.gutenberg.org/dirs/2/4/5/2/24522/24522-h.zip) THE BLACK PHANTOM * * * * * BY LEO E. MILLER The Black Phantom The Hidden People In the Tiger's Lair CHARLES SCRIBNER'S SONS * * * * * THE BLACK PHANTOM by LEO E. MILLER Illustrated [Illustration: Here, where he had rested before, he would sleep again Page 217] Charles Scribner's Sons New York 1922 Copyright, 1922, By Charles Scribner's Sons Copyright, 1922, By The Open Road Printed in the United States of America TO MY SON SPENCER KELSEY MILLER INTRODUCTION The dried or mounted skins of animals from out-of-the-way places are familiar to every one who has visited museums and other similar institutions. But, no matter how cleverly arranged, they suggest comparatively little of the creatures' real appearance in their native environment. The comedies, the tragedies, and the life stories of the untrammelled wild creatures are infinitely more fascinating than a survey of their lifeless and often faded forms, only too frequently collected by the hundreds with little other thought than that of classification or the possession first of rare or undescribed species. It was with the view of bringing to light the home life of some of the jungle's inhabitants that "The Black Phantom" was written. Leo E. Miller. Floral Park, Stratford, Conn. August 1, 1922. CONTENTS PAGE When the Deluge Came 1 Oomah, the Story-teller 30 The Terror of Claws and Fangs 44 As It Was in the Beginning 82 The Struggle for Existence 114 The Cruelty of Tumwah 150 The White Feather 189 ILLUSTRATIONS Here where he had rested before, he would sleep again Frontispiece FACING PAGE Suma waited with bated breath and blazing eyes 96 There was the twang of the bow and the deadly missile whined through the air 208 "Tumwah, send the rain-clouds here" 222 THE BLACK PHANTOM CHAPTER I WHEN THE DELUGE CAME