Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1916-06-03
CHAPTER Xxx
Morrison and Hanson

lltusker poked through the trees that
fringed the clearing. The Honorable
Morrison and Meriem, with eyes and ears
for one another alone, did not see or hear /;
but Numa did
The man upon Tantor's broad head saw
the girl in the mans arms. It was Korak /;
| but in the trim figure of the neatly garbed
girl he did not recognize his Meriem He
only saw Tarmangani with his she.
And then Numa charged,
With frightful roar, fearful lest Tantor
| had come to frighten away his prey, the
| great beast leaped from his hiding place.
| The earth trembled to his mighty voice. The
ponies stood for an instant transfixed with
| terror
The Honorable Morrison Baynes went
| white and cold. The lion was charging
toward them full in the brilliant light
Of the magnificent moon. The muscles of
the Honorable Morrison no longer obeyed his
will-they fexed to the urge Of a greater
power-the power Of natures first law.
They drove his spurred heels deep into his
ponys fanks they bore the rein against
the brutes neck that wheeled him with an
impetuous drive toward the plain and
safety.
The girls pony, squealing in terror.
reared and plunged upon the heels OF his
mate. The lion was close upon him. Only
the girl was cool-the girl and the half
naked savage who bestrode the neck of his
| mighty mount and grinned at the exciting
spectacle chance had staged for his enjoy
ment
To Korak here were but two strange
Tarmangani pursued by Numa, who was
empty 1t was Numa's right to prey but
one was she. Korak felt an intuitive
urge to rush to her protection. Why he
could not guess. All Tarmangani were
enemies now. He had lived too long
beast to feel strongly the humanitarian
N1nk irh
feel them he did, for the girl at least.
He urged Tantor forward He raised his
heavy spear and hurled 1t at the hying
target of the lions body. The girls pony
had reached the trees upon the opposite
side of the clearing. Here he would become
easy prey to the swiftly moving lion; but
Numa, inhuriated, preferred the woman
upon his back
1t was for her he leaped.
Korak gave an exclamation of astonish.
ment and approval as Numa landed upon
the ponys rump, and at the same instant
the girl swung free of her mount to the
branches of a tree above her.
Korats spear struck Numa In the
shoulder knocking him from his precarious
hold upon the frantically plunging horse.
Freed of the weight of both girl and lion,
the pony raced ahead toward safety. Numa
tore and struck at the missile in his
shoulder but could not dislodge it. Then
he resumed the chase.
Korak guided Tantor into the seclusion
of the jungle. He did not wish to be seen,
nor had he been.
Hanson had almost reached the wood
when he heard the lions terrific roars and
knew that the charge had come An instant
later the Hon. Morrison broke upon his
vision. racing like mad for safety. The
man lay fiat upon his pony's back, hugging
the animals neck tightly with both arms
and digging the spurs into his sides.
Then the second pony appeared-rider'
less
Hanson groaned as he guessed what had
happened out of sight in the jungle. With
an oath he spurred on in the hope OF driv-
ing the lion from his prey-his rifle was
ready in his hand. And then the lion came
into view behind the girls pony
Hanson could not understand. He knew
that If Numa had succeeded in seizing the
girl he ould not have continued In pur-
suit of the others.
He drew in his own mount, took quick
aim, and fired The lion stopped in his
tracks turned and bit his side, then rolled
over dead Hanson rode on into the forest, |
calling aloud to the girl.
Here am" came quick response from |
the foliage of the trees Just ahead. Did
you hit him?"
You had a mighty narrow escape. 1t will |
teach you to keep out of the jungle at
night"
Together they returned to the plain, where
they found the Hon. Morrison riding slowly |
back toward them. He explained that his
pony had bolted and that he had had hard
work stopping him at all.
Hanson grinned. for he recalled the |
pounding heels that he had seen driving |
sharp spurs into the TANKS of Baynes'
mount; but he said nothing OF what he T
had seen. He took Meriem up behind him.
and the three rode in silence toward the
bungalow
Behind them Korak emerged from the
Jungle and recovered his spear from
Numa's side. He was still smiling. He
had enjoyed the spectacle exceedingly.
There was one thing that troubled him
the agility with which the she had
clambered from her ponys back into the
safety of the tree above her. That was
more like Mangani-more like his lost
Meriem.
He sighed. His lost Merieml His little.
dead Meriem! He wondered II this stranger
she resembled his Meriem In other ways
great longing to see her overwhelmed him.
He looked after the three figures moving
steadily across the plain. He wondered
where might lie their destination. de-
sire TO follow them came over him, but he
only stood there, watching. until they had
disappeared in the distance. The sight Of
the civilized girl and the dapper, khaki
clad Englishman had aroused In Korak
long dormant
once he had dreamed of returning to the
world OF such as these, but with the death
OF Meriem hope and ambition seemed to
have deserted him. He cared now only to
pass the remainder OF his life In solitude.
With a sigh he turned slowly back into
the jungle.
Tantor, nervous by nature, had been far
from reassured by close proximity 10 the
three strange whites; and with the report
Of Hanson's rifle shad turned and ambled
away at his long, swinging shuffie.
The Rpeman, however, was little con- |
,erned BY the absence of his friend Tantor
had a habit OF wandering on unexpectedly
For a month they might not see one an
other for Korak seldom took the trouble
10 follow the great paehyderm. nor did he
mon this occasion. Instead, he found
comfortable perch in large tree, and was
soon asleep
AT the bungalow Bwana had met the
adventurers on the veranda. In
|. moment of wakefulness he had heard the
renort OF Hanson's rife far out across the
Slain. and wondered what It might mean
presently II had occurred 10 him that
he man whom he considered in the light
ID a guest might have met with an acci
ient on his way back 70 camp, so he had
risen and gone 10 his foremans quarters,
where he had learned that Hanson had been
mere earlier In the evening, but had de-
parted several hours before.
Returning from his foreman's quarters. |
3wana had noticed that the corral gate was