42
We queued for the bathroom, morning and evening and I aimed to be first in the evening, as I was in the morning. At least we had a chance for a cold sponge in privacy. In the evening there was rice to be mashed for the morning's "toast."
10:00 p.m. Roll call by the Chinese superintendent.
Van Dyke slept on the verandah until the night of the tiger.
I had to nurse the baby during the night. He had been spoiled because I had been afraid to let him cry when the Japanese sentries had been outside. I did not then want to invite investigation. Now in a crowded bungalow I could not have him disturb others by crying it out. So I fed him once in the night. I was also afraid he couldn't be getting enough without the extra feed. No doctor suggested I should wean him because none could be sure of his food. After I went to the doctors, they gave me a little Wesson oil, dried fruit and oatmeal on condition that I should take it myself and not give any to the other children, in order to be able to continue nursing the baby. There was a cat that must have belonged formerly to the bungalow. It came prowling about at night, but always scurried when I came out for the baby. One night there was bright moonlight. It was 1:15 a.m. when the baby awakened and it was such a beautiful night that I sat on the verandah to enjoy the night. I was suddenly aware of the cat behind a pillar. Instead of fleeing, it crouched motionless. The next thing I knew, a tiger loped across the lawn and disappeared as silently as it had come-10 yards from me. I froze to my seat and my hair stood on end.
Marguerite said I must have given the baby a milk shake!
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