The Project Gutenberg EBook of The Hunters, by William Morrison

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Title: The Hunters

Author: William Morrison

Illustrator: Van Dongen

Release Date: September 6, 2007 [EBook #22524]

Language: English

Character set encoding: ASCII

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THE
HUNTERS

BY WILLIAM MORRISON

ILLUSTRATED BY VAN DONGEN

To all who didn't know him, Curt George was a
mighty hunter and actor. But this time he was
up against others who could really act, and
whose business was the hunting of whole worlds.

There were thirty or more of the little girls, their ages ranging
apparently from nine to eleven, all of them chirping away like a flock
of chicks as they followed the old mother hen past the line of cages.
"Now, now, girls," called Miss Burton cheerily. "Don't scatter. I can't
keep my eye on you if you get too far away from me. You, Hilda, give me
that water pistol. No, don't fill it up first at that fountain. And
Frances, stop bouncing your ball. You'll lose it through the bars, and a
polar bear may get it and not want to give it back."

Frances giggled. "Oh, Miss Burton, do you think the polar bear would
want to play catch?"

The two men who were looking on wore pleased smiles. "Charming," said
Manto. "But somewhat unpredictable, despite all our experiences, _muy
amigo_."

[Illustration]

"No attempts at Spanish, Manto, not here. It calls attention to us. And
you are not sure of the grammar anyway. You may find yourself saying
things you do not intend."

"Sorry, Palit. It wasn't an attempt to show my skill, I assure you. It's
that by now I have a tendency to confuse one language with another."

"I know. You were never a linguist. But about these interesting
creatures--"

"I suggest that they could stand investigation. It would be good to know
how they think."

"Whatever you say, Manto. If you wish, we shall join the little la