THE GILA MONSTER 
87 
“Why, no. I mean, yes, I did. Ive found some" 
thing. Looks like an alligator with an Indian rug on 
his back !' 1 
“What are you talking about ? 11 Mother demanded. 
Buck and Ginger bounced out of the car and ran to 
Father's side. 
“Hold on, now," Father warned. 'This may be a 
kiwolopus. Better go easy until we know. See him 
there in the sand?" 
“O-o-o-o-oh!" breathed Ginger, staring. 
“What's a kiwolopus, Daddy?" Buck asked. 
“Any kind of animal whose name you don't know. 
It's just a make-believe word." 
“Then you don't know what that is?" Ginger was 
anxious. 
“No," said Father, “I do not. Fortunately, we have 
Ely with us. He is the animal man on this trip. Oh, 
E-ly!" 
Uncle Ely had heard the talking, and now he came 
to look at the beast. He stared at it a moment, threw 
a pebble at it, and grunted a little to himself. 
“Um, hum, 1 ’' he mumbled. “Some kind of baby 
alligator, or something. But I never heard of one 
with colors like that." 
Buck was excited. 
