The Brookings register. [volume] (Brookings, Brookings County, S.D.) 1903-1971, 1917-12-27

His ears told him of the proximity of
quired was Il single glance to show
him his target; then, lig%htning-like.
the missile would fly To its goal.
With raised spear he crept among
the branches of the tree, glaring down
ward 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 position To gather the force
that would send the iron shod missile
completely through the body of the UNI
conscious victim. And then the Killer
paused. He leaned forward a little to
get II better view of the target.
lie lowered his spear cautiously that
ii might make no noise by scrnping
against foliage OF branches. Quietly
he crouched in II comfortable position
along II great limb, and there he lay
With wide eyes, looking down in won
der upon the creature he had crept
upon to kill-looking down upon Il lit
tie girl. ii little nut brown maiden.
Korak wondered what the girl would
do were he to drop suddenly from the
tree to her side. Most likely she would
scream and run away. Then would
come the men of the village with
spears and guns and set upon him.
They would either kill him or drive
him away.
A lump rose in the boys throat. He
craved the companionship of his own
kind, though he hardly realized how
greatly. He would have liked to slip
down beside her, though he knew from
the words he had overheard that she
spoke a language with which he was
unfamiliar.
At last he hit upon a plan. He
would attract her attention and
sure her by a smiling greeting from a
greater distance. Silently he wormed
his way back into the tree. 1t was his
Intention to hail her from beyond the
palisade, giving her the feeling of Sc
curity which he imagined the stout
barricade would afford.
He had scarcely left his position In
the tree when his attention was at
tracted by Il considerable noise upon
the opposite side of the village. BY
moving a little he could see the gate
at the far end of the main street.
A number OF men, wOIn"n and chill
dren were running toward it. II swung
open, revealing the head Of n caravan
1von the opposite side. 1t trooped in
dIotIl Observation-Disclosures slaves and
dark huod Arabs of the northern des'
ertS; cuHSing camel drivers urging on
their vicious charges; overburdcned
donkeys, waving sadly pendulous ears
while they endured with stole patience
sheep and horses.
Into the village they all trooped be-
hind a tall, sour old man, who rode,
without greetings to those who shrank
from his path, directly 10 a large goat
skin tent in the enter of the village.
Here he spoke to q wrinkled black
bag.
korak from his vantage point could
see it all. He saw the old man asking
questions Of the black woman, ana
then he saw the latter point in the
direction Of the tree beneath which
the little girl played.
A grim smile curved the thin, cruel
lips of the Arab. The child eSSayed
to crawl away, but before she could
get out of reach the old nan kicked
her brutality, sending her %sprawling
upon the grass. Then he followed her
VI to seize and strike her as was his
custom.
Above them In the tree q beast
crouched where Il moment before had
been n boy-a beast with dilating nos
trilS and barred fangs-a beast that
treInbled with rage.
The Sheik was STOPPING to reach
for the girl when the Killer dropped
TO the ground at his side. His spear
was still in his left hand, but he had
forgotten it.. Instead his right fist was
clinched, and the sheik o Il back
ward step, astonisied by the sudden
naturalization of this strange apparl-
ton apparently out Of a clear sky, the
heavy fist landed full upon his mouth,
backed by the weight of the young
giant and the terrific power OF has
more than human muscles.
Bleeding and senseless, the sheik
sank TO earth. Korak turned toward
the child. She had regained her feet
nnd stood, wide eyed and frightened,
looking first up into his face and then
horror struck at the recumbent figure
OF the sheik. In an involuntary ges-
ture of protection the Killer threw an
arm about the girls shoulders ana
stood waiting for the Arab TO regain
consciousness. For a moment they re-
NAMED thus, then the girl spoke.
when he regains his senses he VIII
kill me-" she said in Arabic.
Korak could not understand her. tie
shook his head, speaking to her first
In English and then in the language OF
the apes. But neither Of these were
Ineligible to her.
She leaned forward and touched the
hilt of the long knife that the Arab
Than cho raiCan her claSnp0