Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1916-05-24

piummetlIke in mad descent toward the per.
petrator OF this hldeous crime.
The bull ape turned at the first note OF
this new and menacing voice. and as he
turned n new flame was added TO the rage
and hatred Of the Killer, for he saw that
the creature before him was none other
than the king ape which had driven him
away from the great anthropoids TO whom
he had looked for friendship and asylum
Dropping the body Of the girl to the
ground, the bull turned to battle anew TOT
possession of his expensive price but this
time he looked for an easy conquest. lie,
too, recognized Korak. Had he not chased
him away from the amphitheatre without
even having to lay a fang or paw upon
him2 With lowered head and bulging
shoulders he rushed headlong for the
smooth.slsinned creature who was daring TO
question his right to his prey.
They met head-on like two charging
bulls, TO go down together, tearing and
striking Korak forgot his knife. Rage
and bloodlust such as his could be salts
fed only by the feel of hot flesh between
rendlnE fangs, by the gush OF new life
blood against his bare skin, for though he
did not realize it. Korak the Killer, was
fighting for something more compelling
than hate or revenge--he was great male
fighting another male for a she OF his own
kind
So inpetuous was the attack of the man.
ape that he found his hold before the an.
thropoid could prevent him--a savage hold,
with strong jaws closed upon pul5ing
jugular, and there he olung. with closed
eyes. while his fingers sought another hold
upon the shaggy throat
II was then that Meriem opened her
eyes. At the sight before her they went
wide.
"Korakr she cried. "Korak My Korak
knew that you would come! XIII him,
Korakl Kill him. And with flashing eyes
and heavng bosom the girl, coming to her
feet, ran to Korak's side to encourage him.
Nearby lay the Killers spear. where he
had flung 1t as he charged the ape. The
girl saw II and snatched It up No faint.
ness overcame her In the face OF this battle
primeval at her feet. For her there was
no hysterical reaction from the nerve strain
Of her own personal encounter with the
bull She was excited, but cool and en-.
tirely unafraid.
Her Korak was battling with another
Mangani that would have stolen her: but she
did not seek the safety of an overhanging
bough. there to watch the battle from afar,
as she Mangani would have done. In.
stead, she placed the point of Koraks spear
against the buliape's side and plunged 1t
deep into the savage heart.
Korak had not needed her aid, for the
great bull had been already as good as
dead, with the blood gushing from his torn
jugular: but Korak rose, smiling, with a
word of appreciation for his helper
How tall and fine she wasl Had she
changed suddenly within the few hours of
his absence, or had his battle with the ape
affected his vision? He might have been
looking at Meriem through new eyes, for
the many startling and wonderful surprises
his gaze revealed.
How long it had been since he had found
her in her fathers village, a little Arab
girl, he had no means Of knowing; for time
is of no import in the Jungle, and so he
had kept no track of the passing days
But he realized, as he looked upon her
now, that she was no longer such littlf
girl as he had first seen pIayins with
Geeka beneath the great tree just within
the palsade.
The change must have been very grad.
ual to have eludAd his notice until now.
And what was it that had caused him to
realize 1t so suddenly?
His gaze wandered from the girl to the