Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1916-05-29
CHAPTER yv--ront,rued
BY EDGAR RICE BURROUGHS
Author Of the Tarzan Talks


TIE wheeled, to face an utter stranger
IL tall. blaek-haired, srsy-eyed stranger
clad in khaki and pith helmet. Malblhr
reached for his gun again. but another hand
had been quicker than his, and he saw the
weapon tossed to the ground at the side OF
the tent--out of reach.
what is the meaning of thIs?" The
stranger addressed his question to Meren,
IN tongue she did not understand. She
shook her head and spoke in Arabic. In
stantly the man changed his question to
that language.
These men are taking me away from
Rorak," painted the girl. This one would
have harmed me. The other, whom he has
iust killed, tried to stop him. They were
both very bad men; but this one is the
worse. II my Korak were here he would
kill him suppose you are like them. SO
YOU will not kill him."
The stranger smiled HE deserves kill
ing" he said. There Is no doubt OF that.
Once should have killed him but not now
will see, though, that he does not bother
you any more
He was holding Malblhn in a grasp the
siantj Swede could not break, though he
Htruggled to do so and he was holding him
as easily as Malbihn might have held a lit
tie child, yet Malbihn was a huge man.
nightly thewed. The Swede began to rage
and curse. He struck at his captor, only
to be twisted about and held at arms
length, Then he shouted to his boys to
come and kill the stranger
In response a dozen strange blacks en-
tered the tent. They, too. were powerful,
clean-limbed men, not at all like the NANCY
crew that followed the Swedes.
I'VE have had enough foolishness" said
the stranger. to Malbihn. You deserve
death, but / am not the law l know now
who you are. i have heard of you before
You and your friend bear a most unsavory
country. / shall let you go this time but
should you ever return l shall take the
law into my own hands You understand" ?"
Malbhn clustered and threatened, fin
ishing by applying a most uncomplimentary
name to his, captor. For this he received
a shaking that ratified his teeth Those
who know say that the most painful pun
ishment that can be inflicted upon an adult
male. short of injurng him, is a good old
fashioned shaking. Malbihn received such
shaking.
Now get out" said the stranger. 'and
next time you see me remember who am"
and he spoke name in the Swede's ear
name that more effectuaIly subdued the
scoundrel than many beatings. Then he
gave him a push that carried him bodily
through the tent doorway, to sprawl upon
the turf beyond.
Now" he said, stunning toward Merlem,
'who has the key to this thing about your
neck?'
The girl pointed to Jenssen's body. HE
carried 1t always" she said.
The stranger searched the clothing on
the corpse until he came upon the key. A
moment more Merem was free.
'.Will you let me go back to my Korak?"
she asked.
II will see that you are returned to your
people," the stranger replied. who are
they, and where is their village?"
IL had har ha rhar rtr
garmenture wonderingly. From her speech
she was evidently an Arab girl; but he
had never before seen one thus clothed.
who are your people? Who is Korak?"
he asked again.
"Korak Why, Korak is an ape. l have |
no other people. Korak and l live in the |
Jungle alone since A'ht went to be king |
Of the apes" She had always thus pro- |
Akut's name, for so 1t had sounded |
10 her when first she came with Korak and |
the ape. "Korak could have been king, |
but he would not"