Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1916-05-22

sociation with beasts. from whom the imi-
tattve faculty of youth had absorbed
countless number Of the little mannerisms
of the predatory creatures of the wild,
He barred his fangs now as naturally and
upon as slight provocation as Sheeta, the
panther, barred his. He growled as Zero
ciously as Akut himself. When he came
suddenly upon another beast, MS quick
crouch bore n strange resemblance TO the
arching of cats back. Korak, the Killer,
was looking for trouble.
In his heart of hearts he hoped to meet
the king ape who had driven him from the
amphitheatre. To this end he insisted upon
remaining in the vicinity; but the exigen-
cies of the perpetual search for food led
them several miles further away during tho
day
They we're moving slowly down wind and
warily because the advantage was with
whatever beast might chance to be hunting
ahead of them, where their scent-spoor
was being borne by the light breeze. Sud
denly the two halted simultaneously. Two
heads were cooked upon one side. Like
creatures hewn from solid rock, they stood
immovable, listening. Not a muscle quiv-
cred.
For several seconds they remained thus ;
then Korak advanced cautiously few
yards and leaped nimbly into a tree. Akut
followed close upon his heels Neither had
made sound that would have been APP
preciable to human ears at dozen PAGES.
Stopping often to listen, they crept for
ward through the trees That both were
greatly puzzled was apparent from the ques-
tioning looks they cast at one another from
time to time.
Finally the lad caught a glimpse of a
palisade hundred yards ahead, and be-
yond II the tops of some goatskin tents and
a number of matched huts.
His lip upcurled In savage snarl.
Blacks! How he hated them. He signed
to Akut to remain where he was while he
advanced to .gconnoitre.
Wo betide the unfortunate vlllager whom
the Killer came upon now Sinking through
the lower branches of the trees leaplng
lightly from one jungle giant to its neigh
Dor where the distance was not too great,
or swinging from one hand-hold to an
other, Korak came silently toward the vii.
lage.
He heard a voice beyond the palsade,
and toward that he made his way. A
great tree overhung the inclosure at the
very point from which the voice came. Into
this Korak crept.
His spear was ready in his hand His
ears told him of the proximity of a human
being. All that his eyes required was a
single glance to show him his target. Then
lightning.like, the missile would fly to Its
goal
with raised spear he crept among the
branches of the tree, garng downward In
search of the owner of the voice which rose
to him from below.
| At last he saw a human back The spear
| hand flew to the limit of the throwing po-
| sition to gather force that would send the
| iron-shod missile completely through the
| body of the unconscious victim. And then
| the Killer paused. He leaned forward a
| little to get a better view of the target.
Was it to insure more perfect aim, or
| had there been that in the graceful lines
and childish curves of the little body below
| him that had held in check the spirit OF
| murder running riot in his veins?
He lowered his spear cautiously that II
might make no noise by scraplng against
foliage or branches Quietly he crouched
| in a comfortable position along a great
| limb, and there he lay with wide eyes. look
ing down in wonder upon the creature he
had crept upon to kill-looking down upon
| a little girl. little nut-brown maiden
The snar had gone from his lip. His
| only expression was one of interested at
| tention---he was trying to discover what the
| girl was doing.
Suddenly a broad grin overspread hi:
| face. for a turn of the girls body had re
vealed Geeka of the ivory head and the rat
skin torso-Geeka of the splinter limbs ant
the disreputabe appearance The little gir
raised the marred face to hers and, rocking