Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1916-05-26
Tie SONOF TARZAN

silently from the tree that had b,ddor b,,,,
ana dropped lightly to the sround WITHIN
the inclosure. s'Ui'u "'''''h
keeping we'll in the shadows Of the huts
ne commenced systematic search Of the
nlllage-ears. eyes and nose constantly on
@ Wy aIert tor the first lntimation Of the
near presence OF Meriem His proorses
must Of necessity be slow. since not even
cue keen-eared ours OF the savaaes must
the gates. "i''''"
HOW close he came to detection on sew
eral occasions the Killer we'll knew from, the
restless whining Of several Of them.
~ was not until he reached the back Of
a nut at the head OF the wide village street
that Korak caught again, plainly the
scent OF Meriem. with nose close to the
matched wall, Korak shifted eagerly about
the structure-tense and palpitant as n
hunting hound.
Toward the front and the door he made
his way when once his nose had assured
MIN that Meriem lay within; but as he
rounded the side and came within view of
the entrance, he saw a burly negro, armed
with a long spear, squattng at the portal
Of the girls prison
The fellows back was toward hin, his
figure outlined against the glow of cooking
fres further down the street He was
alone, the nearest of his fellows being he.
sue IRE bO or 40 feet beyond.
To enter the hut. Korak must either ST.
lence the sentry or pass him unnoticed.
The danger in the accomplishment of the
former alternative lay in the practical Ger.
tainty of alarming the warriors nearby. and
bringing them and the remainder of the
village down upon them. To achieve the
latter appeared impossible.
To you or me 1t would have been i'm.
possible; but Korak the Killer, was not as
you or
There was a good twelve inches Of space
betweer the broad back of the black and
the frame of the doorway Could Korali
pass II rough behind the savage warrior
without detection? The light that fell upon
the glistening ebony of the sentry's black
skin fell, also. upon the light brown Of
Koraks. Should one of the many farther
down the street chance to look long In this
direction, he must surely note the tall,
lightcolored. moving figure; but Korak dc.
pended upon their interest in their own
gossip to hold their attention fast where
1t already lay, and upon the freight near
him to prevent them seeing too plainly
at a distance into the darkness at the vii.
lage end where his work lay
F'lattened against the side of the hut
yet not arousing a single warning rustle
from its dried thatching. the Killer came
closer and closer to the watcher. Now he
was at his shoulder Now he had wormed
his sinuous way behind him He could feel
the heat OF the naked body against his
knees. lie could hear the man breathe.
He marveled that the dull.witted creature
had not long since been alarmed but the
fellow sat there as ignorant of the pres
ence of another as though that other had
not existed.
Korak moved scarcely more than an inch
at a time. when he would stand motionless
for a moment. Thus was he worming his
way behind the guard when the latter
Strengthened up, opened his cavernous
mouth In a wide yawn, and stretched his
arms above his head. Korak stood rigid a.
stone. Another step and ne would be with
in the hut.
The black lowered his arms and relaxed
Behind him was the framework of the
doorway. Often before had 1t supported
his sleepy head. and now he leaned back to
enjoy the forbidden pleasure of a catnar
But. instead of the door-frame, his head
and shoulders came in contact with tho
warm flesh of a rair of living legs. The
exclamation of surprise that almost burst
from his lips was throttled In his throat
by steel.thewed fingers that closed about