Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1916-06-15

Then he motioned to his headman to
take his horse and commence the return
journey to the farm Merlem slowly mount
ed the tired Arab that had brought her
rigged FOR the now feverlsh Baynes, and
the little cavalcade was soon slowly wind
ing Off along the river trail
Bwana stood watching them until they
were out of sight Not once had Meriem
turned her eyes backward She rode with
bowed head and dropping shoulders.
Bwana sighed. He loved the little Arab
girl as he might have loved his own daugh-
ter He realized that Baynes had redeemed
himself, and so he could lnterpose no OBJ
jections now II Meriem really loved the
man; but. somehow, some way, Bwana
could not convince himself that the Hon.
Morrison was worthy of his little Merlem.
Slowly he turned toward a nearby tree.
LeapIng upward, he caught lower branch
and drew himself UP among the branches.
His movements were catllke and agile. High
into the tree he made his way, and there
commenced to d,vest himself of his clothing
From the game-bag slung across one shoul-
der he drew a long strip of doeskin, neatly
coiled rope and wicked-looklng knife.
The doeskn he fashion into loin-cloth
the rope he looped over one shoulder and
the knife he thrust into the belt formed by
his gee-string.
When he stood erect. his head thrown
back and his great chest expanded a grim
smile touched his lips for moment. His
nOstrlls diated as he shifted the Jungle
odors His gray eyes narrowed He
crouched and leaped to lower limb, and
was away through the trees toward the
southeast bearing away from the river.
He moved swiftly stopping only occasional
~ to raise his voice in weird and piercing
scream and to listen for q moment after for
n reply.
l., aI.I
when. ahead of him and a little to his left.
he heard far off in the jungle n faint re-
sponse-the cry OF bull ape answering
his cry
His nerves tingled and his eyes lighted
as the sound fell upon his ears. Again he
voiced his hideous call, and sped forward
ir the new direction.
Korak, finally becoming convinced that
he must die II he remained where he was
waiting for the succor that could not come
spoke to Tantor in the strange tongue that
the great beast understood. He commanded
the elephant to lift him and carry him
toward the northeast. There recently Korak
had seen both white men and black II
he could come upon one of the latter IL
would be a simple matter to command Tam
tor to capture the fellow, and then Korak
could get him to release him from the stake.
II was worth trying at least-better than
AS Tantor bore him along through the
forest, Korak called aloud now and then
In the hope of attracting Akuts band Of
anthropoids whose wandering often brought
them into this neighborhood. Akut. he
thought might possibly be able to nego-
tiate the knots-he had done so upon that
other occasion when the Russian had
bound Korak years before. And Akut to
the south of him heard his calls family and
came. There was another who heard them.
too
After Bwana had left his party, sending
1t back toward the farm, Merlem had
ridden for n short distance with bowed
head. What thoughts passed through that
active brain who may say? Presently she
seemed to come to decision. She called
the head man to her side.
81 am going back with Bwana," she an
nounced.
The black shook his head. "Now he an.
nounced. "Bwana says I take you home
So take you home"
you refuse to let me go?" asked the
girl.
The black nodded, and fell to the rear
where he might better watch her. Merem
half smiled.
Presently her horse passed beneath low.