214 I N A G U A 



contained two round seeds about the size of cherry pits. Num- 

 bers of the fruit had been chewed, and on some was the imprint 

 of tiny sharp teeth. The bats had been feeding on the tamarind. 



It was not this fact that intrigued me, for I knew that many 

 tropical bats fed upon fruit, but the size of the creatures. In 

 the starhght they seemed huge; besides I knew they might be 

 a new species, or at least a form pecuHar to the island. Inquiry 

 amono- the Inaguans brought the information that back in the 

 interior were a number of caves where the bats went in the 

 daytime between their nocturnal excursions for insects and 

 tamarinds. Here they were supposed to hang from the walls 

 in the countless thousands. Knowing the native tendency for 

 exaggeration I discounted the tales by about fifty per cent but 

 thought the place would be worth exploring. 



In order that I might reach the caves in some degree of com- 

 fort I traded a few odd articles of ship salvage for a donkey to 

 carry my water and food, which is to say I traded my good 

 possessions for one of the most cantankerous, puzzling, obsti- 

 nate bull-headed beasts in all creation. I should have known 

 better, for I saw the smirk in the eyes of the Inaguan who traded 

 with me, and I should have seen the leer in the eye of the 

 donkey. But I did not. In fact so elated was I at my acquisition 

 that I felt almost like Shylock for driving a hard bargain, and 

 when the animal patiently trotted after me up to the hut and 

 permitted itself to be loaded with a vast bag of tinned meats 

 and water I was certain I had a jewel. Even the faint brown 

 stripe that reached from shoulder to belly escaped my attention 

 and, in my ignorance, I did not realize that this was the mark 

 of a wild ass only recently tamed from the interior. 



The Inaguan who was the animal's owner neglected to tell 

 the creature's name, so I christened it Griselda, the patient one. 

 Patient indeed was this donkey. I finished the pack, strapped 

 it tight, made sure I had a jar of formol to preserve any unusual 



